When biosecurity threats are mentioned it is often the case that Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) becomes the topic of conversation.
Although in relative terms FMD is viewed as the disease that would potentially bring wide spread damage to our economy, other pest and diseases are continuously being intercepted at our borders and in some cases detected within our country.
One pest that the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has recently highlighted as a concern is the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB). This is an agricultural pest found in Asia, notably China, Japan, and Korea which has aggressively invaded the United States. MPI has recently lifted its surveillance efforts due to the enhanced risk of it entering and establishing within New Zealand.
This insect feeds on more than 300 hosts, primarily fruit trees and woody ornamentals, but also field crops. Almost any crops can be at risk, including: citrus; pipfruit; stonefruit; berries and grapes; asparagus; soybeans and maize; 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.
