The presence of the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is worrying kiwi producers in the Padua area.
The local Confagricoltura branch explained that "partners have been reporting damage to up of 30% of the production, as the insect bites the upper part of the fruit, damaging it and making it fall to the ground. This species has started to appear this year and could cause even more problems in the future."
The presence of this insect in various parts of Italy seems to be also due to the fact that temperatures have not been too low during the past two winters.
Denis Gobbo, grower from the south Padua area, explains that he "cultivates 20 hectares of kiwi (G3 and Hayeward), but luckily the insect has not been causing too much damage so far. I am more worried about other diseases such as root rot."
But the areas most affected by the insect need some strategies to deal with it.
"The only thing that can be done at the moment is to cover orchards with nets, but it is quite an expensive solution. We have involved the Region to consider specific solutions. The best thing would be to go back to cold winters, but climate change does not seem reversible in the short term."
