Heat-loving pests cause heavy crop losses in Styria

Heat and drought are helping new pests spread in Styria, causing heavy losses for fruit and vegetable growers, ORF reports. The pests are arriving from the direction of Italy and Slovenia, while natural enemies that could control them are often scarce.

One example is the cotton bollworm, whose larvae attack crops including lettuce, tomatoes and peppers, burrowing into plants and fruit. Manfred Kohlfürst, head of Austria’s fruit and vegetable industry association, said the pest had caused substantial damage this year.

The marmorated stink bug has also damaged the apple and pear harvest. Some farms had to send as much as half of their crop for industrial processing because the fruit could no longer be sold, Kohlfürst said.

Projects to establish natural enemies are among the measures being considered. The larvae of the samurai wasp feed on the eggs of the marmorated stink bug and could help limit its spread.