News

By Shafiya Hussein, Grains Biosecurity Officer, South Australia

Exotic pest hitchhikers, such as khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium, can devastate South Australia’s $4.3 billion grains industry through production and export market losses if they enter Australia and become established.

Khapra beetle, brown marmorated stink bug, red imported ant, and exotic snails and slugs are highly invasive pests known to be expert hitchhikers.

They can hide and hitch rides in shipping containers, air cargo, vehicles, machinery, furniture, travellers’ clothes and shoes, packaging material, dried plant and animal products and mail.

With the rapid increase of international trade and the resumption of international flights, the risk of exotic pests being introduced via sea and air into Australia is rising.

The grains industry needs to be extra vigilant for these uninvited travellers.

Early detection and reporting are critical to successfully stopping exotic pests from getting a stranglehold in Australia.

Khapra beetle is Australia’s second highest ranked National Priority Plant Pest and the number one priority plant pest for the grains industry.

In warm conditions, khapra beetles multiply quickly, causing severe damage to stored grain.

Other products can also be contaminated by these beetles that shed larval skins and hairs, which can pose health risks and are very difficult to remove from storage facilities and transport vessels.

SA’s surveillance and rapid response programs delivered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions have been crucial in timely detection and responses to reported pest incursions.

This has been crucial in keeping our state and country free of these pests to-date.

SA’s robust biosecurity system relies on a partnership approach between government, industry and the community.

Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility, whether you are a grower, grain handler, food or feed manufacturer, transporter, tourist, or member of the community. We all have a role to play in keeping khapra beetle out.

Grain growers can play their part through the following:

• get familiar with common grain pests to identify anything unusual – call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on any suspicion of an exotic pest (1800 084 881)
• have frequent inspections and monitoring at grain storage sites and storage facilities for the presence of new pests and unusual damage
• good hygiene measures at storage facilities, including the timely clean-up of spillages
• when transporting grain, avoid overloading that may lead to spillage, make sure trailers are clean and any leftover grain is disposed of properly
• talk to others in the industry about hitchhiker pests to raise awareness.

For more information, visit the grains farm biosecurity website or contact one of the Grains Biosecurity Officers in your region.

State	Grains Biosecurity Officer	Phone	eMail
NSW	Kate Glastonbury	0417 687 307	kate.glastonbury@dpi.nsw.gov.au
QLD	Kym McIntyre	0429 727 690	kym.mcintyre@daf.qld.gov.au
SA	Shafiya Hussein	0437 723 295	shafiya.hussein@sa.gov.au
VIC	Jim Moran	0418 377 930	jim.moran@agriculture.vic.gov.au
WA	Jeff Russell	0447 851 801	jeff.russell@dpird.wa.gov.au