Plants and environment investigation report Redback spider establishment prevented The Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) Incursion Investigation (Plants & Environment) and Plant Health Environment Laboratory A single redback spider (Latrodectus teams investigate and diagnose suspected exotic pests and diseases hasseltii) was found and captured from in the plant and environment sectors. Investigators and scientists the underside of a barbecue imported are based in Auckland and Christchurch. These teams provide field among personal effects when a family was relocating from Australia. MPI investigation, diagnostic testing and technical expertise with regard to Quarantine Officers searched the new pests and diseases affecting plants and the environment. They also property and re-inspected imported have surveillance and response functions and carry out research and goods for further redback spiders but development to support surveillance and incursion response activities. none were found. Risk items were treated with permethrin insecticide previously. Although no adult borer MPI as a trap-jaw ant (Odontomachus as a precaution. were initially found, dead beetles were sp. cf. simillimus), an exotic species not Staff at a Transitional Facility contacted later found in the drawers after domestic currently present in New Zealand, but MPI when a live female redback spider insecticide was applied. Specimens were known to have a painful bite. The ant and egg sac were found on a wooden identified as Lyctus brunneus, commonly was also determined to be a de-alate pallet holding a consignment of known as the powder post beetle, a queen, meaning it had already mated, crumb rubber recently imported from common wood borer worldwide that is which increased the biosecurity risk. Australia. The egg sac contained dozens already established in New Zealand. MPI visited the site and determined of spiderlings that dispersed when that the facility staff had recently Active wood-boring insect damage disturbed. The apparently sole adult killed two similar ants. There was no was seen in a buffet unit imported female was sprayed with domestic fly obvious association to link the ant to from Java and purchased in 2012. The spray and killed, and the spiderlings were any particular imported goods, but a owner contacted first the importer (via also sprayed. MPI staff visited the facility search of the area where containers of the retailer), then MPI, by which time after notification but no more spiders bananas were stored resulted in two the cupboard had been collected for were found. The surrounding area was further ant finds. These were identified as fumigation by the importer. However, live treated with permethrin insecticide Iridomyrmex sp. and Nylanderia sp., both adult beetles were subsequently found in as a precaution. established in New Zealand and not a another cupboard drawer and identified biosecurity risk. However, ant specialists as Minthea rugicollis (Coleoptera: Establishment of wood were contracted to survey the risk area Bostrichidae), a species not present in borers prevented and eradicate any exotic ant colonies New Zealand. The importer confirmed Forty bamboo panels in a consignment found. Visual searching found no exotic that five other units were imported in the imported from Indonesia were thought ants. Similarly, pitfall traps left for seven same consignment. Of these, two had to possibly contain live borer larvae. days caught no ants. Pitfall traps were been sold to persons unknown. Only Apparently fresh borer frass and exit considered the appropriate surveillance one of the remaining three units was holes were seen after the panels had option as Odontomachus is a predatory able to be traced. It showed no sign of been in storage for 11 months, but were species and less likely to be attracted infestation, and the owner promised to thought to have been absent when the to the food baits typically used. As no notify MPI if they saw any signs of borer. panels were imported. Borer galleries and further specimens of this species were Fumigation and inspection of two units dead borer beetle adults were found when found it was concluded that the collected addressed the known risk. No further one panel was destructively sampled. specimen was most likely a solitary action was feasible. The beetles were identified as Dinoderus individual not associated with a colony. nitidus (a species not present in New Establishment of high-risk Mango leaf hopper found Zealand) and Tribolium castaneum ants prevented (present in NZ). Although consignment A live insect found in a new caravan Specimens were sent to MPI after live information showed the goods had been imported from Australia the previous ants were found in a shed, near furniture treated with methyl bromide prior to month was sent to MPI and identified that had recently been shipped back from shipment, the goods were transported as a mango hopper, Idioscopus nitidulus Australia. However, these were identified to an appropriate facility and fumigated (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), a major as Monomorium antarcticum, a common again as a precaution. mango pest present in Australia but not native species and no biosecurity risk. New Zealand. This solitary hitchhiker Borer frass was noticed in the drawers of An unusual-looking ant found at a was considered to pose a negligible two bedside tables purchased together Transitional Facility was identified by biosecurity risk owing to the virtual with a TV cabinet about six months absence of fruiting mango trees in NZ. 74 Surveillance 42 (3) 2015 Potato wart disease Illegal seed import Hairy beetle excluded ruled out intercepted A recently purchased packet of dried Potato samples from Invercargill were An English gardening magazine posted pig-trotter dog food was found to sent to Environment Southland because to New Zealand was found to contain be contaminated with live insects. they were suspected to be infected four packets of seeds (sweetcorn, Specimens were identified as Dermestes with potato wart fungus (Synchytrium courgette, squash and mixed lettuce). frischii (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), endobioticum), an unwanted organism This method of seed importation by- dermestid or hairy beetle, a serious that causes a serious potato disease passed MPI’s border system, including pest considered to be absent from overseas. Samples provided to MPI were the inspection process. The magazine New Zealand and known to feed determined to have powdery scab caused purchaser destroyed the seeds by burning primarily on products of animal origin. by Spongospora subterranea, a species and advised MPI that the magazine Investigation revealed that the pig already present in New Zealand. stated the next issue would include eight trotters were distributed to New Zealand more packets of seeds. MPI sent an email retail stores by an Australian company. New palm mealybug to the UK publisher, who immediately Importation of the consignment included ruled out replied and advised there were only three a declaration that the goods had been An entomologist found an unusual New Zealand subscribers, and they had heat-treated (cooked), so it is likely that mealybug on an exotic palm growing in updated their instructions to the printer the infestation occurred afterwards. In the grounds of the Auckland University to ensure no further seeds would be all, 307 packets were traced, immediately Law School and considered it a possible sent to the NZ subscribers. While the withdrawn from sale and subsequently new to New Zealand species. However, publisher was unwilling to provide the frozen to mitigate the biosecurity risk. specimens received by MPI were NZ subscribers’ contact details, they The Australian supplier was advised that identified as Laminicoccus flandersi offered to write to them with a message the product quality was unacceptable, (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), a species of our choice. A suitable message was and MPI border intelligence was already present in New Zealand. It provided and subsequently received by notified to ensure increased compliance is currently unclear whether this the New Zealand subscriber. This was monitoring of this entry pathway. notification represents a new host considered a good outcome when dealing Causal agent of brome grass association record. with an international company to address a biosecurity risk pathway. disease reclassified Insects found in fish feed The causative agent of a brome grass A consignment of imported fish feed Rose seeds ordered on-line from a disease (bacterial wilt of turfgrass) was found to be infested with insects, New Zealand website arrived with has been renamed after analysis using despite having a zoosanitary certificate documentation showing they had been modern molecular diagnostics. What stating that it had been heat-treated sourced directly from China, labelled was previously known as Xanthomonas (to 80°C) before shipping. Methyl as “jewellery” and imported as a “gift”. campestris pv. graminis has been bromide fumigation was arranged for Noting that this appeared to be an reclassified as X. bromi. This bacterium the consignment, and the insects were attempt to avoid New Zealand border was first identified in New Zealand in subsequently identified as Ctenolepisma scrutiny, the buyer contacted MPI. 1978 as X. campestris pv. graminis on longicaudata (a silverfish species already Investigation revealed that the seeds brome grasses, based on International established in New Zealand) and were only temporarily advertised on the Collection