Catalonia calls for battle against an invading bedbug

The Generalitat asks the population to eliminate specimens of the insect, which can cause serious damage to crops.

Catalonia is preparing to fight another battle against an invasive Asian pest that threatens to damage crops. The Generalitat has appealed to the population of 185 municipalities (20% of the total of the community) so that if they detect specimens of a bedbug of Asian origin, known as "brown stink bug" by the strong odor it gives off, eliminate it.

The bedbug (Halyomorpha halys is the scientific name) was detected in 2016. The experts' theory is that it entered through the Pyrenees via roads. The stowaway technique has been used before by other invaders such as the one known as the "billion-dollar beetle" ( diabrotica virgifera ), detected this year and famous for its damage to corn. They enter the territory through trucks and then spread from north to south jumping from crop to crop with extreme ease. It is 12 to 17 millimeters long and 7 to 10 millimeters wide.

Although in the at least six years that the insect has been in the community it has not yet caused great damage, the Government is concerned. The experience in other countries such as Italy is not flattering. "The damage it causes is that it feeds on the fruit. It damages it and then it can't be marketed," says Giné, an expert in plant health. The expert explains that now is the time to call the support of citizens because autumn is the time when the insect accesses homes to take refuge from the rains and low temperatures. Then, in spring, it comes out to feed. The extremely dry year that the community has experienced (in some areas it has been one of the worst of the century) has helped to keep the bedbug at bay, which besides feeding on numerous crops, lives on other plants, trees and shrubs, also in the city.

Today, in Catalonia, more than 1,200 exotic species have already been detected. The community is one of the most affected by this phenomenon in the EU.