Auckland biosecurity officers recently detected three dead bugs on a vehicle ship while carrying out routine surveillance for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.

They were confirmed as Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) – one of our Most Unwanted, and a high-risk pest native to Asia that invaded North America in 2014. The pest can damage some 70 plant species, including kiwifruit, feeding and excreting honeydew, which promotes black mould and inhibits plant growth. Further checks did not detect any additional flies, allowing cargo discharge.

Read more about SLF on the KVH website here.

Image: SLF found by officers in Auckland while carrying out routine biosecurity surveillance at the border.