BMSB hitches a ride in online shopping

Reminding us all how close-to-home the stink bug risk is, a local post-harvest staff member recently had a mail package arrive from Virginia in the USA, complete with what looked like a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB).

Knowing exactly what to do, they caught the bug in a plastic container and reported it to Biosecurity New Zealand who confirmed it was a BMSB. A great catch!

If you, your family, co-workers or friends receive mail from overseas (especially from the USA) remember to check parcels for any pests such as BMSB that may have snuck a ride to New Zealand. We have a short video about being careful when opening parcels on our YouTube channel here.