Penn State part of new federal grant to control stink bugs

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State will take part in new federal research into combating the brown marmorated stink bug.

The pests were first found in the United States near Allentown in the late 1990s. They are estimated to have caused millions of dollars’ worth of crop damage across the country.

Researchers say it’s too early to estimate the damages to this year’s crops.

The $5.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will fund studies on pheromone-based traps, predatory insects and other options to chemical insecticides to control the insects that are native to Asia.

About $900,000 will go to Penn State to study bug biology and behavior, provide educational programs, and other related issues.

Other schools taking lead roles include Rutgers, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Delaware.