Distribution, Biology, Ecology and Control Mechanisms of Halyomorpha Halys Stål in Batumi (Georgia)

The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys   Stål) is the invasive, polyphagous pest which was first reported in Georgia in 2015. In 2016, the bugs destroyed a significant portion of the hazelnut harvest in western Georgia. 2017 was even more devastating and covered wider area. The objectives of the research was to study the distribution, biological and ecological characteristics of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) in suburbs of Batumi in 2018.  The methodology used were- field and route observation, pheromone and mechanical traps and laboratory research methods. In the study is identified the high, medium and low risk areas of pest invasion in Batumi suburb. The research has shown a certain correlation between the frequency of the pest spread and distance of the studied area from the sea level. In the areas of Batumi suburb the BMSB shows two generations (the first - May, 2-10 and the second - from June 25 till July, 10 of 2018).   In the agricultural area of Batumi the BMSB  cause damage to a wide variety of plants including fruit trees, hazelnut, ornamental trees and shrubs, grapes, small fruits, most vegetable crops, bean, maize corn and ets.   H. halys is a vector of fungal and bacterial diseases in hazelnut.