Bug detection causes a stink

Surveillance has been stepped up at Tasmania’s borders after the detection of a potentially devastating exotic pest.

Biosecurity Tasmania is responding to the detection of a single female Brown marmorated stinkbug found in a border surveillance trap at Bell Bay. 

The department says the detection does not represent an outbreak of BMSB in Tasmania.

BT said additional traps have been deployed and biosecurity officers have commenced an increased surveillance regime, which will be in place for at least 12 weeks. 

An Incident Management Team has also been put in place to manage and coordinate the response to the BMSB detection.

BMSB is an exotic pest, and is found overseas in parts of Asia, North America and Europe. 

The insect is a significant threat to agriculture due to its wide host range and the damage it can do to vegetable crops and fruit and ornamental trees. 

It is known to feed on more than 300 hosts, including agricultural crops such as nuts, grains, berries, cotton, citrus, soybean, nursery stock and some ornamental and weed plant species, and when feeding causes significant damage to plant tissues.

Farmers and members of the public are now being urged to be on the lookout for the pest.

Adults range in length between 12-17 mm and are mottled brown in colour with a shield-shaped appearance. 

Nymphal (young insect) stages of BMSB range in size from less than 3 mm to 12 mm long. The nymphs are orange and black when they first hatch but quickly develop a similar colouration to the adults. 

Eggs are cream to yellow-orange and approximately 1.6 mm long and laid in clusters on the underside of leaves.

If you think you have seen BMSB in your crop or backyard, phone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.