New Zealand Winegrowers
has applauded
the Ministry for Primary
Industries’ decisive action
in turning back three
cargo vessels contaminated
with Brown Marmorated
Stink Bug. The
bug is one of the wine
industry’s most significant
biosecurity risks,
due to the insects’ potential
to impact on both the
production and quality
of processed red wine.
New Zealand Winegrowers
chief executive Philip
Gregan says a BMSB incursion
will significantly
affect the wine industry’s
ongoing export success.
“We don’t want them in
New Zealand,” he says.
“A large number of bugs
have been discovered
on vessels carrying vehicles
from overseas,
and because they seek
out nooks, cavities and
enclosed spaces, heat
treatments and fumigants
are not necessarily
effective in destroying
them.” Gregan says
winegrowers understand
the impact turning the
vessels away from New
Zealand is having on vehicle
importers, however
it is necessary to protect
New Zealand’s biosecurity.
“We are working with
MPI to help develop a
sustainable solution. It’s
vital we get this right as
these most recent events
show the vehicle-import
pathway is particularly
high risk,” Gregan says.
What is the worst-case scenario based on invasions in the US
and Europe? Lincoln University senior lecturer in entomology and
chemical ecology Dr Michael Rostás: “In a worst-case scenario, introduced
BMSB would quickly establish in large parts of New Zealand,
mainly in the North Island and the northern part of the South Island. In
the US, it took around 14 years after initial establishment to become
one of the most significant pests in recent history. The bug would
cause high levels of economic damage, especially in apples, pears,
peaches, apricots and also kiwifruit. The kiwifruit industry estimates
fruit loss could be up to 30%. Outbreaks could also be expected in
macadamia and several vegetable crops such as tomatoes, capsicum
and sweetcorn. New Zealand growers would drastically increase the
use of broad-spectrum insecticides to prevent significant losses (fourfold
in US apples). This could lead to higher residue levels in fruit and
vegetables, and would have detrimental effects on beneficial insects
(predators, parasitic wasps, pollinators), leading to the outbreak of
secondary pests (mites, aphids, scales). Most importantly, it would
be a huge setback for sustainable pest management programmes
and a serious threat for organic growers. The wine industry could be
affected because only a few bugs feeding in grape clusters during
harvest may taint grape juice and affect wine quality.”
What regions will be most affected? Unitec senior lecturer and
environmental scientist Dr Glenn Aguilar: “Most interceptions occur
at ports of entry, with the BMSB discovered mostly in cars being
imported to the country. Hence in terms of invasion, the greatest risk
would be Auckland with the highest amount of imported cargo. This
would be followed by other areas with the risk proportional to the
amount of cargo being imported. “
What is currently being done to prevent invasion? Better Border
Security’s Dr David Teulon: “Vehicles, machinery and other cargo
coming out of USA and Italy have had to undergo mandatory pre-export
treatment with methyl bromide, sulfuryl fluoride or heat since 2015
and 2017 respectively. This treatment is now being considered in
Asia. Detector dogs have been trained to sniff-out bugs and are currently
being used by MPI to find them on ships entering New Zealand
waters and as they unload. Partly as a consequence of ineffective
border trapping technology, MPI and industry have placed a greater
emphasis on raising general awareness, including targeting specific
groups through a range of activities. Subsequently, calls to the MPI
hotline (0800 80 99 66) have risen significantly.”
How do we stop it if it does invade New Zealand? Te Tira
Whakamātaki (TTW); the Māori Biosecurity Network’s Melanie
Mark-Shadbolt & Dr Nick Waipara: “There is always the potential
for a biocontrol agent to be used, just as there is the potential for
fumigants to be used if the bug invades Aotearoa. That, however,
does not mean they should be or could be used. Part of TTW’s work
is to understand the ‘cultural licence’ around possible responses. We
know Maori by-in-large do not support biocontrols or toxins, so we
will continue to work with whanau, hapu, and iwi to determine what
options are acceptable and articulate those options to the appropriate
people, organisations, and agencies.”
What research is being done? Dr Michael Rostás: “The government
funds underpinning research through the Better Border Biosecurity
programme to help New Zealand’s border biosecurity systems. At
the Bio-Protection Research Centre, this involves research aimed at
developing new tools such as stable isotope analysis to find out the
geographic origin of detected bugs. Other research is assessing the
feasibility of finding BMSB in shipping containers by detecting typical
bug odour compounds.”
More information is available at https://www.mpi.govt.nz/protection
and-response/responding/alerts/brown-marmoratedstink
bug/
WINE HAPPY
WITH BUG
MEASURES
BORDER SECURITY’S MOST WANTED
A more concerted effort to monitor distinctive Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs has been launched by the
Ministry for Primary Industries as biosecurity experts fret over the impact the bug might have to agricultural
exports and native plants. Here, biosecurity academics talk about a future invasion
www.foodtechnology.co.nz 37
/www.foodtechnology.co.nz
