Australia wary of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Some believe Australia is facing an increasing threat from one of the world’s most invasive pests. Six post-border detections have occurred in the current Stink Bug season (September-April) across Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia on a variety of imported cargo, from terracotta pots to tractors and machinery. Three of the detections have been in Queensland, in Lytton, New Chum, and Fisherman’s Island, two were in Melbourne, and one was in Fremantle.

This compares with only three post-border detections of BMSB in Australia in 2017/18. Two were in Western Sydney and one in Perth. All were associated with goods that had been imported from Italy.

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is working closely with each of the affected state governments. Each detection has seen swift and effective response measures put in place.

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has issued a release highlighting recent facts and current biosecurity strategy related to the BMSB.

‘One of the most invasive plant pests in the world.’
Expert Advisor to APAL’s Apple and Pear Biosecurity Steering Committee Kevin Clayton-Green has called the BMSB “one of the most invasive plant pests in the world.”

“It’s had no trouble spreading through Europe, and after being found in the eastern US in 1998 it’s taken less than twenty years for it to be found across the country,” he said. “When feeding on fruit it leaves damaging marks, which leaves the fruit unsalable. It can also completely defoliate young trees when they are most vulnerable.”

Outbreaks of BMSB have caused significant losses to apple and pear growers in the eastern US since its arrival, and it is now regarded as a greater pest than codling moth.

Source: apal.org.au via www.freshplaza.com 

Publication date : 1/30/2019