Polk County Living
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 14, 2017 11A
Samurai wasp takes on invasive stink bug
A natural enemy has ar-
rived to help control the
brown marmorated stink
bug, an invasive pest that
devastates gardens and
crops, particularly orchard
fruits and nuts.
The samurai wasp (Tris-
solcus japonicus) is a tiny
insect that hunts for the egg
masses of brown marmorat-
ed stink bugs (BMSB) and
lays an egg inside each egg
in the mass. Since there are
28 eggs in a cluster, that’s the
potential for 28 more wasps.
The parasitic wasp develops
inside the egg, effectively
killing the stink bug, and
then chews its way out.
The brown marmorated
stink bugs, which showed
up in Oregon in 2004, feed
on more than 100 plants,
particularly vegetables,
pears, apples and hazelnuts,
but also ornamentals. The
economic damage to com-
mercial crops in Oregon
hasn’t yet been determined,
but is substantial in other
parts of the country, said
David Lowenstein, an Ore-
gon State University Exten-
sion Service entomologist.
The damage done by brown
marmorated stink bugs to
crops and garden plants
makes discovery of the
samurai wasp all the more
important, he added.
So far, tests to determine
the success of the samurai
wasp against the invasive
stink bugs have been posi-
tive, said Lowenstein, who
was the lead author on a
guide to identifying the
samurai wasp.
“The wasp is a better way
to control BMSB because it’s
a biological control agent
that reduces the need for
chemicals — which are only
somewhat effective — and
K YM
P OKORNY
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who have time or expertise to volunteer. Organizations
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2373 or email IOnews@polkio.com.
Your
Garden
it’s a specialist,” he said. “It
doesn’t lay eggs in other in-
sect eggs except those of
other stink bugs.”
Homeowners must deal
with the added nuisance of
the shield-shaped bugs in-
vading houses, especially in
fall when they’re looking for
a place to overwinter.
“Brown marmorated stink
bugs are unmistakable be-
cause of the stinky, irritating
odor when they’re crushed,”
said Vaughn Walton, an en-
tomologist with OSU Exten-
sion. “They move from wild
host plants to our gardens
and then in large amounts
into our homes. That’s when
people get really upset. Bugs
inside freak people out.”
Control is difficult, how-
ever. Research has shown
that pesticides are only a
short-term solution and will
kill other beneficial insects,
including the samurai wasp.
Brown marmorated stink
bugs can be distinguished
from other stink bugs by the
bands on their antennae. In
spring, adults start eating
and laying eggs on the un-
dersides of leaves. Within a
week, the eggs hatch into
immature bugs and eventu-
ally adults and the process
starts again. The bug could
reproduce up to three times
a year depending on condi-
tions, said Vaughn Walton,
an entomologist with OSU
Extension who helped pro-
duce a guide on the invasive
pests.
The wasp is native to East
https://flic.kr/p/U5bRgQ
Once the brown marmorated stink bug eggs have been
parasitized, the samurai wasp chews its way out, leav-
ing a jagged hole.
Asia, the same range as the
brown marmorated stink
bugs, so is a natural enemy
and probably hitched a ride
on a ship. Scientists at OSU,
including Lowenstein, had
already begun rearing and
studying the beneficial in-
sect in the lab when it was
found last year in 11 areas in
the Willamette Valley, in-
cluding several in Portland.
Since none had been re-
leased from the lab, the dis-
covery is significant.
This summer Lowenstein
and other researchers will
revisit those areas and some
nearby to see if the wasp
survived the winter.
“Some natural enemy
controls do great in the lab,
but don’t perform as well in
the field,” he said. “But the
fact that it’s already wide-
spread across Portland is a
positive sign that it can
withstand conditions in
Oregon.”
Wooded areas, particular-
ly those bordering orchards,
are most likely to serve as
habitat for the wasp, which
can move quickly over long
distances. But since the
stink bugs have migrated
into urban locations, experts
expect the wasps to survive
there, as well.
The public can serve a key
role in samurai wasp re-
search by collecting possible
brown marmorated stink
bug egg masses and report-
ing them to Lowenstein on a
form at the Wiman Lab web-
site, where more informa-
tion, tips and photos are
available to help with identi-
fication. In short, look for
black eggs, which means
they’ve been parasitized.
Once the wasps emerge,
there will be irregular holes.
Taking photos is strongly
encouraged.
MI TOWN
Our gardens are growing
by leaps and bounds and
the apple tree in the back-
yard promises lots of good-
ies for pies and applesauce,
or just to pick for a quick
snack. The grapevines are
full of the tiny clusters
which will materialize all too
quickly into bowls of fresh
grapes. Standing knee-deep
in June in MI Town makes all
the long winter rains and
damp springtime days al-
most worth it. Future plans
of backyard barbecues and
concerts in the park and
endless glasses of lemonade
make every day better than
the day before.
