The Great Biosecurity Quest

The Great Biosecurity Quest is back!An animated image of a character waving with a signboard saying "I'm Aggie, the biosecurity quest mascot"

We are asking Victorians to join the Quest and be on the lookout for stink bugs, including the invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) which is a serious threat to Australia’s biosecurity.

You can play your part in the Great Biosecurity Quest and become a Watchout Warrior by keeping an eye out for diseases and pests in Victoria.

We all have a part to play in protecting Victoria’s biosecurity so that we can continue to spend time in the great outdoors, enjoy clean and safe food and protect the agricultural industries that provide so much for us all.

Join the Quest to find stink bugs

An animated character standing next to a leaf with a stinkbug on it.

As a Watchout Warrior, we need you to keep an eye out for unwanted pests and diseases when you’re out in the backyard, at parks and out in nature. This year our focus is the invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB). You can download our citizen science stink bug toolkit which will help you to identify the different stink bugs you might find.

Don't forget if you see a BMSB, or any other biosecurity pest, be sure to report it immediately. See our biosecurity reporting page for more information on how to report.

Come and see us

Agriculture Victoria staff at a biosecurity quest event

Aggie and the Ag Vic Biosecurity team took the Great Biosecurity Quest to community events across October and November 2024, which was a great success!

We had a fantastic time meeting all those who visited us at the Wandin-Silvan Field Days, the Maroondah Festival and the Djerriwarrh Festival.

Stay tuned for our 2025 event list which will be published on our webpage soon.

Image describes how to take part in the Biosecurity Quest. Step One - Grab a magnifying glass or phone with a zoom function or app if you can. Step Two - Download or print the toolkit to help you to identify plant pests. Step Three - Keep an eye out! Be on the lookout when you're out in nature. Step Four - Come back and tell us your results. If you think you have found a biosecurity pest, make sure you report it.

Join the Great Biosecurity Quest on iNaturalist

The iNaturalist app is a great place to record what you find when you’re out in nature. Not only does it help you to identify any plants and animals you find, but you are also contributing to a global dataset to assist science and conservation.

This year for the Great Biosecurity Quest we have set up a project on iNaturalist to collect records of stink bugs in Victoria. By joining the project and recording any sightings, you can contribute to knowledge about native stink bugs, and also keep an eye out for any invasive pests.

Visit the iNaturalist project page

Download the Atlas of Living Australia guide to iNaturalist

The Great Biosecurity Quest – pest trapping activity

Thank you to everyone who signed up for the Great Biosecurity Quest pest trapping activity.  Trapping kits will be posted to participants in early December.  Keep an eye on our webpage for future opportunities to get involved in biosecurity citizen science activities.

In Victoria, we have a beautiful natural environment and a thriving agriculture industry, and we all have a responsibility to protect them.

Play your part in the Great Biosecurity Quest. You can become a Watchout Warrior by keeping an eye out for potential risks and together, we can work to reduce the threat of diseases and pests in Victoria.

Visit the Agriculture Victoria website to find out more.

Make a biosecurity report

Getting involved helps you learn about biosecurity threats, so you know what to report and how to report it if you ever come across one.

If you need to make a biosecurity report you can do that through our website or the emergency pest and disease hotlines.

Make a report

Looking for other ways to get involved in biosecurity and citizen science?

Visit our Get Involved page!

Get involved