Kiwi gardeners and online shoppers are the target of a public awareness campaign to encourage people to report possible sightings of brown marmorated stink bug in New Zealand.

Known as BMSB, the bug is a major threat to New Zealand's horticulture industry according to Biosecurity New Zealand, which is running and funding the campaign jointly with industry members of the BMSB Council.

'BMSB infests several horticultural crops, causing damage to flowers, stems, leaves and fruit of host plants. Significant crops likely to be affected in New Zealand include apples, corn, wine grapes, kiwifruit, and a range of stone fruit varieties,” says Biosecurity NZ deputy director-general Stuart Anderson.

The summer campaign runs to March, with Stuart saying Biosecurity NZ is well prepared for the high-risk season.

'There is ongoing monitoring of the threat posed by countries that have known BMSB populations," says Stuart.

'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.”

Stuart says a recent detection of two live BMSB at Auckland Airport demonstrates the importance of strong biosecurity controls.

A Biosecurity New Zealand quarantine officer detected a single live BMSB at an airport search bench on October 8 while processing passengers arriving from the United States.

The second bug was recently found on an aircraft from South Korea prior to passengers leaving the plane. Officers have detected a further 286 dead BMSB on arriving vessels and cargo.

Stuart says the number of live interceptions has dropped considerably in the last few years.

'This is largely due to the introduction of strict import rules that make it harder for live BMSB to enter NZ on risky cargo such as vehicles, machinery and parts.

'Improved reporting and monitoring have also allowed officers to better target risk goods. For example, there was a greater focus on air cargo during the 2021/22 season following increased BMSB detections in this pathway.

'We've also seen high levels of engagement from the shipping industry in the past and want this positive relationship to continue. Accurate reporting of detections by crew helps Biosecurity NZ target its surveillance and other actions.”

Anyone who thinks they've found BMSB is asked to catch it, take a photo, and report it. The find can be reported online or via Biosecurity NZ's hotline: 0800 80 99 66.