—
For many years, numer-
ous studies regarding nutri-
tion and the ability for chil-
dren to learn and succeed in
school have shown that
good breakfasts and lunch-
es can make all the differ-
P ATTY
T AYLOR
D UTCHER
Columnist
ence. Many families depend
on MI Town’s school lunch
programs to provide their
children with free and nutri-
tious meals during the
school year. Now that
school is out for the sum-
mer, meals will continue to
be provided Monday
through Friday, from June
14 through Aug. 25. For In-
dependence students,
meals are served at Inde-
pendence elementary
(breakfast, 7:30 a.m. and
lunch at noon); Henry Hill
(lunch at noon and supper
at 4:30 p.m.); Park West
Apartments (lunch at
noon). Monmouth locations
are at Ash Creek elementary
(lunch at noon); and Mon-
mouth elementary (lunch at
noon). Talmadge Middle
School will hold an orienta-
tion for new students and
incoming sixth-graders the
week of Aug. 21 through 25,
and will be serving breakfast
and lunch during that time.
There may be field trips and
other activities, so please
check with your nearby
school regarding times and
activities. All children up to
the age of 18 are welcome to
participate in this program,
where meals are provided at
no cost. The meal sites are
closed on Tuesday, July 4,
for the Independence Day
holiday.
—
These bright summer
days give us all an opportu-
nity to really enjoy walks
around our communities to
see all the positive changes
MI Town’s merchants and
businesses have made.
Whether it’s for lunch or to
meet a friend for coffee and
to see the new items for sale,
it’s truly a pleasure to park
the car and find just about
everything we need in our
community. The beautiful
hanging baskets and festive
banners bring a smile to our
faces as we proudly show off
our towns to visiting friends
and family.
—
Want to meet a NASA Sci-
entist? Come to the Mon-
mouth Library on June 21, at
3 p.m. Both Independence
and Monmouth libraries
have wonderful summer
programs for readers of all
ages. There are free books,
bookmarks, all kinds of in-
formation about movies and
summer programs, as well
as drawings for prizes.
PEDEE NEWS
Today there will be a party
for Audrey Cameron, who is
retiring from 25 years of
teaching at the Weekday
School of the Bible in Dallas.
The open house will be from
2 to 5 p.m. at Lyle Chapel,
across the street from Lyle
Elementary School, so you’ll
have time to get there if you
read this by 2. Audrey’s
birthday was on Saturday, so
granddaughter Caitlin and
husband, Zach Kelley, and
her kids Nick and Addi came
from Dallas, Texas, to be at
both the birthday and retire-
ment parties, much to Au-
drey’s delight. For her birth-
day, all went to the beach
and had a beautiful day.
—
Pedee School had several
end-of-the-year activities.
Twenty-seven seventh- and
eighth-graders went on a raft
trip on June 6-7 on the lower
Deschutes near Maupin and
had a great time. Eight-
A RLENE
K OVASH
Columnist
grade promotion was on
Monday, and 13 eighth-
graders were promoted, in-
cluding Dominic Abad, Le-
l a n d Fa r r i o r, Mo n t a n a
Friedow, Dustin Gagznos,
Ha v a l a h Ga i t h e r- Ly e l l ,
Nokomis Lee, David Lutz,
Jordan Myers, Anthoney
Newton, Logan Russell,
Hannah Smith, Ava Spencer,
and Travis Wagoner. Most of
them will be going to Dallas
or Central high schools.
—
Kings Valley School had
their biggest class of seniors
yet this year, with 13 stu-
dents graduating on June 10.
Valedictorian Jacob North
VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES
will be going to Oregon State
University and majoring in
bio-engineering and possi-
bly physics, and hopes to
take enough credits to grad-
uate in three years. He re-
ceived an honors certificate
for his outstanding work.
Other Pedee students who
graduated were Brady Tarvin
and Glenn Mott. Anna Lam-
mers-Fullmer of Hoskins
was the other valedictorian.
—
Annika Mellein and Al-
lana Russell helped each
other celebrate their May
birthdays with fun parties.
Allana turned 12 on May 19
and spent the afternoon
playing with her family and
other party guests and eat-
ing dinner outside around a
fire pit with them. Then she,
her sisters and brother, and
Annika and her brother Leo
slept outside in tents that
night. Annika’s ninth birth-
day was celebrated on May
27 at her house with a Can-
dyland game theme. Several
friends came over and the
kids made an oversized
game board, with huge lol-
lipops and other candies,
then were their own game
pieces as they played the
game. It was a birthday to
remember.
—
I just got back from a trip
to Washington, D.C., with
American Agri-Women,
where we visited govern-
ment agencies and talked to
them about what they can
do for farmers and rural citi-
zens, plus we visited our
congressional delegates to
tell them of our concerns.
This year AAW got to lay the
wreath on the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier. Only one
family or organization is
chosen to lay the wreath
each day, and we were cho-
sen for June 4. It was a mov-
ing ceremony.
