Biosecurity alert on Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

What is it?

According to Ministry of Primary Industries, Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys) is an agricultural pest found in Asia, notably China, Japan, and Korea; it has aggressively invaded the US and Europe and could successfully establish in New Zealand.

This insect feeds on more than 300 hosts, primarily fruit trees and woody ornamentals but also field crops. A broad range of crops can be attacked including: citrus; pipfruit; stonefruit; berries, grapes, asparagus, soybeans, sweetcorn, honeysuckle, maple, butterfly bush, cypress, hibiscus and roses.

Adults generally feed on mature and immature fruit, while nymphs feed on leaves and stems as well as fruit. It severely disfigures fruit and renders it unmarketable, which results in control costs and production losses. Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) damage to woody ornamentals and forest trees has been reported as cosmetic only. BMSB is not a risk to human health but is a public nuisance. When disturbed or crushed it emits a characteristic, unpleasant and long-lasting odour.

Requirements

The requirements apply to parties involved with importing goods in Australia and New Zealand. Before shipping, they must ensure that the targeted goods are treated using approved methods. The treatment must be carried out by accredited treatment providers, ensuring compliance with biosecurity regulations during the high-risk BMSB season, which typically runs from September to April each year.

The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in New Zealand have collaborated to align their requirements for BMSB management as much as possible. The key areas of alignment are target risk countries, treatments, and the approved treatment providers.

However, there are still some differences in local requirements and port entry procedures. As such, parties involved with importing goods into Australia or New Zealand must understand the requirements for each country to ensure compliance.

Essentially, heightened biosecurity measures apply to:

• targeted goods such as vehicles, machinery and parts manufactured in, or shipped from target risk countries, between 1 September and 30 April (inclusive), and
• vessels that berth at, load or tranship from target risk countries within the same period.

Targeted vessels

In Australia, all roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) vessels that berth at, load or tranship in target risk countries between 1 September and 30 April (inclusive) will be required to:

• conduct self-inspections and respond to specific questions as part of the pre-arrival reporting requirements; and
• undergo a mandatory seasonal pest inspection on arrival in Australia.

In New Zealand, in addition to vehicles, machinery and parts from the 38 target risk countries (that are subject to VMP Standard), all sea containers imported from Italy are targeted due to higher BMSB populations. Some Italian goods may be sensitive to treatment and are permitted alternative BMSB management under the SEACO Standard.

Approved treatment methods

Acceptable pre-shipment treatment methods include:

• Heat Treatment: Maintaining the goods at 56°C or higher for at least 30 minutes. For individual goods weighing less than 3000 kg shipped as break bulk only, maintaining 60°C or higher for at least 10 minutes
• Fumigation: Using sulfuryl fluoride or methyl bromide to fumigate the cargo at a concentration of 24g/m3@10°C for at least 12-24 hours.

What does it look like?

Adults are approximately 1.7 cm long, with a distinctive brown “shield” shape. Underside is white/tan, legs and antennae are brown with white banding

Eggs are light green, barrel shaped, and found in clusters of 20–30 eggs. These eggs are laid on the underside of leaves. Young nymph stages are yellowish brown, mottled with black and red. Older nymph stages are darker, with the banding pattern on the legs and antennae beginning to appear.

How could it get here?

The adults naturally tend towards cracks/crevices to shelter from the environment in the winter months and may find their way into loaded containers for import into New Zealand. The insect has also spread through the transport of personal effects and housewares. It may also find its way into luggage and mail.
MPI has a number of measures in place to reduce the risk of exotic pests being introduced including requirements for importers and screening at the border. However, there is no such thing as zero risk and it is possible the insect could hitch-hike its way into the country undetected.

How can I identify BMSB?

There are currently other species of stink bugs found in New Zealand that could be confused with the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB).