Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) and exotic fruit flies are considered two of the biggest biosecurity threats to the kiwifruit industry and from September they are both in their highest-risk period for entry into New Zealand.

We’ll be talking more about the risk of these pests and the work being done to stop them throughout the season but to start with here’s a quick reminder of the damage they can do and what to look out for.

BMSB:

• Pierces kiwifruit resulting in fruit drop and rot. With management practices fruit loss is typically 5-10% but up to 30% on worst blocks.

• Extremely difficult to eradicate - early detection is essential.

• Major nuisance pest overwintering inside homes in huge numbers.

• High likelihood of entry as a hitchhiker on shipping containers, cars, machinery, and luggage.

• National and industry surveillance systems are in place, but this pest is not strongly attracted to traps, so we also rely on public reporting. Keep an eye out.

Fruit flies:

• High likelihood of entry – have crossed our borders many times and there were two Oriental Fruit Fly responses in Auckland earlier this year.

• There are production impacts for a range of horticultural crops but considered low for kiwifruit.

• Severe market access restrictions, particularly for Queensland Fruit Fly, which is not present in most major kiwifruit markets.

• Highly effective surveillance system with around 8000 traps nationwide.

For more information on these and other biosecurity threats to the kiwifruit industry, see our Kiwifruit’s Most Unwanted list on the KVH website and contact us on 0800 665 825 if you would like posters or leaflets about these pests sent out to you.