• AARP Foundation Tax-Aide – 503-930-7636
• After DARC — 503-623-9501
• American Cancer Society Road to Recovery
— 1-800-227-2345
• Arc of Polk County — 541-223-3261
• Ash Creek Arts Center – 971-599-3301
• Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of
Polk County Inc. — 503-623-8473
• Central School District — 503-838-0030
• City of Dallas — 503-831-3502
• City of Independence — 503-838-1212
• City of Monmouth — 503-751-0145
• Crime Victims Assistance Program — 503-623-9268
• Dallas Area Chamber of Commerce — 503-623-2564
• Dallas Fire Department — 503-831-3532
• Dallas Food Bank — 503-623-3578
• Dallas Kids, Inc. — 503-623-6419
• Dallas Police Department — 503-831-3582
• Dallas Public Library — 503-623-2633
• Dallas Retirement Village — 503-623-5581
• Dallas School District — 503-623-5594
• Delbert Hunter Arboretum — 503-623-7359
• Ella Curran Food Bank — 503-838-1276
• Falls City Arts Center — 503-559-6291
• Falls City School District — 503-787-3531
• Family Building Blocks – 503-566-2132, ext. 308.
• Friends of the Dallas Library — 503-559-3830
• Girl Scouts of Southwest Washington and Oregon
— 1-800-338-5248
• H-2-O — 503-831-4736
HART (Horses Adaptive Riding and Therapy)
— 971-301-4278
• HandsOn Mid-Willamette Valley — 503-363-1651
• Heron Pointe Assisted Living — 503-838-6850
• Independence Health and Rehabilitation
— 503-838-0001
• Independence Public Library — 503-838-1811
• Kings Valley Charter School — 541-929-2134
• Luckiamute Watershed Council — 503-837-0237
• Luckiamute Valley Charter School — 503-623-4837
• Meals on Wheels — 503-838-2084
• Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce
— 503-838-4268
• Monmouth-Independence yMCA — 503-838-4042
• Monmouth Public Library — 503-838-1932
• Northwest Human Services — 503-588-5828
• Oregon Child Development Coalition — 503-838-2745
• OSU Extension Service - Polk County — 503-623-8395
• Perrydale School District — 503-623-2040
• Polk Community Development Corporation
— 503-831-3173
• Polk County Community Emergency Response Team
— 503-623-9396
• Polk County Museum — 503-623-6251
• Polk County Public Health — 503-623-8175
• Polk County Resource Center — 503-623-8429
• Polk Soil and Water Conservation District
— 503-623-9680
• Relief Nursery Classroom — 503-566-2132
• SABLE House — 503-623-6703
• SALT (Senior and law enforcement together)
— 503-851-9366
• Salvation Army — 503-798-4783
• SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) — 503-391-8423
• Salem Health West Valley Hospital — 503-623-8301
• Victim Assistance Program-Polk Co. District Attorney’s
Office — 503-623-9268 x1444
• Willamette Valley Hospice — 503-588-3600
• WIMPEG Community Access Television — 503-837-0163
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Continued from page 10A
—
TUESDAY, JUNE 20
• Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Club — 6 to 7 p.m.
weigh-in, 7 to 8 p.m. meeting, First Christian Church basement,
1079 SE Jefferson St., Dallas. Meetings offer programs and activ-
ities aimed at losing weight. Open to anyone. First meeting is
free.
• Dallas Wingdingers RC Flying Club — 7 p.m., field near
Valley Life Center, 1833 SE Miller Ave., Dallas. 503-623-7288.
• Polk County Coin Club — 7 p.m., Monmouth Senior Cen-
ter, 180 Warren St. S., Monmouth. 503-362-9123.
• Overeaters Anonymous — Noon to 1 p.m., Salem Health
West Valley, 525 SE Washington St., Dallas. Support group
meets in the quiet room/chapel immediately inside the emer-
gency entrance on Clay Street. Dee Ann White, 971-718-6444.
• Independence Riverview Market — 1 to 6 p.m., Riverview
Park and Amphitheater, 50 C St., Independence. 503-910-8193.
—
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21
• Helping Hands Emergency Food Bank — 10 a.m. to noon,
Monmouth Christian Church, 959 Church St. W., Monmouth.
For eligible community members; available every Wednesday.
541-404-6517.
• Willamette Valley Food Assistance Program Food Bank
— 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., 888 Monmouth Cutoff Road, Building E,
Dallas. Weekly distribution for eligible community members.
503-831-5634.
• Day-2-Day Diabetes Support Group — 3 to 4 p.m., Salem
Health West Valley (main conference room inside main en-
trance), 525 SE Washington St., Dallas. 503-623-7323.
Yard Sale Season
is here!
We can make it easy
for you!
Advertise it
in our
classifieds!
Please call Dawn today!
503-623-2373
www.polkio.com