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23 Apr 25 Biosecurity News

Stopping our most unwanted

A reminder the latest fruit fly and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) risk updates are always available on the KVH website. These updates include the latest detection and surveillance information, including our industry-led activities, and are produced every month.
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23 Apr 25 Biosecurity News

Listen to the latest news

We have a new Snapshot podcast online, where we chat with Ryan, Chief Quarantine Officer for the Ministry for Primary Industries, about the work his teams do across biosecurity. Ryan manages the Tauranga, Hamilton, and Northland regions – there are biosecurity teams in all three regions – and in the chat we focus on the way they manage cruise ships, transitional facilities, and various partnerships that they have with KVH and the kiwifruit industry. The Snapshot podcasts are free and available now on SoundCloud and Apple iTunes.
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23 Apr 25 Biosecurity News

Interactive surveillance maps: finding pests and diseases early

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is always looking for pests and diseases that might have arrived from overseas. Finding them early is vital for successful biosecurity responses. The online and interactive Atlas of biosecurity surveillance explains more about the what, where and why of our nation’s surveillance programmes, including fruit flies, one of our industry’s “most unwanted”. There are 13 targeted programmes, focusing on specific pests, diseases and biosecurity risks. You can interact with such tools as surveillance maps, showing locations of trap sites, and see latest data for investigations by MPI teams, by region. General surveillance is also important - that is harnessing those who are out on our orchards, to contribute to gathering and reporting information around the presence of potentially new and unwanted threats. If you’ve seen an unusual pest or disease symptom, make a report by filling in our online form and we will be in touch.
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23 Apr 25 Biosecurity News

World watch

It was international Earth Day on Tuesday and here’s a fitting snippet we saw online - celebrate native species! In the USA, native insects, such as spined soldier bugs, have been shown to consume on of our industry’s most unwanted pests, the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF). In a recent study, researchers discovered that predatory insects, especially spined soldier bugs and praying mantises, effectively reduced SLF populations in a controlled setting. Even better, the insects ate the spotted lanternflies regardless of life stage - promising news in the fight to control these very damaging invasive insects. While biological control (using natural enemies to control a population) is unlikely to work by itself, it is one more tool in the toolbox and may one day lead to a reduced reliance on chemical pesticides. Read the full story here. Content credit thanks to the Washington Invasive Species Council. Photo: A soldier beetle enjoys a SLF snack. Credit Penn State.
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23 Apr 25 Biosecurity News

Biosecurity New Zealand reporting system on point

Last week a grower called to let us know that reporting of a shield bug from his home garden via the Biosecurity New Zealand online reporting form had a reply back to them within 30 minutes with the following message. “Fortunately, the bug spotted is not Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) but a local species, the brown shield bug. It is present in Australia and New Zealand. It has a huge host range and though not as common as the green vegetable bug, it is a minor pest of some crops. If you are interested, you can see some further information and images of the bug at this information page put together by Landcare Research/Manaaki Whenua.” It’s great to hear stories of industry using the range of reporting tools available and supporting identification by providing a good set of photos – see the ones taken in this case here.
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23 Apr 25 Biosecurity News

Psa status

Growers are reminded to update KVH should the Psa status of your KPIN change from undetected to Psa positive. This allows refresh of industry statistics regarding Psa spread, and supports KVH decisions on the supply of nursery stock, budwood and pollen to new developments and existing Psa undetected blocks. Controls are in place under the Kiwifruit Pathway Management Plan to provide protection against the full range of biosecurity threats to our industry, including Psa-V and effective movement controls disallow plant material at risk of harbouring Psa to move to undetected sites. Growers with Psa undetected sites can source Full Certification plant material through the Kiwifruit Plant Certification Scheme (KPCS) to provide greater confidence of freedom from Psa-V and other biosecurity risks. This provides growers and greenfield developers with the best possible start for their investment. KVH is aware that across time, growers may observe Psa-like symptoms on previously undetected blocks, and reminds growers of their responsibility to confirm any new Psa positive status to KVH. Newer growers, or those less familiar with Psa can contact post-harvest technical teams for help with a visual confirmation or assistance in testing for Psa if needed. If you have developed a new orchard over the last few years, and have noted that Psa is now present, you can contact [email protected] to update your KPIN status. Also, if you are a greenfield developer, you can contact KVH for an ID number so that you can receive nursery plants and budwood for your site. This ongoing collective management of Psa at orchard, regional and national level helps minimise Psa-impacts for all growers.
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