WHAT S BUZZING? President s Pen Steve Hunn IN THIS ISSUE. News from the World of Pest Management. Bi-Monthly Newsletter. October 2016 Volume 9 No.

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1 WHAT S BUZZING? News from the World of Pest Management Bi-Monthly Newsletter October 2016 Volume 9 No. 5 P M A N Z PO Box Eastridge Auckland 1146 New Zealand Free phone: (0800 4PMANZ) info@pmanz.nz Website: PRESIDENT Steve Hunn steve.hunn@nzdf.mil.nz VICE-PRESIDENT Sandra Charlton sandra@pestawaynz.com COUNCIL MEMBERS Peter Barry peter@pestconsultancy.co.nz Shane Byrne-King shane.byrne-king@ecolab.com Mike Collins mike@ajetservices.co.nz Mike Hermansson kwikill@paradise.net.nz Bill Paynter bill.paynter@rentokil-initial.com Rowan Washer rowan.washer@gmail.com IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Campbell Perrin campbell@keyindustries.co.nz TREASURER Bill Wills billw@clear.net.nz EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Denise Faulkner / Jo Wright info@pmanz.nz President s Pen Steve Hunn Hello to all members First off, PMANZ wishes to recognise, and extend our congratulations to PMANZ member Asita Chand of Fastkil Pest Control Services (Fiji) in winning the 2015 Pest Managers Award, sponsored by the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association (AEPMA), at their 2016 conference. Recognised as an inspiring businesswoman, Asita also won the Aspiring Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the 2013 Fiji Women in Business awards sponsored by Westpac. Well done Asita! The review and update of the PMANZ constitution and rules is continuing. In regards the voting of the proposed amendment for associates being able to stand as vice president or president, 43 votes were received (27 for, 16 against). This issue cannot be passed into constitution now as it must go to AGM and have a 75% majority vote from those present at the AGM or voted by proxy vote. Further details will be promulgated next year in regards the motions to be presented at the AGM in August Finally, there has been concern amongst some pest managers about the ongoing use of misters in the domestic residential home. Whilst PMANZ do have Good Practice Guides for insecticidal dispersal with some motorised equipment, misters have been excluded from this for the following reasons. Some makes/models of misters may not always be appropriate as they are normally used to deliver a space spray and not always the best delivery method for direct targeted treatment to surfaces. PMANZ urges caution on the use of misters in enclosed environments where the client could become exposed to insecticide residues on non-targeted surfaces e.g. floors, furniture and bedding; especially where pets, infants, children may come into contact via direct respiratory and/or skin exposure (or even hand/mouth activity). Whilst their use may be appropriate for subfloors and ceiling spaces, always undertake a risk assessment before deciding on your delivery options in a domestic residential home. That s it for now! Best wishes Steve IN THIS ISSUE President s Pen 1 From the Editor 3 Top Tips for Flies 5 News Bites 11 NEW ZEALAND NEWS Pest Free NZ 12 Predator Alert Inventor 14 Keep Stink Bug Out 15 Technical Hints 17 1

2 The main speaker will be Dr Stephen Doggett, talking about Bites, Itches and Stings: Medical Entomology for the Pest Manager, and Bed Bugs; Where to From Here? Stephen is Director of the Department of Medical Entomology at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Australia. He has had more than 30 years experience in the field of medical entomology having undertaken research on ticks, mosquitoes, and bed bugs. He is also the Manager of the New South Wales Mosquito Monitoring and Arbovirus Surveillance Program, which is funded by the NSW Ministry of Health. Stephen has authored/co-authored over 215 publications, produced numerous articles for industry and health bodies, and presented over 330 lectures at meetings, many international. He is widely consulted by the media on matters relating to medical entomology. Stephen s latest books includes Do You Have Bed Bugs? (translated into Thai and five other languages) and the nationally awarded A Guide to Mosquitoes of Australia (produced with Dr Cameron Webb & Prof. Richard Russell of Westmead Hospital). Stephen is presently working with Profs Chow-Yang Lee (Malaysia) and Dini Miller (USA) to produce the first academic text for 50 years titled, Advances in the Biology and Management of Modern Bed Bugs, due for release in Stephen is a Subject Editor for the premier Australian entomological journal, Austral Entomology. He serves on a number of international and national committees, dealing with bed bug, mosquito and tick related issues. Stephen is also an internationally awarded insect photographer with his images appearing in numerous text books, journals, newspapers, and other publications. 2

