Samurai Wasps Say 'Smell Ya Later, Stink Bugs' | Deep Look

Yep, brown marmorated stink bugs are stinky, but that’s not the worst thing about them. They're imported agricultural pests eating their way across North America. But a native enemy from Asia – the tiny samurai wasp – has a particularly nasty method of stopping stink bugs in their tracks.

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It looks rather harmless at first glance. With a speckled exterior and a shield-like shape, the brown marmorated stink bug doesn’t appear to be any different from any other six-legged insect that might pop up in your garden. But this particular bug, which arrived in the U.S. from Asia in the mid-1990s and smells like old socks when it is squashed, is a real nuisance. Not only can it invade homes by the thousands in the wintertime, it’s one formidable agricultural pest, eating millions of dollars of peaches, apples and other crops since 2010.

Scientists are now investigating a new tactic in the war on the stink bugs: the possibility of relying on one of the bug’s natural enemies, the samurai wasp.

Also native to Asia, this parasitic wasp keeps the stink bug population in check there. How?

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Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Research at Oregon State University

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[TheLiam]

"While you were out drinking fruit smoothies, I was in Japan, studying the blade."

[eldiantre]

Farmers: "How do we stop these pests"

Scientists: "You need Samurai"

[marmorealcandors]

So how do you protect your produce from stinkbugs?


*HIRE A SAMURAI WASP*

[rayjin]

Farmers: Oh wandering, warrior we need your help.


Samurai Wasp: My Blade is yours.

[spacecore]

"You thought it was your baby stink bug"
*BUT IT WAS ME, BABY WASP!*

[Durio_zibethinus]

"They genuinely stink"
1:44 *grab

[LorenzNarbs]

Can anything stop Deep Look from producing high quality videos?

[DustyGus]

I burned an old log in a fire once and saw a bunch of them scatter from it and all burst into flames. Worst smell ever, but I did my part to protect the fruit.

[TheAJUniverse]

As long as a killer wasp doesnt mate with a samurai wasp and create a whole new wasp, bring em on over!

[DeltaDaspleto]

My room is getting invaded by stinkbugs lately
I need to hire some of those wasps

[docwashere]

Stinkbug: *exists*


Samurai Wasp: M A D A M A D A

[thekidinyourbasement]

"Sensei, it is I Samurai Wasp, I shall promise you I will defeat the stinky menace and save our crops!"

*fellow insects cheer*

[darthlazurus]

"Is there anyone who can stop these Stink bugs?"

"Hai!"

[dwnn]

Stinkbug: Jesus christ, finally away from those egg eati-
*Samurai Wasp: MUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDA*

[Tellysayhi]

A couple of days after watching this video, I was peeling an apple to make apple slices, when I noticed brown spots like in the video inside the apple. I peeled a couple more, and saw the same things. I told my parents and we threw out the rest of the apples.

[brendanbagwell]

One time I was reheated some pasta in a bowl. I dont know how the stinkbug got into my food, but I took an insanely crunchy, bitter bite and realized the horrific accident that had been made. As someone who’s accidentally bitten into a stinkbug, I can say I hate these insects with a passion. 🤮

[joshuah]

I never thought I'd say this, but those are the most adorable looking wasps I've ever seen!

[zoesdada]

Those wasps are the only bug I've ever seen that I can consider "cute".

[reynandr.w.]

Bill Wurtz was right, all we need to do to solve this problem is to *_hire a samurai_*

[IronShocker]

Long ago, from a distant land...

I, Stinku, the foul smelling insect of rottenness spread my unbreathable evil.

But some foolish Samurai wasps, born from my very own eggs, stepped forth to oppose me.

Before my species was finally doomed i bore into a shipment and traveled to another continent, where my evil is law!

Now the fools seek to come to this land and undo the plague that is Stinku...


Gotta end that

End with this pest

Samurai Wasp