There has been a detection of the exotic pest, brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), in Glendenning, Western Sydney. Warehouse staff unpacking a consignment imported from Italy discovered live stinkbugs on timber pallets and boxes, and alerted biosecurity officers. The goods were sprayed and shrink-wrapped before being moved to a container. Bug specimens were taken to Sydney laboratories where an entomologist identified them as brown marmorated stink bug.

The infested container and the warehouse have been fumigated, traps have been set and the premise has been searched for specimens. In all, a total of 38 stinkbugs were detected. Biosecurity officers will undertake a weekly fog and inspection of the premise for a minimum of three weeks after the detection and further delimiting activities will include tracing of similar consignments, additional trapping, and surveillance.

The Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP) met in response to this incident and will continue to meet to determine whether or not it is technically feasible to eradicate. The committee will provide its recommendations to the National Biosecurity Management Group for decision

Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a significant threat to agriculture due to its wide host range and the damage it can do to vegetable crops and fruit and ornamental trees. BMSB  is known to feed on more than 300 hosts, including agricultural crops such as nuts, grains, berries, cotton, citrus, soybean and some ornamental and weed plant species. While feeding, the bug’s saliva causes significant damage to plant tissues.

BSMB does not pose a risk to human health but it is regarded as a nuisance pest because it seeks sheltered places to overwinter such as inside homes, vehicles, machinery or sheds, often in large numbers.

Biosecurity Advice – BMSB Western Sydney 2017 update 2

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has released the following communique on the tranistion to management of Tomato Potato Psyllid in Western Australia. The orignial communique can be found here on the Departments website.

The National Management Group (NMG) for Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP) —comprising all Australian governments, Plant Health Australia and affected industries including the nursery industry—has agreed to a transition to management phase to manage the ongoing risks and impacts of TPP and Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso) in Australia.

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A bacterial plant pathogen has been detected in the Italian Giant variety of imported parsley seed in NSW. The bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CaLsol), is commonly known overseas as ‘vegetative disorder’ or ‘yellows decline’. In most

In most cases the bacterium does not damage parsley plants but has the potential tocause serious damage to some other Apiaceae crops which include carrot, celery, chervil, fennel, and parsnip.

Further information can be found in the Biosecurity Advice link below.

Biosecurity Advice – Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CaLsol)

The plant pest bacteria Dickeya dianthicola has been detected in seed potato and dormant dahlia tubers in Western Australia.

• Begonia
• Calla lily
• Carnation
• Chicory
• Chrysanthemum
• Dahlia
• Dianthus, Sweet William
• Freesia
• globe artichoke
• Hyacinth
• Iris
• Kalanchoe, also known as ‘Flaming Katy’‘Christmas kalanchoe’, ‘florist kalanchoe’ and ‘Madagascar widow’s thrill’
• Potato.

Further information cna be found in the Biosecurity Advice link below.

Biosecurity Advice – D. dianthicola WA Aug 2017

An exotic bacterial plant pathogen has been detected in a variety of imported parsley seed. The bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum, (CaLsol) is commonly known as ‘vegetative disorder’ or ‘yellow decline’. In most cases, the bacterium does not damage parsley plants but it does have the potential to cause serious damage to some other Apiaceae crops which include carrot, celery, chervil, fennel, and parsnip