3 From the Editor Peter Barry Having just returned from the FAOPMA (Federation of Asian and Oceania Pest Management Associations) conference on the Gold Coast of Australia gave me time to reflect on how we do things in New Zealand. I was impressed by the number of delegates to this conference that numbered well in excess 600 people including suppliers and sponsors an impressive number. Of course we can never expect to ever have that many pest managers attending a pest conference in NZ we probably don t even have close to that number of combined registered and unregistered pesties in the whole country. Nevertheless, whilst the Aussies can brag about the success of their event, I was disappointed to find one of the last talks of the day on Friday, was cancelled without explanation or apology. The conference programme ran concurrent sessions in two different seminar rooms, so you had beat it in-between sessions to get to the other room, if you chose that talk. Sometimes the timing was a bit off, so maybe I missed something, as I chose to skip some of the termite talks on Friday around mid to late morning for obvious reasons; choosing instead to go shopping with my wife at the fantastic new Pacific Fair shopping centre near Broad Beach. Nevertheless, I was not the only one left wondering around aimlessly at the end of the day. Otherwise a good conference given the challenges the organisers would have had. They had to close registrations a week out from the start as it was oversubscribed, which brings us to our conference next year. Conference planning is well advanced, with all our speakers now confirmed, and as you will have noticed on the previous page we have a wonderful line-up of speakers again, including: Dr Stephen L. Doggett, Director Medical Entomology, Westmead Hospital, NSW Dr Julia Kasper, Principal Entomologist, NZ BioSecure - SMS Dr Paul Craddock, Operations Manager, Flybusters/Antiants, Auckland Peter McCarthy, Director, Pest IT Products, Training and Consulting, Victoria Richard Toft, Insect Ecologist, Entecol Ltd, Nelson Peter Ambrose-Pearce, Syngenta Once I have the final subject topics I will publish the full programme in our December newsletter and on the website, with all the registration and accommodation details. Sponsorship details will also be provided. The July announcement from government about the new, Predator Free New Zealand 2050 has created some interesting discussion in the media from academics. Read more about this in our New Zealand News, and support the local team! Fair Use Reporting Articles provided in "What s Buzzing" are drawn from a number of sources. The source of the material is quoted, either by author, publication and/or organization, in line with the practice of Fair Use reporting of news or information to PMANZ members for their ongoing education. The information contained in this newsletter is for member information only, and does not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of the PMANZ Council and/or its members. 3

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5 Fly Control - Top Tips For Flies Flies are highly adaptable creatures and NOTHING you discover should ever surprise you. During the warm months of the year, each person likely has at least one encounter with a fly every day, even if it is as simple as noticing one flying by. In extreme cases, a homeowner or business experiences a serious fly invasion; one where the services of a pest professional may be needed. Flies belong to the order Diptera with more than 150,000 species described thus far worldwide. A relative tiny percent of these are known to be structural pests; however, mosquitoes and several other types of flies are society s most important public health threat. Within structures, flies are considered a nuisance first and serve as a health concern when found in food production or healthcare environments. Some of our most frustrating days will involve flies, usually fruit or phorid flies, attempting to discover the locations or breeding sites and other conditions conducive to the infestation. Other fly issues are more easily answered. But the solutions always come back to the type of fly involved. This article will provide a few tips for key pest flies. House Flies 1. Start Outside. Most house fly issues originate from the exterior. House flies (family Muscidae) breed primarily in animal manure and secondarily in moist, organic materials associated with dumpsters and other trash receptacles. If found breeding indoors, the breeding site will most likely involve an overlooked trash can, poorly maintained trash room or rotting produce stored in boxes or bags. The only time I ve encountered house flies breeding indoors involved an overlooked box half-full of rotting potatoes...in the middle of winter! House Fly Where a house or building is located also may play a role in the numbers of house flies seen around/entering a building. Structures near farms where livestock are present are more prone to house flies, face flies, little house flies and even stable flies (family Muscidae) all of which breed in fresh animal manure. The building doesn t even need to be adjacent to the farm as house flies are capable of flying two to three miles, attracted by odours or other factors. When establishing a house fly management program, more comprehensive efforts often are needed for buildings afflicted by larger numbers of flies. 2. Focus on Trash Receptacles and Entryways. Is the customer keeping outside trash cans and dumpsters clean? Are these located as far from doors as possible? Even clean Dumpsters and trash cans will attract some flies, but the messier receptacles bring more flies, thus increasing the number of flies potentially entering inside. Locating 5

