BROWN marmorated stink bug was discovered by biosecurity detector dogs in December conducting routine surveillance on an imported truck at the Port of Brisbane.
The dogs detected the single live bug in the wheel arch of a used dump truck.
Regarded as one of Australia's most potentially hazardous hitchhiker pests, the bug is a voracious feeder, prolific breeder,and not easily controlled with pesticides.
The brown marmorated stink bug season runs from September 1 to April 30.
Federal agriculture minister David Littleproud said the detection was evidence of the benefit of the government's increased resourcing for frontline defence.
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"If they got a foothold here, heavy losses to our pome, stone fruit and vegetable industries could occur given that losses of up to 90 per cent for pome and stone fruit industries as well as heavy losses to vegetable crops have been reported internationally," Mr Littleproud said.
"I understand detector dog Velvet made the initial alert.
"Her find was then confirmed by two other dogs. Biosecurity officers took immediate steps to contain the situation.
"That included subjecting further ship cargo to thorough detector dog screening and deploying traps on site in accordance with the government's brown marmorated stink bug Response Strategy.
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