Single BMSB detections

A single male Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) was found inside a Mt Maunganui house in mid-December, 2018. The area where it was found has been inspected and traps were set prior to Christmas. The traps have been checked multiple times over the holiday period and no further BMSB have been found in the area.

A single BMSB has also been found in Glenfield, Auckland in early January. It’s not known where the stink bug came from and Biosecurity New Zealand inquiries are continuing to try to determine a pathway. The area has been inspected and traps are being set to determine whether this was a single hitchhiker. To date there is no evidence of an established BMSB population, or that this detection is related to the detection in Mount Maunganui. The New Zealand summer is the peak season for BMSB interceptions in New Zealand and we continue to see a high number of interceptions at our border from Northern Hemisphere countries.

Please keep a lookout for any BMSB. If you think you’ve seen this insect, catch it and call the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on 0800 80 99 66.

21 December 2018
MPI and KVH are working together with other horticulture groups to investigate a detection of a single BMSB that has been discovered in the Mount Maunganui area.

The bug was found earlier this week, caught and reported to the MPI hotline. The identification of a single BMSB has caused concern, but KVH stresses that this does not necessarily mean that other bugs will be found.

MPI immediately started investigating and surveillance is being carried out at the property and in the surrounding area as part of our investigation to confirm there are no more of the bugs present. At this point in time we have found only the one, male bug.

KVH is part of the BMSB Council, a group convened under the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity Readiness and Response. Over the last two years, the Council has been developing readiness plans in preparation for a potential incursion, and, together with MPI, has initiated the investigation.

BMSB represents a significant risk to New Zealand’s native environment, but a detection of a single bug does not mean that there is an established population. Rather it means we are working to ensure that this does not develop into an incursion.

We occasionally intercept live and dead specimens of BMSB. We can’t be sure how this bug arrived in New Zealand and it may not be possible to do so we’re asking for growers and the public to help us and keep a lookout.

BMSB is a shield shaped insect about the size of a ten-cent piece with distinctive black and white banding on the abdomen and the antennae. If you think you have detected a suspect BMSB catch it; snap it; report it – call the MPI hotline on 0800 80 99 66.

For further information see the MPI press release or contact KVH at info@kvh.org.nz or:

· Visit the BMSB page on the KVH website for more information

· Look at the BMSB fact sheet for images and information about how to identify BMSB

· Watch a short video about the damage BMSB can do

· Read the latest (November) update from KVH about recent detections at the border and work being done to manage the risk posed by BMSB

KVH will keep growers updated as the investigation continues.