They have applied to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to release an organism new to New Zealand – the samurai wasp – to combat any brown marmorated stink bug invasion.
The EPA is seeking public submissions on the application.
The applicant, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Council, includes groups representing the avocado, apple and pear, tomato, vegetable and wine industries.
In the United States and Europe the stink bug has caused severe economic damage to horticultural crops and has invaded homes during the cold winter months.
The council says a report by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research shows commercial crops at risk from the stink bug have an annual sales value of $4 billion. They include pipfruit and summerfruit.
The stink bug poses one of the highest risk biosecurity threats to NZ and is often detected at the border.
If the stink bug successfully breaches our biosecurity system and establishes it will be very hard to eradicate, the council says.
Enter the samurai wasp.
Biological control by the wasp is likely to be the most effective long-term, sustainable and socially acceptable means available, the council says.
The alternative, used overseas, is increased use of broad-spectrum insecticides, often at high application rates.
The samurai wasp doesn’t sting and is harmless to humans but attacks and kills stink bug eggs.
The trigger point for releasing the wasp would be detection of a stink bug invasion or an established population. Rapid release of a squadron of wasps is critical to successful eradication so the council is seeking pre-emptive approval so wasps can be launched as soon as the balloon goes up.
Public submissions open on April 11 and close at 5pm on May 24.
