by Hobbs • 5 AUG 2025

BMSB Season is Back!

Over the last decade, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) has become New Zealand's Public Enemy Number One; cunning creatures of camouflage that eat everything in sight. They are one ugly bug that we don't want anywhere near our New Zealand Shores!

The BMSB feeds on over 300 species of plants and poses significant risk to our fruit and vegetable industries. As a country that relies heavily on our kiwifruit, apples, grapes for wine production, and lamb and dairy industries, it's imperative that we ensure the BMSB isn't given the footing to take hold in NZ.

The problem with the stink bug as a whole, is that New Zealand holds native species which to the untrained eye look remarkably similar to the pest wrecking devastation to agriculture, horticulture and society across Asia, throughout Northern America and in Europe. The BMSB looks to evade border controls by assuming these false identities and hitchhiking their way into the country via imported goods.

 

MPI has fought to contain the problem over the last decade via its targeted BMSB season. All Approved Transitional Facilities (import devanning stations/container freight stations) are looked at to provide a first layer of defense to keep these bugs out. MPI further targets areas of concern, setting up catch points around industrial areas as a second layer of defense. 

Goods of high risk coming from targeted risk countries (currently 38 and counting) must be treated by an approved treatment provider prior to arrival in NZ or fall under an MPI-approved management system to gain entry into NZ. This procedure is the same as last season.

Last year, MPI intersected 38 live and 642 dead BMSB at our borders, highlighting the importance of our offshore treatments and risk seasons.

The BMSB risk season is fast approaching and begins again for goods leaving origin on or after 1st September and runs through to goods that will arrive on or before 30th April.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out the Hobbs Global team; info@hobbsglobal.co.nz.

If you think you've seen a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, get in touch with MPI directly and urgently on 0800 80 99 66.

More info on the BMSB can be found on MPI's Website: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/pest-and-disease-threats-to-new-zealand/horticultural-pest-and-disease-threats-to-new-zealand/brown-marmorated-stink-bug-threat-to-nz-and-identification/

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