6 Dumpsters and trash cans as far from the building as possible helps minimize flies near entryways. Use of fly baits in these areas can be beneficial in reducing numbers of flies in the area. Doors should not be propped open and when opened, should close within a few seconds. If ventilation is needed, such as seen with overhead doors in warehouses during summer, doors should be equipped with tightfitting screens. Use of plastic curtains on overhead doors can help exclude flies where the doors are used frequently. 3. ILTs are 24-Hour Sentinels. A well-designed insect light trap program is essential for any commercial building with house fly issues. ILTs work attracting and catching flies 24 hours a day...as long as they are well maintained and UV bulbs are changed out as recommended by the manufacturer. Placement of ILTs is key to effectiveness. If placed too near natural light, an ILT s ability to attract flies during the daytime will be negated. Placement too high on a wall, above 5 feet, will decrease the numbers of house flies captured. Hanging an ILT too close to doorways allows flies to fly right past the trap before they even see it. Locating traps so they can be seen from the outside can attract nighttime flying insects to the building. Pest professionals have a variety of quality, economical ILT choices to offer customers. Design the ILT plan to follow the natural flow flies might take from entryways through the building. Use as many ILTs as needed don t settle for just one in the back and one in the front. Consult ILT manufacturers for advice for using their traps most effectively. Blow Flies, Bottle Flies & Flesh Flies 1. Similar to House Flies. Relative to their presence in and around structures, blow and bottle flies (family Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (family Sarcophagidae) are similar to house flies. Such flies are attracted by garbage and food odours; most infestations originate from the exterior. Control strategies focused on sanitation, exclusion and ILTs are key for all these flies. 2. Where s the Carcass? Blow flies and flesh flies both primarily breed in animal carcasses outdoors, often being the first insects to discover a freshly dead animal. When dozens of these flies suddenly appear inside, it s a good bet that some animal has died within the walls, ceiling, attic, crawlspace or chimney. On two occasions of which I m aware, the presence of blow flies led to the discovery of a dead man trapped in a chimney! Usually, though, a dead mouse, rat or bird is involved. I once found a dead mouse that had already been infested by blow fly larvae and when I allowed the flies to fully develop within a container, 125 blow flies were the result. Imagine the number of flies produced from a larger animal. Flesh Fly - David Cappaert, Bugwood.org Although the cause is easy to discern in these cases, finding an animal carcass within the voids of a structure can be quite difficult. Blow fly and flesh fly larvae crawl out of the breeding material to find a place to pupate and often the larvae can be found dropping from ceilings or crawling along baseboards. If larvae are found on top of a counter, bed, etc., look for vents or light fixtures in the ceiling from which larvae could have emerged. Either investigate the attic directly above or inspect the ceiling void, remove the vent cover or fixture, and examine the void for an animal carcass. 6

