Plant and Food Research (PFR) Scientist Gonzalo Avila introduced KVH to the Samurai Wasp while staff were in Auckland last week. The visit to the PFR containment facility highlighted how tiny this organism really is – around the size of a poppy seed.

In addition to delivering some of the supporting research for the recent Samurai Wasp Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) application, Gonzalo is leading a new KVH/Zespri project to better understand the impact of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) to kiwifruit growers under different management systems in China, and the abundance of parasitoids on these orchards which will help inform on-orchard management should BMSB one day establish in New Zealand.