Invasion of Siberia... by hordes of stink bugs
Bugapocalypse swarms are attacking towns and cities from Novosibirsk to Barnaul.
They do let off a pungent, foul-smelling stink, leading some to believe they are Palomena prasina, also known as stink bugs. Picture: AST-54
Pictures of the green-shaded creatures on manoeuvres across the Siberian sky have been posted on social networks. The so-far unidentified bugs have attacked buildings in the two cities and dozens of other towns but the reason for the invasion is not yet clear.
One theory is early forest fires, an annual problem in Siberia, forcing them to change habitat. Another is unusually warm April weather.
They are described as harmless to humans - and do not suck blood. But they do let off a pungent, foul-smelling stink, leading some to believe they are Palomena prasina, also known as stink bugs.
 |
 |
The so-far unidentified bugs have attacked buildings in the two cities and dozens of other towns but the reason for the invasion is not yet clear. Pictures: @asv1119, @smorodina.jane, @i_ddg
The social media has expressed alarm at the rancid-smelling aerial attack. One comment read: 'It's scary to think what made them come to the city... Some environmental catastrophe... It's very spooky.
'They are sitting outside on the windowsill, twitching their moustaches... People say that they have a disgusting smell. Can't even open the windows now...' Another resident wrote: 'My windows are attacked by smelly bugs. There are a lot of them. The pictures to not reflect the apocalypse.'
Dr Irina Kudryashova, of the faculty of zoology and physiology at Altai State University in Barnaul, said: 'It is definitely some type of bug. They are not sanguivorous. They are not dangerous for humans.'
'It's not necessary to have them removed. I believe, they will leave themselves in a few days.' Pictures: @i_ddg, AST54, @evgenyaple, @sergey_sherbin
She said there appeared to be 'too many of them' in these areas of western Siberia but added 'different species have bursts of activity time to time'.
'This type is having its burst [of activity]. We won't be able to speak about the bugs more clearly until we identify the species. We will be doing this at the faculty of zoology today.'
She forecast they would leave soon because urban areas are not their natural habitat. 'It's not necessary to have them removed. I believe, they will leave themselves in a few days.'
Add your comment
News
State of emergency declared as second ecological nightmare hits in less than two months.
Sent to Siberia
Born in Siberia
Comments (6)
Their smell is also attracting those bugd that you are showing here. So maybe you should look if you are also importing ladybugs from China for the agriculture in Russia.
The whole area is so infested with these squash bugs, that for many years to come these bugs will still be around. ( And yes, they do STINK, and Spray, when you try to catch them.) These squash bugs can live for about 7 years, and hibernate in the winter, also the winter frost will NOT kill them.
When I grow Squash, I go out and wet the vines with a hose and smash the bugs with my fingers every day.
Somebody in the area had a large crop of Squash, that they did not take care of.
They let these bugs breed and multiply. These bugs can stay alive eating other things.
The Squash vine is their ideal breeding habitat and they thrive there.
If you grow squash, you need to sprinkle water over the vines every day to make these bugs march to the top of the vines where you can see them. so you can pick all of them off and kill them.
There is no need for bug sprays. Bug sprays are NOT good for your health.