In the lead up to Christmas, Victorians are being encouraged to check online shopping packaging for any hitchhiker pests.
Victoria’s Chief Plant Health Officer Rosa Crnov said the earlier the unwanted pest is reported, the better chance there is in stopping it from spreading or moving to other areas.
“Exotic plant pests such as brown marmorated stink bug, khapra beetle, exotic ants and snails, can go unnoticed due to their small size and hitch a ride in packages, especially in overseas mail.”
“Exotic electric ants and fire ants can also hitch a ride in domestic mail and are very aggressive, as opposed to common ants in Victoria that usually run away from disturbances.
"If undetected, these pests can threaten Victoria’s $14 billion food and fibre export market.”
Australia Post is delivering approximately 10 million parcels a week in Australia. In Victoria, online shopping has grown by 48.9 per cent in the year to 30 June 2021, exceeding the national average of 31.8 per cent.
While the level of risk is difficult to gauge, Ms Crnov said there is no doubt hitchhiking bugs and insects pose a significant risk.
“IOver the past 12 months Agriculture Victoria received 797 reports from the public and from the industry of suspected exotic plant and bee pests which were thoroughly investigated.”
“In November last year, a Bayswater business emailed photos of a strange-looking bug to Agriculture Victoria after discovering the insect in an airfreight package.”
“The insect was confirmed as brown marmorated stink bug — a high priority for Australian biosecurity.”
While Australia applies strict import conditions to goods coming in from overseas through our ports and mail centres, sometimes pests can go undetected. Victoria is Australia's largest producer of food and fibre products with the gross value of agricultural production in Victoria worth nearly $16 billion.
Crnov said all Victorians receiving and sending gifts over the festive season have a role to play in protecting that industry.
“Everyone can play a role in protecting our farmers, environment and community from biosecurity threats by reporting anything unusual.”
For more information on priority insects and mites visit: https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/pestinsects-and-mites/priority-pest-insects-and-mites
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