Exotic plant and environment investigations report: July to September 2017 Horticultural pests A photo of a suspect exotic fruit-piercing The Ministry for Primary Industries Incursion Investigation team moth found in the Nelson Hospital car and the Plant Health Environment Laboratory (PHEL) teams park in the city of Nelson was submitted investigate and diagnose suspect exotic pests and diseases in the to MPI entomologists. The moth was plant and environment sectors. Investigators and scientists are identified as a female Eudocima materna based in Auckland and Christchurch. These teams provide field (fruit-piercing moth), which is native investigation, diagnostic testing and technical expertise on new to northern Queensland and usually pests and diseases affecting plants and the environment. They also migrates south during late winter. It have surveillance and response functions and carry out research has previously been intercepted in and development to support surveillance and incursion response New Zealand. The larvae of this moth activities. are host-specific and the host plants are not present in New Zealand. The larvae feed on snake vine (Tinospora smilacina) and roundleaf vine (Legnephora moorei) nor any previous borer-related issues. had previously been found in imported (synonyms of Cocculus spp., family Additionally, no recent reports had been American ash flooring timber. In this Menispermaceae). There are no records received from members of the public instance no adult beetles were collected. of any of these names in the Plant who had purchased these boards. This The size of the borer exit holes was Biosecurity Index except on exotic report probably resulted from a single consistent with a Lyctus sp. Even though voucher specimens of Cocculus from consignment with a low-level infestation, the entire house had the same flooring, Rarotonga and China. Both species are which is not considered an ongoing only about 20 adult beetle exit holes had tropical in origin and are frost-sensitive. biosecurity risk. The immediate risk was been seen over a 3-month period since The very specific host range ofE. materna managed by destroying infested chopping the floor had been laid. The property larvae is considered to limit this species’ boards. Any ongoing risk will be owner had syringed insecticide into chances of successfully establishing. Staff managed by MPI’s normal requirements the holes as they became apparent. operating the High Risk Site Surveillance for imported goods. The importer had The flooring importer was unable to Programme have been advised to watch already discussed how to improve quality determine the specific consignment from in case the host plants appear in NZ. control with the Chinese supplier. which the timber had been sourced. However, examination of the current A TradeMe site listed a range of unusual Forest and timber pests American ash timber stock found no tree and shrub species for sale, including Borer holes and dust were seen in sign of borer, and no additional reports Pinus spp. considered not present in Chinese bamboo chopping boards on of borer had been received from other New Zealand. In all cases the scientific sale at a home merchandise retail store. customers who had bought the same name of the plants was stated, an The store’s head office advised that 2 685 timber. Overall, this information indication that the seller was acting chopping boards were held by 11 of suggested a low borer infestation in the responsibly and professionally. On the 43 stores in New Zealand. All these original imported consignment. The checking MPI’s Plant Biosecurity Index boards were examined and 31 were found insecticide applied to the exit holes likely (PBI), all four species (P. densiflora, to have signs of borer beetle. The most addressed any residual biosecurity risk P. hwangshanensis, P. armandii and heavily infested boards were sent to MPI and no further action was considered P. thunbergii) were listed as permitted and adult Dinoderus minutus were found necessary. imports subject to border inspection and in in them. None were found alive and provision of a phytosanitary certificate some had likely only recently emerged. Fruit fly from the country of export. Several Infested boards were double-bagged and An Australian visitor noticed maggots other plant species offered for sale were returned to the supplier and importer. on fresh mandarins provided as a snack chosen at random and similarly checked The remaining 1 482 boards held at the food while visiting the SkyCity casino against the PBI, and all were listed. This importer’s distribution centre were re- in Auckland. The visitor was a grower investigation concluded that there was no examined and one more was found to and exporter of table grapes in Western biosecurity risk. have signs of borer. Although D. minutus Australia, familiar with fruit-fly maggots, is an exotic species absent from Borer emergence holes were noticed and phone