7 3. Use Traps. ILTs and/or sticky traps can help remove adult flies quickly until the dead animal is discovered. A Trap placed in a pet store captured dozens of flesh flies which led to the discovery of dead roof rats in the false ceiling. ILTs are useful in removing these flies until the dead animal carcass can be found. Fruit Flies 1. Freshly Decaying Materials. A number of different fruit fly species (family Drosophildae) may be found infesting homes, restaurants and other buildings. Fruit fly larvae feed on yeasts that develop in freshly decaying organic materials, usually those containing sugars. The first place to look is where fresh fruits and vegetables are stored outside of coolers. Experience has shown that a single onion, potato, lemon or banana can serve as a breeding site for fruit flies. From there, check trash cans, recycling bins and for pieces of fruit or vegetables kicked under tables or appliances. Don t be surprised to find restaurant employees tossing half-eaten bananas or other fruit behind appliances, into false ceilings or onto the of walk-in coolers. top Common Fruit Fly (Drosophila melanogaster) Bugwood.org I ve found fruit flies breeding in drains, most often the drains in soft drink beverage towers. Also beware of leaks occurring with the lines that run from beverage towers to the boxes/canisters of syrups. Often, these lines run through walls, ceilings and under slab floors. A pinhole leak in one syrup line creates a breeding source for fruit (and phorid) flies that may not be easy to access. With floor drains, fruit flies may be found breeding in organics at the top of the drain but rarely are found deeper into the drain line. Last, in commercial kitchens, sugars and other organics can accumulate along and under baseboards, cracks at floor level and within the spaces of rubber floor mats. 2. Bacterial Cleaning Products. Obviously, the key to minimizing fruit fly infestations is through good sanitation practices. The varying levels of cleaning and maintenance in kitchens complicates the efforts for effective fruit fly management. Convincing the customer to convert their cleaning materials to the use of a bacteria-based cleaning product can be highly beneficial for fruit fly control. The types and numbers of bacteria vary by product but all are designed to attack and consume sugars, greases and proteins present in the organic buildups in drains and on floors that support fruit, phorid and moth flies. Properly used, bacterial cleaning products deny fly larvae the foods they need to thrive and so, over time, fly populations plummet. Elimination of flies may not occur just with the use of such products alone if fruit flies are breeding in trash cans, recycle bins or other sites where bacterial products are not contacting. For the bacteria to perform their job, the customer must refrain from using standard cleaning products, drain cleaners or bleach on floors and drains. Such chemicals will kill the bacteria. Additionally, customers should be advised that results may take a week or two. Consult the manufacturer of the bacterial cleaning product of choice for specific information on gaining the best results with each product. 3. Other Tools. A number of effective fruit fly traps are available that will attract and remove adult flies while the search for and elimination of breeding sites is ongoing. When placed near suspected breeding sites, trapping adult fruit flies helps reduce the numbers seen by customers and employees. Traps also can be spaced uniformly in an area to help narrow the search for breeding site locations. The traps with the larger number of flies are likely closer to the breeding site. Fly Bait and Fly Stickers can both be used indoors and applied near fruit fly breeding sites to intercept and kill adult flies. Restrictions for use in food-handling establishments found on these products labels should be followed. 7

8 Phorid Flies 1. Breeding Sites Highly Varied. Phorid, or humpbacked flies, (family Phoridae) are a large group of small flies known to exploit a large variety of breeding material. Although they can be found living in the same types of decaying organic matter as fruit flies, phorid flies can breed in materials in a high degree of decay, particularly in drains and drain lines, contaminated soil, rotting vegetation and dead animals. I once traced a phorid fly infestation back to an open pail of organic glue used in a bookbinding factory. In another case, the flies were found breeding in wet flour that had washed up into cracks beneath the equipment in a small bakery. When dealing with phorid flies, your inspections will need to be more far-ranging than those involving fruit flies. Humpbacked Fly (Megaselia scalaris) Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org 2. Process of Elimination. Inspections should focus first on the more obvious sites for breeding such as drains, trash receptacles and wet debris trapped in cracks at floor level (use a putty knife or spatula). If phorid flies are not located or continue to be an issue after steps have been taken to clean up those breeding sites, you will have to look deeper. If walls are wet and could have flies breeding within, drill a small hole into the wall void(s) and tape a clear plastic cup containing an insect monitoring trap over the hole. Check it the next day. Adult flies, if inside the wall, will fly to the light coming through the hole and be snared on the trap. Any walls with flies will need to be opened by the maintenance staff to determine the issue and then corrected. If a broken drain line is suspected beneath a slab floor, you can use the same clear cup/trap technique after drilling holes through the slab in areas where you suspect the drain line might be fractured or leaking. It may take a couple of days for flies to begin emerging from under the slab into the cups and if they do, then the customer needs to employ a plumber to scope the drain lines, find and fix the break. With drain line breaks, it is extremely important that all wet, contaminated soil be removed and replaced with fresh soil at the time the drain line is repaired. If the contaminated soil remains, phorid flies will continue to breed and invade the building above. This fact also holds true for sub-slab drain line breaks involving moth flies. 3. The Odd Cases. With phorid flies, you can run into the once-in-a-lifetime kind of infestation. Be prepared to ask the customer about a building s history and construction. A case involving a bathroom in a new Florida home was discovered when the pest professional opened the block foundation to access the bath trap under the soaker tub. Within the hollow blocks, he found a bag of faeces a construction worker had tucked inside during construction. 8

