They say a picture can paint a thousand words. Photos and videos just in from Georgia show the impact the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) has had on crops in the European country over recent years and reminds us why we absolutely must keep it out of New Zealand.

BMSB was first found in Georgia in 2015 and pest populations have built extremely quickly resulting in agricultural damage within just a few years. As an example of the damage it can do to one product alone, it destroyed much of the hazelnut harvest last year resulting in damages of NZD$84 million.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is aware of the situation with BMSB in Georgia and are managing pathways appropriately.

View the photos and videos here.