Quarantine due to the marble bug has been established in the districts of Dagestan.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Dagestan reported the establishment of a quarantine phytosanitary zone in the Magaramkent, Derbent, Suleiman-Stalsky, Tabasaransky, and Khivsky districts. The administration of the Magaramkent district reported on measures to combat pest insects.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the appearance of the marble bug in agricultural areas threatens crop loss, and appeals to the authorities have proven ineffective, residents of the southern districts of Dagestan complained. The Rosselkhoznadzor indicated that the authorities of the districts and settlements must participate in the fight against the pest.
The marble bug is an agricultural pest that does not pose a threat to human health but damages fruit, melon crops, berry bushes, and vineyards. The flat territory of Dagestan is a favorable zone for the spread of the marble bug. Since it occupies about 45% of the area of the republic, the appearance of the bug could turn into a disaster for agriculture, the Rosselkhoznadzor stated in 2018.
A quarantine phytosanitary zone has been established in five southern districts of the republic - Magaramkent, Derbent, Suleiman-Stalsky, Tabasaransky, and Khivsky - due to the detection of a dangerous pest, the brown marble bug, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Dagestan reported on its page on "VKontakte".
The main operational and phytosanitary work on the ground is carried out by the Rosselkhoznadzor Administration for the region. Specialists from the agency visit farms, set up pheromone traps, and send instructions to municipalities on how to eliminate outbreaks. "We understand that the pest poses a direct threat to our gardens and harvest. Point measures will not help here - organized work is needed," the agency's message emphasizes.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food promised to provide full informational and organizational support to farmers and gardeners in identifying and combating the bug, explaining to agrarians the algorithm of protective measures: from the use of pheromone traps to conducting agrochemical treatments.
Authorities in one of the five districts reported on the fight against pest insects
The administration of the Magaramkent district informed residents of the district about the measures taken to combat the marble bug. On October 11, starting at 14:00, work began on spraying areas along highways and public spaces in the lower Samur zone (starting from the settlement of Filya), the district authorities reported in their Telegram channel.
Preparations for spraying have been handed over to the administrations of the heads of rural settlements. "As experts note, spraying measures against the marble bug should take place everywhere, and residents, tenants, and agrarians should also get involved; otherwise, there will be no effect," the authorities' message emphasizes.
The administrations of the Derbent, Suleiman-Stalsky, Tabasaransky, and Khivsky districts did not comment on the situation regarding the establishment of a quarantine phytosanitary zone and did not report on measures to combat the marble bug in their Telegram channels by 19:30 Moscow time.