Biosecurity is not usually top of mind during the festive season but Biosecurity New Zealand (BNZ) wants it to be remembered as presents from overseas are unwrapped.

BNZ is ramping up an awareness campaign to encourage people to report possible sightings of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) – a major threat to New Zealand’s horticulture industry.

BMSB infests horticultural crops, causing damage to flowers, stems, leaves and fruit of host plants.

Significant crops likely to be affected include apples, corn, wine grapes, kiwifruit, and some stone fruit varieties.

Along with harming horticultural industry, BMSB can infest homes, ruin gardens, it stinks when it is crushed and is almost impossible to get rid of. 

A map showing where BMSB is. The pale pink are countries where it has invaded and red is places where it is native

Funded jointly by BNZ and industry members of the BMSB Council, the summer campaign (November to March), will target local gardeners and online shoppers who receive goods from overseas.

Posters for BMSB campaign to assist people to identify them

BNZ deputy director-general Stuart Anderson said his organisation is well prepared for the high-risk season.

“There is ongoing monitoring of the threat posed by countries that have known BMSB populations. Officers target passengers, craft and goods that could be contaminated with BMSB.

“Our BMSB measures have been very effective to date. There continues to be no evidence of any established BMSB population in New Zealand.

“We ask international travellers to be understanding of the need to protect New Zealand and our economy as they get their bags checked or are required to answer questions from our frontline staff.”

He said the recent detection of two live BMSB at Auckland Airport demonstrates the importance of strong biosecurity controls.

Advice is to open parcels from overseas indoors in a closed room and take care to look the items over for biosecurity threats.

Another way to report possible pests is to use the Find a Pest app (see the Find a Pest website.).

It has been around for four years, and was developed as a collaboration between scientists at Scion and Lincoln University, funded by the Biological Heritage National Science Challenge, regional councils, Biosecurity New Zealand, New Zealand Forest Owners Association, Zespri, and Kiwifruit Vine Health.

Anyone who thinks they have found BMSB is asked to catch it, take a photo, and report it. The find can be reported online or via the hotline ­­– 0800 80 99 66.

Learn more about reporting a pest here