This summer saw a significant milestone for biosecurity efforts in New Zealand with the first imports of the bio-control agent, the samurai wasp (Trissolcus japonicus).

Despite its fearsome name, the wasp is a tiny, poppyseed-sized bug that is completely harmless to humans and animals except the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB). It is a natural predator of BMSB, one of the greatest threats to New Zealand’s horticultural industries.

Under strict controls set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), approvals have been given to enable the samurai wasp to be used as a key response tool should New Zealand ever be faced with a BMSB outbreak.  

Since gaining the approval in 2018, the BMSB Council has been actively researching how the wasp might be deployed in a response, and in early 2024, marked the arrival of the first batches into containment at Plant and Food Research’s secure Auckland facilities. These initial wasp arrivals are being used to test the logistics and feasibility of importing the wasps into containment.

As shown in the above photo, members of the BMSB Council, made up of the Ministry for Primary Industries and nine horticultural sector bodies (representing the kiwifruit, apple & pear, vegetable, winegrowers, tomato, vegetables, process vegetable, avocado and summerfruit sectors) recently viewed the samurai wasp in containment at a laboratory in Auckland.

More information on the threat posed by BMSB can be found on the MPI website:

Brown marmorated stink bug: threat to NZ and identification | NZ Government (mpi.govt.nz)

and more information on the activities of the BMSB Council can be found here -   

GIA - Government Industry Agreement > Activities > BMSB Council