discussions confirmed him to New Zealand, it is not considered a high in the newly laid floor of a house in be a highly credible notifier. Traceback risk. The distributor has been importing Wellington. The flooring was premium- revealed that the fruit had been imported bamboo chopping boards for about 10 grade ash timber imported from the from Australia. Remaining fruit held years and a review of the MPI database of US. Live borer (Lyctus planicollis/ by the supplier were examined and no imported goods found no irregularities cavicollis complex or L. brunneus, both sign of damage or fruit fly was found. associated with their importation, of which are present in New Zealand) No additional public reports were Surveillance 44 (4) 2017 27 received of suspect fruit fly maggots in identification ruled out fruit fly and the Two live centipedes were found upon Australian mandarins. Although the specimen was identified as an Australian opening a package in a consignment of report was of maggots (not caterpillars) leafroller tachinid (Trigonospila statues from Vietnam. The centipedes and they were too small to be vinegar fly brevifacies). This species is present in were carefully destroyed and the (Drosophila spp.), it is considered most New Zealand and of no biosecurity risk. remaining packages and the pallet likely that the maggots were drosophilid were wrapped in plastic. The pallet and not tephritid fruit fly maggots. General biosecurity pests had something concealed in it that resembled an egg mass. The centipedes A single live fly suspected to be a and contaminants were identified as Lithobius forficatus Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) An Auckland plastic manufacturing (garden centipede), a species present was found inside a compost container in company received a large moulding in New Zealand. Webbing was found a residential kitchen in Hamilton. Photos machine on a wooden pallet from a local but there were no insect eggs. Three of the specimen were requested and the dealer. The machine had been imported Armadillidium vulgare were also notifier was advised to keep the compost from Germany in a container. They found, a species of woodlouse present in container closed and double-bagged until noticed insects in the plastic surrounding New Zealand. further notice. A PHEL entomologist the pallet (2 dead, 1 alive). A photo confirmed that the specimen was emailed to MPI revealed a species of A caller noticed insect damage on not a Queensland fruit fly and was wood wasp that was identified as Sirex bananas that she had purchased. The consistent with a local, naturalised juvencus, a regulated species. An MPI caller advised that no insects were found, species. Specimen submission for formal Quarantine Officer visited the site and only an aged exit hole. Imported bananas identification was not required. found that the container was free of are routinely treated on arrival in any wasps (dead or alive) or evidence New Zealand ports to mitigate potential Insect feeding damage was found on of habitation (nest). Only the one pallet biosecurity risks. The caller was advised feijoa fruit grown in the garden of had been shipped inside this container, to freeze the bananas as a precaution. a rental property. The notifier was but it was established that three other A sample was submitted and checked unfamiliar with guava moth, the larvae pieces of timber had been used as bracing by two entomologists, who found of which are a common pest of feijoas in inside the container,to keep the pallet no invertebrates. Auckland. The caller promised to search secure. These pieces were inspected by for guava moth images to confirm the A customer at a pharmacy in Rolleston, the Authorised Person on site at the pest was indeed guava moth and not fruit near Christchurch, found two small flies Transitional Facility. The pallet had an fly. When later contacted, he reported in a cosmetic pressed powder compact International Standards for Phytosanitary having discussed the issue with local manufactured in the US. The item was Measures Regulating Wood Packaging garden centre staff and had concluded completely sealed and the flies were stamp on it but one of the 10 boards the damage was caused by guava moth, visible through the packaging. The on the pallet showed signs of insect Coscinoptycha improbana. specimen was determined by the PHEL infestation (exit holes). The wasps found entomologist to be midges (Diptera: Small white insects that looked like fruit- were adjacent to these exit holes. The Chironomidae) but the species was not fly maggots were seen on the outside pallet was wrapped on site and fumigated identified. Chironomids are also known of feijoa fruit collected from a home to mitigate any biosecurity issue. as non-biting midges and are often garden. They were identified from photos A traveller returning from Bali found a confused with mosquitoes. as the immature stages of springtails small number of live ants in her suitcase.