Prospa team catch it, snap it, and report it

Props to the team at Prospa Opotiki/East Cape for spotting an unusual looking bug and reporting it straight away.

The team found what they thought could be a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) in a manager’s ute the weekend before last. They caught the bug, stored it safely in a container, took two great/clear photos, and immediately sent them through to us at KVH by email.

We were able to quickly make an identification and let the Prospa team know it was a Brown Soldier Bug which is native to New Zealand, common, and not of concern, so no further action was needed.

Reports like these are important because they show that as in industry, we know what to look out for and what to do if we find anything that concerns us. Importantly, it also means we greatly increase our chances of finding something potentially damaging early enough to act and limit impacts.

Thanks again to the Prospa team for doing everything right. Remember, if you see any unusual pest or symptom of potential disease on or around an orchard, catch it if you can, take a photo and let us know by phone on 0800 665 825 or email.

What happens after you make a report? In most instances it is found to not be of concern and there isn’t anything more to be done, but if further action is required there is a process which we’ve explained in a simple table on our website here.