Don’t celebrate the demise of the Queensland fruit fly too fully…whilst we should be happy we’ve beaten the little Aussie suckers, there are other nasty little parasites poised to pose more carnage on New Zealand’s horticulture industry this year. Horticulture New Zealand warns that, whilst it is thrilled it’s nailed the fruit fly at a cost of $16 million, it hasn’t forgotten the next big concern: the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB). Rapidly established in the United States over the past 15 years, this little critter is becoming a major challenge to both horticultural producers and home owners – and its establishment here could severely harm New Zealand native species. “The BMSB feeds on a very wide range of horticultural crops such as apples, corn, tomatoes, capsicum and summerfruits, as well as the leaves of other trees and shrubs when fruit and vegetables may be unavailable,” Horticulture New Zealand biosecurity manager Richard Palmer (Wellington) says. “Not only that, but the BMSB also ‘overwinters’ in tight dark places and is quite fond of 10 www.foodtechnology.co.nz A smelly new critter on THE BLOCK? houses, where it can become a real problem. When disturbed, BMSB emits a foul smell which can linger and is especially problematic when trying to dispose of them. I’ve heard of real estate agents taking buyers to high-priced homes riddled with these bugs in the United States.” BMSB presents three huge challenges to New Zealand, Palmer says. Firstly, it is present in a range of countries and the pathways into New Zealand are almost limitless. It has been detected on cars and timber from the USA, personal effects from Asia and even in a doll sent through the mail from China. It only needs very small populations to colonise… it is believed that its establishment in the United States was from just two bugs, and it is notoriously difficult to detect. “Fruit fly responds well, over quite long distances of up to few hundred metres, to pheromone traps,” Palmer says. “BMSB traps are expensive and far less effective. They may indicate presence but cannot guarantee absence.” Lastly, the controls are poor – BMSB needs direct contact with pesticides to be killed. Residual insecticides are not effective, making it a “huge challenge for us” in preventing arrival, establishment and spread, and achieving commercial control without heavy pesticide residues; quite the opposite, Palmer says, of where New Zealand is at today. And if you thought that was the end of it, read on. After BMSB, a wide range of pests and diseases may be able to threaten our horticultural food supply. ..from the Spotted Wing Drosophila which infests fruit early in the ripening stage (unlike most flies which feed on rotten or mature fruit), to a range of plant viruses like Psa-V in kiwifruit. “The greatest thing New Zealanders can do to maintain our unique and relatively pest-free environment, both for productive horticulture and for native species, is to ensure they and their friends and family follow the Ministry of Primary Industry’s instructions and requirements upon re-entering New Zealand,” Palmer says. “We encourage everyone to report any bugs that appear new, especially if one is found when unpacking bags on return from holiday, B I O S E C U R I T Y
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