International Conference in the Exhibition Center Expo Georgia, Tbilisi
Halotomorpha halys (marmorated stink bug) – Global Challenge:
International Experience and the best ways for solving the problems
On the 8th of March in the Hall of Exhibition Center Expo Georgia, International Conference dedicated to the management of the problem caused by Halotomorpha halys was held which was organized by International organization USAID REAP and TRECE Inc.
The President of GAAS, Academician G. Aleksidze and Dr. A. Giorgadze participated in the Conference. The Conference participants were welcomed by the President of Georgian National Academy of Sciences Giorgi Kvesitadze and the Academician Gural Aleksidze. Also Bill W. Lingren, pfesident and CEO of Trace Inc ( USA), and Shamenna Gall, USAID, Economic Growth Office Deputy Director (USA) delivered welcoming speeches at the opening ceremony of the conference.
The researchers and the scientists from different countries, such as US, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan participated in the Conference.
Academician G. Aleksidze in his speech underlined the importance of sharing information by American scientists who have many-year experience fighting against Halotomorpha halys. A good example of such cooperation is the assistance of Turkish researchers who shared their experience to their Georgian colleagues how to achieve success in the fight against different insects.
The presentations delivered at the Conference dealt with Biodiversity in Caucasus, ( Prof. Arnold Gegechkori, Tbilisi State University); biological characteristics of Halotomorpha halys ( Dr. M. Murvanidze, Institute of Entimology, Agrarian University); Experience in fight against Halotomorpha halys , and the plans for the coming season ( presenter Andria Catani, Italy); The Advanced monitoring system for monitoring the spread of Halotomorpha halys ( Bill Lingren, USA); Pheromone trap-based thresholds for brown marmorated stink bug: history and current status. ( Dr. Cris Berg, Virginia Technical University ( USA);
Dr. Zurab Khidasheli, Scientific Research Center of Agriculture, presented Preliminary Results of Testing some Insecticides against BMSB in Western Georgia. Dr. Manana Kakhadze, Georgian Agrarian University, talked about Preliminary data on Agriculture crops protection from BMSB by using of mycopesticides in Georgia.
Dr. Archil Chirakadze, Georgian Technical University, - article dealt with of marmorated stinkbug management options for commercial farmers. Dr. Chris Berg, Virginia State University, USA, presented two article under the title: Attract and Kill for brown marmorated stinkbug: promising results from Mid - Atlantic., and the second one: Opportunities to reduce brown marmorated stink bug populations during its dispersal to overwintering sites.
The Conference participants Nikoloz Meskhi, Food National Agency of Environment Protection and Agriculture shared his opinion regarding Scientific Aspects of the BMSB State Strategy.
Dr. Kim Holmer, USA “Prospects for Biological Control of Brown Marmorated Stink bug”.
Dr. Phillip G. Mulder, Jn. USA, presented the results of his research - “ Challendes in developing an area-wide approach to management of the brown marmorated stink bug in Georgian hazelnuts.
At the end of the Conference the participants summed up the results of the work and concluded that the presentations were very interesting which will hopefully be shared by the government representatives and the farmers who have to continue their fight against the brown marmorated stink bug.