Mon, May 20, 2024 5:30 AM
Look out for the brown stink bug
The unwanted brown stink bug pest could be creeping into your warm home for winter. The easiest way to identify the brown stink bug is from the white bands on their antennae and alternating black and white markings on the abdomen. Photo: Milen Marinov.
Eloise Martyn
Is the Brown marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) trying to sneak into your house to shelter from the cooler weather? Growers and farmers are calling for your help to be on the lookout for this sneaky pest, which has had an increase in its detection, loves to infest homes, and attacks a wide range of crops.
This sneaky hitchhiking agricultural, horticultural, and social pest attacks a wide range of crops and if established in New Zealand it could decimate our fruit and vegetable industries.
BMSB isn’t established in New Zealand but detection of its presence at our borders has significantly increased over the last few months. According to Kiwifruit Vine Health, since the start of the high-risk period (1 September 2023) there have been 100 live BMSBs detected.
Most detections are associated with personal effects, sea cargo, and vehicle transport ships. In the latest reporting period (16 February to 15 March) there were 14 live confirmed BMSB detected, compared to four in the same period the previous season.
“It would be a massive risk and threat to our crops if it were to become established here. Our winters are not cold enough to eliminate it so it would be very hard to get rid of it,” Evan Heywood from Heywood Orchards says.
The family grows around 80 hectares of apples and 20 hectares of kiwifruit in Riwaka, Motueka, and the Moutere.
Adult BMSBs feed on mature and immature fruit, while nymphs feed on leaves and stems. They severely disfigure fruit which renders it unmarketable.
“It’s well established overseas with our trading partners, a real pest to growers. They congregate in big numbers in people’s houses and cause damage, it would be very unwelcome if it were here,” Evan adds.
There are many other similar-looking stink bug species in our country. The easiest way to identify the BMSB is from the white bands on their antennae and alternating black and white markings on the abdomen. Its underside is a white/tan colour.
If you buy anything online or receive mail or parcels from overseas, check them for BMSB hitchhikers. If you think you’ve found a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug – don’t kill it; catch it, take a photo, and call Biosecurity NZ immediately on 0800 80 99 66.
