Thursday, 08 December 2016 10:42

High risk season for stink bug

Written by  Edwin Massey, NZW biosecurity manager
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) is a shield shaped insect native to Asia, which is rapidly expanding its distribution throughout the northern hemisphere.

BMSB is not considered ‘present’ in New Zealand at the moment, but it is the industry’s most unwanted pest.

Adult BMSB are approximately 1.7cm long, with a distinctive brown shield shape and banding on the rear end and antennae. BMSB feed off a wide range of plant hosts, including grapes, and are a threat to horticultural production.

When threatened, BMSB emit a long lasting, foul smelling odour as a defense mechanism. This odour can be known to taint grape juice. Research is underway in the US to determine if the BMSB taint can survive the fermentation process to impact the quality of the wine produced.

At the recent Romeo Bragato conference I tainted some Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with synthetic BMSB odor. It was a real highlight watching people recoil in horror as they caught the first whiff of the intense burnt coriander aroma coming from the glass. This exercise demonstrated the effect a ‘worst case scenario’ could have on wine quality if this insect becomes established in New Zealand.

High risk season

The end of September marks the start of the high-risk season for BMSB. This is the time when, in the Northern Hemisphere, the insect seeks out warm dry dark spaces to survive the winter. This behavior brings the insects into contact with humans, meaning large numbers of bugs are found on or inside buildings, cars and other structures where they can shelter. During this time adult BMSBs are likely to be caught up in shipments of goods, or in personal belongings and find themselves ‘hitch-hiking’ to New Zealand. BMSB have been found travelling on and inside items such as machinery parts and vehicles, as well as stranger hosts like mortuary equipment and even Barbie dolls!

As the insect disperses throughout Europe and North America it becomes increasingly likely that one or more of these hitch-hikers will breach New Zealand’s multi layered biosecurity system.

To help manage this risk MPI has increased the visual inspections on containers from these areas and increased its surveillance of wharves and vessels, particularly ships that carry imported vehicles and machinery.

What can be done to stop the spread of BMSB?

To date BMSB has never been eradicated from a new area where it has been detected. Primarily, this is due to a lack of effective surveillance and control tools. Improving our ability to find and kill BMSB is a high priority.

Boosting awareness

For the last two summers MPI has lead a public awareness campaign to raise awareness of BMSB.

The campaign targets groups which are most likely to be able to give an early indication if BMSB has crossed the New Zealand boarder.

To date, MPI has targeted home gardeners, travellers, and transitional facilities through print, social media and website-based advertising.

In 2016 New Zealand Winegrowers is taking part in this campaign to ensure our members know what to look out for and steps to take if they see something unusual.

The most up-to-date fact sheet on BMSB is available here

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Biosecurity New Zealand says it is ramping up a public awareness campaign designed to encourage people to report possible sightings of brown marmorated stink bug.

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A winter campaign is underway to help raise awareness of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB).

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