AGRICULTURE Victoria staff are urging people to remain vigilant for the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, a pest with the potential to devastate crops.
Though the insect is not prevalent in Australia, the bug had been spotted hitching a ride in shipping containers, packages, and suitcases.
In January 2019, two separate detections of the stink bug in Victoria prompted authorities to initiate an eradication program.
An Agriculture Victoria spokesperson said if the insect did manage to reach a sizable population in Australia, it could decimate the nation’s fruit and vegetable industries.
“Brown marmorated stink bug is a high priority pest which needs to be kept out of Australia,” a spokesperson said.
“The stink bug season runs from September to April, which means we are currently in high-risk season for the pest, and we encourage Victorians to keep a lookout for anything unusual.”
The insect is native to China, Japan, Korea, and other Asian regions but has been established in much of Europe and North and South America, likely due to accidental introduction.
An outbreak in the mid-Atlantic United States caused some stone fruit growers to lose 90 per cent of their crops and also caused a loss of $37 million in apple harvest in one year.
The brown marmorated stink bug is defined by its shield-shaped body with white markings on its antenna and abdomen, a brownish tint and a white underside.
Agriculture Victoria staff encouraged people to capture the insect if spotted as squishing the stink bug would lead to a strong, unpleasant odour.
If you have found an unusual pest, notify Agriculture Victoria immediately via the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