9 A well known pest management consultant spent many days deducing the source of a major phorid fly problem in a hospital. Ultimately, he discovered the contractor had incorrectly installed the drain line system under the kitchen floor and for months food-laden water had been accumulating in the soil underneath. It took weeks of excavation of soil and installing the drain lines correctly to remedy the situation. A large commercial building was discovered to have been constructed over a site where a soybean storage once stood. Apparently, a considerable amount of rotting soybeans had been covered with soil rather than removed, thus providing a continuous source of phorid flies filtering up into the building. Since the soybeans could not be removed, a sump area was dug under the slab where most of the fly activity filtering into the building appeared to originate. A light hung in the sump served to attract flies under the slab to the sump where a pipe and fan were used to direct them outside. SUMMARY Flies are adaptable creatures and nothing you discover should ever surprise you. Just remember that the flies we deal with all require moist, decaying organic materials of some kind to breed. Finding where these exist in and around a building and confirming which are being exploited by your target fly will often test your skills as a pest investigator. Be sure to question the customer and their maintenance staff about plumbing and maintenance issues and get them involved in cleaning up and making necessary repairs. Otherwise, flies will persist and your customers may be unhappy with your service. Source - The author is Stoy A. Hedges, BCE, founder of Stoy Pest Consulting, Lakeland, Tenn. Link to full article - 9

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11 NEWS BITES Vkorc1 sequencing suggests anticoagulant resistance in rats in New Zealand PhilE Cowan, a* Dianne M Gleeson, b,c Robyn LJ Howitt, b Ana Ramón-Laca, b Alexandra Esther d and Hans-Joachim Pelz d Abstract BACKGROUND: Anticoagulant toxins are used globally to control rats. Resistance of Rattus species to these toxins now occurs in at least 18 countries in Europe, America and Asia. Resistance is often associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Vkorc1 gene. This study gives a first overview of the distribution and frequency of Vkorc1 SNPs in rats in New Zealand. New Zealand is unusual in having no native rodents but three species of introduced Rattus norvegicus Berk., rattus L. and exulans Peale. RESULTS: Sequence variants occurred in at least one species of rat at all 30 of the sites sampled. Three new SNPs were identified, one in kiore and two in ship rats. No SNPs previously associated with resistance were found in Norway rats or kiore, but seven ship rats were heterozygous and one homozygous for the A74T variant. Its resultant Tyr25Phe mutation has previously been associated with resistance to both first- and second-generation anticoagulants in ship rats in Spain. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first evidence of potential resistance to anticoagulant toxins in rats in New Zealand. Further testing using blood clotting response times in dosed rats is needed to confirm resistance potentially conferred by the Tyr25Phe mutation. Assessment is also needed of the potential of the other non-synonymous variants (Ala14Val, Ala26Val) recorded in this study to confer resistance to anticoagulant toxins Society of Chemical Industry Supporting information may be found in the online version of this article. Keywords: Rattus rattus; R. norvegicus; R. exulans; anticoagulant; resistance; genetics; VKORC1 Correspondence to: PE Cowan, Landcare Research, POBox 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand. cowanp@landcareresearch.co.nz 11

12 NEW ZEALAND NEWS Giant leap to pest-free NZ is attainable Concerted effort will repair past damage and leave a country which is source of pride for future generations. James Russell says the 2050 target will require a huge cultural shift. Photo / Supplied New Zealand is the world leader in killing invasive predators. We're so good at it; other countries around the world seek our help and advice for their own eradication projects. But our focus, replicated by many other countries, is generally on offshore islands such as Tiritiri Matangi where mammalian predators would otherwise have eaten islanddwelling native species to extinction. We have eradicated predators and herbivores from more than 100 offshore islands, but in 50 years our pest-free island area has only increased from 0.5 per cent to 10 per cent. While offshore and back-country conservation makes a lot of sense when money and resources are limited, do we really want our precious taonga native species tucked away in remote places where most New Zealanders rarely get to see them? The Government has said no, but by any standard scaling up our efforts by the order of magnitude required to achieve a pest-free New Zealand by 2050 is a giant leap from where we are now. 12

