Another Brown Marmorated Stink bug (BMSB) season is done and dusted, and the number of live bugs has been down on previous years.

There were 38 live detections between September 2024 and April 2025, compared with 111 in the 2023/24 season.

The cargo pathway again saw high numbers of dead BMSB (642), highlighting the importance of offshore treatment and cleaning requirements for high-risk goods such as vehicles, parts, and machinery.

Speaking of which, Biosecurity New Zealand is reviewing the vehicles, machinery and parts import health standard, which sets out the rules for bringing in a cargo type that is a favourite hiding place for BMSB.

Changes being considered include updating the list of countries required to treat goods (likely adding Uzbekistan, where the pest is now established); strengthening biosecurity requirements for used boats imported as cargo; aligning import requirements for used parts and whole machinery (used parts from outdoor machinery, along with targeted indoor machinery, would require a cleaning certificate year-round, but only need to be treated during the BMSB risk season); and standardising import requirements for imported used parts across different sea cargo types so they are simpler and reduce unnecessary use of fumigants.

The proposed changes will be published in full as part of consultation in August which KVH will be involved in.

A significant development this season was the detection of BMSB in Argentina for the first time. Authorities reported the discovery of seven adult bugs in Buenos Aires in December.

We import very little from Argentina and, to date, there has been no evidence of BMSB in imported cargo from that country.

The UK is another “watchlist” country following recent detections. There is no imminent risk to New Zealand, as the known population is currently low and localised.