Help look out for plant pests and disease by taking part in the botanic gardens biosecurity blitzes

The Botanic Gardens Biosecurity Network is calling on visitors, friends, volunteers and staff of botanic gardens to take part in three targeted biosecurity pest blitzes between September and November this year.

Biosecurity pest blitzes are a way to conduct surveillance for plant pests and diseases. Blitzes are run over a set period of time. This year the Botanic Gardens Biosecurity Network will be hosting biosecurity blitzes for myrtle rust, brown marmorated stink bug and tree of heaven. Reports for each blitz will be taken using the MyPestGuide™ Reporter app.

During each blitz we will be asking you to get out and about if you can, and look for these pests in your own home garden, your local botanic gardens, or as you take a walk. If you are restricted in where you can go due to COVID-19, look in your home garden. 

In the lead up to each blitz we will be providing detailed information on how to identify each target and instructions on how to make a report using the MyPestGuide™ Reporter app. For more information visit the Botanic Gardens Biosecurity Network website and for the latest updates on each blitz follow the Botanic Gardens Biosecurity Network on Facebook.

Myrtle rust blitz

12-20 September 2020

Myrtle rust is a disease caused by the fungus Austropuccinia psidii which affects more than 350 species in the Myrtaceae family. It was first identified in Australia in 2010 and is now widespread along Australia’s eastern coast. During the blitz look for myrtle rust on up to five different plants belonging to the Myrtaceae family in your backyard or local botanic gardens. Make a report to the ‘botanic gardens’ project in the MyPestGuide™ Reporter app for each plant on which you look for myrtle rust. For each plant take up to 4 photos, report the species of plant (if known) and whether myrtle rust was present or absent. See information sheet on Myrtle Rust (PDF, 329 KB).

Stink bug blitz

3-11 October 2020

Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys, BMSB) is a mottled brown coloured, shield shaped stink bug. It is a voracious feeder, affecting about 300 known plants including nuts, fruit, vegetables and ornamentals. During the blitz look for BMSB in your backyard or local botanic gardens. If you see what you suspect to be a BMSB catch it in a secure container, take up to 4 photos of the bug and send a report to the ‘botanic gardens’ project in the MyPestGuide™ Reporter app. See information sheet on Brown marmorated stink bug (PDF, 394 KB).

Tree of heaven blitz

14-20 November 2020

Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is an introduced species which has been is a host of the exotic pests spotted lanternfly and brown marmorated stink bug. During the blitz look for tree of heaven in your backyard, local roadsides, reserves or botanic gardens. Send reports of suspected tree of heaven plants to the ‘botanic gardens’ project in MyPestGuide™ Reporter app. Identifying where these trees are will help us work out if we can use them as ‘sentinels’ to look for exotic pests. See information sheet on Tree of Heaven (PDF, 377 KB).

Remember that if you think you see one of the exotic pest targets outside of each blitz week, still send a report in.