13 Can we do it? I believe we can and I think we must. The Government's decision to commit a further $28 million to the 2050 goal on top of the $60m to $80m already spent on pest control every year is a significant step forward and, perhaps more important, demonstrates the leadership required. It sets up a multi-year programme which successive governments must all support - our precious biodiversity, unique in the world, must be seen as more than a political football. We have around 4000 volunteer groups already working hard to protect species in their own backyards and adding countless volunteer hours to the existing funding for pest control. While tourists flock to our off-shore island sanctuaries, the majority of visitors are New Zealanders, as are the majority of the 80,000 people who visit the Zealandia predator-proof ecosanctuary in Wellington each year. Invasive species threaten to undermine agriculture, horticulture and forestry. To achieve the goal of a mammalian predator-free country by 2050 we will need new knowledge, including better science and technology. We will also need better economic appraisal - something we often don't consider when we think about the cost of controlling invasive pests is the cost of not controlling them. Invasive species threaten to undermine agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Rodents chomp their way through fruit and vegetables while possums eat an estimated 7.67 million tons of vegetation annually and spread bovine TB among cattle. More importantly, the 2050 target will require a huge cultural shift. Cultural changes do not happen overnight, but do happen. New Zealand is a small country with unique biota that has existed on these islands for millennia. Since humans arrived around 700 years ago, nearly half of our native birds have gone extinct. Currently, about 25 million native birds are killed each year by predators and we know that is not sustainable. We owe it to coming generations to do as much as we can to repair the damage of the past and to re-create a New Zealand that is not only a source of enormous national pride but that serves as a beacon of hope for all endangered species around the world. Source - NZ Herald By Dr James Russell Dr James Russell is in the school of biological sciences and the department of statistics at the University of Auckland. 13

14 Tauranga man helps invent predator alert Scott Sambell outside the predator proof fence at Glenfern Sanctuary, after an alert informed him a rodent had been caught. Photo/Supplied A Tauranga man has helped develop a wifi-driven predator alert which will save conservationists precious time and resources. Scott Sambell helped develop a predator alert system which uses a particular frequency (868MHz) on a platform called LoRaWAN, or Long Range Wide Area Network, to check if a predator trap was opened or closed. "That may seem like a fairly trivial thing to someone unfamiliar with our industry, but for someone like myself who has allocated ten of thousands of dollars to checking if traps are open or closed, this is what is commonly referred to as a game changer," he told the Bay of Plenty Times from Great Barrier Island. "I am only responsible for about 765 traps and if you were to extrapolate that to the total number of traps across the country, then you can see why this thing would be useful. "If you know a trap is closed you can go and reset it so you can catch the next pest faster. "If a trap has closed in an area where you thought you didn't have a pest, you know - instantly - that you have a problem in your defences." Rather than checking traps, resources could be put into other areas like planting trees, he said. The system was developed on Great Barrier Island by Mr Sambell and two other locals, Gian Badraun, who developed the first system about three years ago, and Matt Way who was developing the system further. There were four trial sites with the trap in operation including Glenfern Sanctuary, Okiwi Basin and Tryphena on the Great Barrier Island and Paekakariki on the Kapiti coast. Mr Sambell works between Tauranga and Great Barrier Island. - Bay of Plenty Times Read more by Ruth Keber Ruth Keber 14

15 NZ trying to keep stink bug out: Authorities on high alert The Ministry for Primary Industries is on high alert to stop the invasive brown marmorated stink bug from making a home in New Zealand. Photo: 123rf.com Kiwis are being warned to be on the look out for a stink bug causing havoc for farmers in other countries. The Ministry for Primary Industries is on high alert to stop the invasive brown marmorated stink bug from making a home in New Zealand. The bug, that eats horticultural products such as apples and grapes, is likely to start showing up in imported cargo from the Northern Hemisphere, according to MPI response adviser Dr Catherine Duthie. "The stink bug season for us runs from September to April - the autumn and winter months in the Northern Hemisphere. "That's when the bug starts aggregating in dark sheltered places, including cargo." Brown marmorated stink bug is a serious horticultural pest in the United States and is also starting to spread through Canada and parts of Europe. Duthie says MPI and industry groups have been working together to prepare for the increased risk. "A big focus has been bolstering New Zealand's border defences. Our border team has redeployed its officers to target inspections on containers from the United States and Italy, where the bug is well-established in some areas. 15

