National Plant Health Surveillance Program
About the NPHSP program
The National Plant Health Surveillance Program (NPHSP) is a national surveillance program. It looks for exotic plant pests and diseases identified as national priorities that are threats to our agricultural, horticulture and forestry industries
To do this we conduct regular surveillance activities at high-risk areas across Victoria.
The NPHSP helps us detect new threats early. This gives us the greatest chance to eradicate them or contain them.
The NPHSP is a formal partnership between the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments. Agriculture Victoria collaborates with the relevant industries when running the program.
What pests are we looking for?
Brown marmorated stink bug
The brown marmorated stink bug (Figure 1) is a major plant pest, attacking over 300 types of fruit, ornamental trees, and vegetable crops. Over winter large numbers may shelter in and around human-made structures releasing a “stink” when disturbed.
Figure 1. Adult brown marmorated stink bug
Spongy moth
Spongy moth (Figure 2) caterpillars feed on more than 600 species of broadleaf trees causing tree damage and death.
Figure 2. Asian spongy moth caterpillar
Glassy-winged sharpshooter
The glassy-winged sharpshooter (Figure 3) is an exotic, sap-sucking pest. It can attack hundreds of important crop species. It can also spread the bacterium that causes Xylella, one the of the world’s most devastating plant pathogens.
Figure 3. Adult glassy-winged sharpshooter
Asian citrus psyllid
The Asian citrus psyllid (Figure 4) is a pest of citrus plants. It can damage leaves and cause fruit drop. It can spread the bacterium that causes Huanglongbing, a major disease in the horticultural industry.
Figure 4. Adult Asian citrus psyllid
Spotted wing drosophila
Only the male Spotted wing drosophila have spots on their wings (Figure 5). Female spotted wing drosophila (Figure 5) lay eggs in thin-skinned fruit including berries, stone fruit and grapes. The larvae cause damage to the fruit as they develop. Pupae can be seen punching through the skin of the damaged fruit (Figure 6).
Figure 5. Spotted wing drosophila. Males on the left, females on the right.
Figure 6. Spotted wing drosophila pupae in fruit
Citrus canker
Citrus canker is caused by a bacterium. Infection reduces plant growth and causes blemishes on fruit. (Figure 7). It can only be controlled by destroying all susceptible plants.
Figure 7. Symptoms of citrus canker on an unripe lemon
How we do surveillance
We conduct visual surveillance and trapping to detect exotic plant pests and diseases.
Visual surveillance methods include sweep-netting (Figure 8) and foliage beating. We also inspect plant tissues (leaves, stems and flowers).
Figure 8. Sweep netting as part of visual surveillance
Traps are designed to attract and capture specific insects, and different types are used depending on the pest we are looking for.
Cross-vane panel traps (Figure 9) are used to capture Brown marmorated stink bug. The trap has a lure and collection buckets. The bottom bucket contains chemicals to preserve specimens.
Figure 9. Cross-vane panel trap deployed in field
Sticky traps (Figure 10) attract and capture a range of exotic pests. They can be used with or without a lure. The sticky sheets are enclosed in a plastic cage to protect wildlife and pets. These traps are used for the surveillance of:
Figure 10. Yellow sticky trap inside a green cage
Bucket traps (Figure 11) are used to capture Spongy moths. The trap uses a lure and an insecticide to capture flying adults
Figure 11. Green bucket trap
Jar traps (Figure 12). are used to capture Spotted wing drosophila This trap uses lures and red colouration to attract and capture specimens.
Figure 12. Red jar trap in strawberry field used to attract Spotted wing drosophila.
Chemicals
Traps use different chemicals, which may include:
- Lures to attract pests
- Fluids to collect and preserve specimens
- Insecticides to quickly and effectively knock down insects that enter the trap
- Coatings that make the trap surface slippery to improve capture
It is advisable not to touch the traps or contents due to the chemicals. Further details about the specific chemicals in use are detailed on the trap.
Contact the Agriculture Victoria Customer Contact Centre on 136 186 for further information about the traps.
For urgent advice about chemicals, contact a Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (Australia Wide) or a doctor.
Reporting an unusual plant insect pest or disease
Report any unusual plant pest or disease immediately using our online reporting form or by calling the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881. Early reporting increases the chance of effective control and eradication.
Please take multiple good quality photos of the pests or damage to include in your report where possible, as this is essential for rapid pest and disease diagnosis and response.
Your report will be responded to by an experienced staff member, who may seek more information about the detection and explain next steps.
Report onlineImage credits
Figure 1: David R Lance, USDA, APHIS, PPQ, Bugwood.org.
Figure 2: Jon Yuschock, Bugwood.org.
Figure 3: Johnny N Dell, Bugwood.org
Figure 4: Copyright 2006 University of Florida
Figure 5: Nicolas Gompel. University of Bonn, CC BY 4.0
Figure 6: G. Seljak, Agricultural and Forestry Chamber of Slovenia.
Figure 7: DAFF Queensland
Figure 8 -12: Agriculture Victoria