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Understanding pest notifications: From detection to decision
Not all pest notifications are equal
As a vegetable grower or crop advisor, you probably receive notifications about insect or pathogen (pest) detections in your area. Most of the time they are likely to be insects or disease symptoms you have seen before. The more alarming notifications may be those received when a new, exotic pest is reported. Understandably, these alerts can create uncertainty. Exotic pest detections may result in a biosecurity response and changes to market access status or protocols, never mind potential impacts on crop yield and management options. These more visible biosecurity responses are only a small part of the insect and pathogens that are reported on by state and territory biosecurity agencies.
Pest notification systems exist to keep growers, agronomists, scientists and regulatory agencies informed about changes in the pest and disease landscape. When a pest or pathogen is detected for the first time on a new host plant or in a location where it hasn’t been found before, biosecurity agencies issue notifications as part of biosecurity surveillance.
These alerts serve multiple purposes: they enable early detection of potentially serious threats, help track pest movements, and create awareness that supports informed decision-making.
Evaluating pest risks
When new pest detections are evaluated, several factors are considered before recommending actions. One example is potential economic impact: Will this pest reduce yields or quality enough to justify response costs? Regulatory agencies assess whether the species meets criteria for quarantine status, which triggers mandatory responses. Establishment potential is also considered based on climate suitability, host availability, and reproductive biology. The availability of effective monitoring tools and management options is also considered.
For growers, this means that high-priority exotic pest alerts and responses are actually relatively rare. These are the responses that typically involve quarantine pests with proven capacity to cause severe crop damage, rapid population growth, and potential for widespread establishment. Recent examples for the vegetable industry include Tomato brown rugose virus (ToBRFV) detected in South Australia in 2024 and Potato mop-top virus (PMTV) detected in Tasmania in 2025.
Here we share examples of pests (Table 1) that were detected and reported by biosecurity agencies in 2025 as extension of host range, extension of geographic range and not considered technically feasible to eradicate.
Pest monitoring systems and notifications are tools for awareness. They reflect our increasingly sophisticated surveillance systems and our commitment to staying ahead of and being prepared for potential threats. However, the vast majority of new pest detections do not result in economic damage to vegetable crops.
By understanding the difference between detection and threat, and by maintaining communication with extension services, fellow growers and biosecurity agencies, you can make informed decisions about when to act and when to simply stay alert.
Where to find out more:
- The Australian Interstate Quarantine website: interstatequarantine.org.au
- If you suspect that you have seen an exotic plant pest, you need to report this to the national Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881
- Information on current eradications is available at: outbreak.gov.au
- Sign up to receive biosecurity updates from AUSVEG via Frontline
TABLE 1. This table provides examples of pests that were reported by biosecurity agencies in 2025 for which no further biosecurity response was triggered.
| PEST AND HOST | LOCATION | ALERT TYPE | WORTH KNOWING |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown marmorated stink bug (exotic; not established in Australia) | Various states | New detections | BMSB is an exotic, hitchhiker pest, often travelling with imported goods from northern hemisphere countries. The risk season for BMSB is between 1 September and 30 April inclusive, which is when additional measures are put in place for specific imported goods arriving from certain countries where BMSB is present. |
| Root and crown rot (Pythopythium helicoides) on papaya | Northern Territory | Extension of geographical and host range | The Oomycete water mould was detected on papaya. No further response action was undertaken as this pathogen is already present in Australia. It can also affect vegetables such as lettuce and capsicum. |
| Blackleg or soft rot on potato (Pectobacterium polare) | Western Australia | Extension of geographical range | Soft rot pathogen or blackleg was detected in potato in Western Australia. It is considered widespread with records in Victoria, NSW, Qld and SA. There is no reported evidence of significant economic impacts. Known hosts of Pectobacterium polare are potato and field mustard (Brassica rapa). |
| Papaya mealybug (established in parts of Australia) | Queensland | Extension of geographic range | Papaya mealybug is a sap-sucking insect that has previously been reported in the NT. It was initially considered to be not technically feasible or cost beneficial to eradicate because it has a wide host range and spreads easily between host plants. This was a report of a new detection in Qld. Papaya is the preferred host. Vegetable hosts may include eggplant, beans. |
| Tropical root knot nematode (Meloidogyne luci) on faba bean and tomato. New pest to Australia; not feasible to eradicate and no response was initiated. | Victoria | New pest record | Tropical root-knot nematode was detected in vegetable crops at multiple locations in Vic. It is a new pest to Australia. Eradication was not deemed to be technically feasible because of challenges in sterilising soil where the nematode is established. Tropical root-knot nematode can spread with propagation material, soil and machinery. Cleaning of equipment before moving between properties is recommended to reduce the risk of spread. |
RESPONSES TO EXOTIC PESTS
Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys; BMSB) is an exotic pest that causes major damage to agricultural crops, nursery stock and ornamental plants. It’s also a nuisance pest because it seeks shelter in large numbers, in buildings and equipment during the winter months. When crushed or disturbed, it has a foul-smelling odour.
BMSB can hitchhike in goods and items from northern hemisphere countries during their winters and can survive for long periods by remaining dormant.
When there is a post-border detection of BMSB in Australia, the Australian Government works closely with state and territory governments to manage the risk of the pest establishing a viable population in the environment
A trapping and surveillance program is undertaken around each post-border detection site to confirm that no further BMSB are present. Response agencies may also undertake additional activities including trapping, visual surveillance, sweeping of vegetation and treatment of higher-risk sites.
Exotic Plant Pest Hotline: 1800 084 881