16 "We know brown marmorated stink bug has been causing major problems for farmers in northern Italy, so we'll be watching imported goods from this country very closely." MPI has also increased its surveillance of wharves and vessels, particularly ships that carry imported vehicles and machinery, and areas where cargo is held on ports. MPI said the bug was most likely to establish itself in a urban areas if it gets past the border. It is running a campaign to alert gardeners, city councils and other urban groups on how to recognise the pest. "We want anyone that sees a brown marmorated stink bug to catch it and call MPI." The ministry is also encouraging arriving air passengers to check their baggage and notify MPI if they find anything. Duthie said MPI is well prepared to handle a border incursion by the bug. "Among other things, we've just completed successful trials with the United States Department of Agriculture to see if detector dogs can be used to sniff out the bug in an outdoor environment. "We know we can get sniffer dogs into the field at short notice if required." She said MPI had also been developing traps and was working to register insecticides for use against the bug should it be detected in New Zealand. MPI border staff intercepted 406 stink bugs between January last year and April this year. The bug eats horticultural products such as apples and grapes. Photo / Supplied The brown marmorated stink bug The pest is a voracious eater of horticulture produce including apples, grapes and tomatoes A wide range of crops would be unmarketable if damaged by the bug. In the US some growers have reported crop losses of up to 95 per cent It is resistant to many insecticides, making it difficult and expensive to control When it gets cold, the stink bug bunches up in dark spaces in homes making it a major public nuisance. Source - NZ Herald 16

17 TECHNICAL HINTS 12 Practical Tips for Reducing Exterior Pest Attraction Extending pest control efforts to the outside helps to keep pests from coming inside. cudger Thinkstock.com Internal sanitation is frequently discussed as critical to keeping pests from finding a hospitable environment (i.e., food, water, and shelter) in your processing plant. But you may be less aware of the external factors that draw pests to your facility, particularly in the summer when pest issues historically increase. This includes not only common food pests, such as rodents and flies, but also occasional invaders, such as crickets and earwigs, which live outdoors but will enter structures in search of shelter from adverse conditions. While these occasional pests will not survive long indoors, even their brief presence (e.g., during an audit inspection) will be seen as a potential food adulteration. While the food safety or quality assurance manager may not generally see the exterior of the plant as within his or her realm of responsibility, the safety of the food being produced can be impacted by the condition of the exterior and its attraction to pests. As such, GMP methods of adequate maintenance focusing on pests include: Properly storing equipment, removing litter and waste, and cutting weeds or grass within the immediate vicinity of the plant buildings or structures that may constitute an attractant, breeding place, or harbourage for pests. 17

18 Adequately draining areas that may contribute to the contamination of food by seepage, footborne filth, or providing a breeding place for pests. Protecting food in outdoor bulk fermentation vessels by any effective means, including: using protective coverings, controlling areas over and around the vessels to eliminate harbourages for pests, and checking on a regular basis for pests and pest infestation. Thus, whether or not the exterior specifically falls in the domain of food safety, you need to ensure that the grounds are not attracting pests that can be further attracted into the facility. While exclusion (i.e., sealing gaps, repairing screens, keeping doors closed, etc., to reduce or eliminate pest access) is also a critical component of keeping pests out, this article focuses solely on the exterior grounds. EXTERIOR HABITAT MODIFICATION What can the food plant do to make its exterior less attractive to pests? In most cases, the answer isn t in the spraying of chemicals around the exterior of the plant. Rather it is a matter of habitat modification based on pest biology and behaviour. Following are 12 practical tips for reducing pest attraction to the exterior of a facility. The first five focus directly on the specifications of the GMPs, while the others provide tips for decreasing the property s appeal to pests. 1. Properly store equipment. Most pests will take harbourage about anywhere they can find shelter. If you keep equipment, crates and pallets, etc. unprotected outdoors, you not only attract pests seeking shelter, but you risk the chance of bringing those pests into the plant when the equipment is brought inside. 2. Remove litter and waste. Piles of litter can provide shelter in which pests can easily hide, while waste is a readily accessible source of food. With such available resources, pests are also likely to decide your property is a great place to raise a family with many pests able to breed at high rates. Keep the perimeter of the food plant free of organic material. hansenn Thinkstock.com; Linda Johnsonbaugh Thinkstock.com 3. Cut weeds or grass. Both weeds and grass can provide shelter for a vast range of pests. Additionally, keeping a two-foot band around the perimeter of the facility completely free of grass, plants, or organic material will create a non-attracting buffer zone. Even standard landscaping ground cover, such as mulch and bark, can provide food and shelter for pests, and increase their access into the facility. 4. Control moisture. In the heat of summer, moisture is one of the greatest of pest Instead of landscaping with plants or mulch which can provide pests with food, shelter, and increased facility access. hansenn Thinkstock.com; Linda Johnsonbaugh Thinkstock.com attractants whether it be puddling in low-lying areas, overwatering of plants or mulch, stoppedup drain pipes, or other leaks. To prevent these, areas that accumulate water should be filled in or regularly drained; grounds built up so as to slope away from the building; downspouts directed away from the facility; and stone, rock, or other non-absorbent materials used for landscaping. 18

19 5. Use protective coverings, harbourage elimination, and regular inspection to protect food in outdoor vessels. The GMP may be written as specific to bulk fermentation vessels, but it is the food safety-savvy facility that implements the practice throughout the property to protect any food products stored outdoors (e.g., crates of produce) and the property in general. Implementing Tips 1 to 4 to reduce potential pest harbourage and checking on a regular basis for pests, pest infestation, and conducive conditions is just good pest management practice. 6. Where landscaping is used, incorporate various native species to support a variety of insect species. Although this may sound counter-intuitive, maintaining a natural environment will help to reduce any single insect population, because the different species will be in competition for available food and harbourage which you will also have reduced through the other 11 practices of this list. 7. Reduce pest attraction to lights. Some lighting is more attractive to pests and can draw them toward your building and to doors near which they are placed. This can be reduced by: o o o Replacing standard mercury vapour lights with high-pressure sodium vapour or halogen lights. Bulbs with pink, yellow, or orange tints will be least attractive to the flying insects. Placing lights away from the building and directing the light toward the area needing illumination. Shading windows so that indoor lighting is less, or not, visible from outside. 8. Control outdoor eating areas. If employees are able to eat outdoors, designate specific areas where they can do so, and restrict food consumption to those areas. Ensure that all food is picked up afterward, and spills or dropped food cleaned up immediately. Employees should also be told to not feed birds or other wildlife, as this simply attracts them, and secondary pests, to the area. 9. Keep trash dumpsters closed, and trash areas clean and as far from the building as possible. It hardly needs to be said that trash and its odours will attract all sorts of pests from flies to cockroaches to wild animals. Even when the containers can be set away from the building, employees should be cautioned to place trash only inside trash containers, and all should have pest-resistant lids/covers that are kept closed. 10. Placing sticky insect traps around the facility can help control pests and monitor for their presence. Best placement is just inside potential entry points, particularly around dock doors. Pests attempting to make their way into the building can get caught on the adhesive of the trap, and if the traps begin to show significant numbers of catches, you will know that something is failing, and you need to implement further preventive controls. (Remember glue boards for rodents are not allowed Ed) 11. Exterior pesticides can sometimes be of benefit, but should be considered only after all other options fail for two key reasons. The primary reason is because of the short-term aspects of pesticides used outdoors. Environmental conditions can quickly break down the active ingredients and reduce or eliminate the efficacy of the pesticide. Additionally, if the pesticide penetrates the exterior wall, it can reach and kill pests that seek shelter within the walls (such as stink bugs) which can then attract secondary pests or cause odours to emanate as they decompose. Internal pest control is an important component of any food safety program, but keeping external pests from coming into the facility in the first place is not only more efficient, it follows a risk-based philosophy of implementing preventive controls rather than reacting after the fact. The author is Lisa Lupo - editor of QA magazine. She can be reached at llupo@gie.net. Reprinted with permission from Quality Assurance & Food Safety (QA) magazine May-June/2016 Link to full article - for-reducing--exterior-pest-attraction.aspx 19