Travelling to the Cape? Help protect Queensland from exotic

pests and diseases

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Great state. Great opportunity.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Advice for travellers Cape York Peninsula is a high-risk area for the entry of exotic pests and diseases, which threaten the viability of our agricultural industries.

There are simple ways you can help Biosecurity Queensland (a service of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) protect the state from exotic pests and diseases:

1. Visit the Coen Information and Inspection Centre to learn about the high-risk exotic pests and diseases that could affect Cape York and the rest of Queensland.

2. Don’t collect any plant matter on your travels (including sugarcane, mango and banana plants) or any fruit. When travelling south, present any plant material or fruit for inspection at the Coen Information and Inspection Centre.

3. If you think you have spotted an exotic pest or disease, take a photo (if you have a camera) and record details of the location. Contact Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 or the Coen Information and Inspection Centre to report the sighting.

Surveillance Biosecurity Queensland officers conduct plant health surveys on the Cape York Peninsula to detect new exotic plant pests and diseases. Surveillance activities increase the chance of early detection of a pest or disease, and improve the chances of eradication or containment.

Biosecurity Queensland also monitors the spread of newly arrived exotic pests that cannot be eradicated.

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Help protect Queensland from exotic pests and diseases

Pest quarantine areas A pest quarantine area has movement restrictions placed on it under Queensland legislation. Cape York currently has quarantine areas in place to control the spread of a range of targeted pests, including the red banded mango caterpillar and mango leafhopper.

Penalties apply if the legislation is breached.

Help to keep pests and diseases in check by presenting all plants, soil and fruit for inspection at the Coen Information and Inspection Centre.

Know the enemy Did you know that the Cape York Peninsula is 13.5 million hectares of diverse habitat, flora and fauna? Given its immense size, we appreciate extra sets of eyes to detect pests and diseases.

Some of the worst pests and diseases are listed overleaf.

The pests on the following pages are listed as:

• notifiable pests (N)—some pests are of such concern that you are legally required to report sightings to Biosecurity Queensland

• exotic pests (E)—exotic plant pests are not present in Australia, or are present but not established and are under an official containment and/or eradication program.

Quarantine areas stop pests spreading

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Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Bananas

Blood disease (N, E) Bacteria: Blood disease bacterium (BDB)

Nearest location: Indonesia and Irian Jaya

Impact: This type of bacterial wilt disease affects the performance of the entire plant. Fruit turns brown/black on the inside and is unmarketable.

Spread: This disease is spread by pollinating insects, infected planting material and fruit, contaminated cutting tools, farm equipment and water.

Banana skipper (N, E) Insect: Erionota thrax

Nearest location: Papua New Guinea

Impact: Defoliation and reduced fruit production

Spread: The adult butterfly is active early mornings and evenings, and is attracted to light. They may be spread by vehicles loading in the evening. Eggs and larvae can be transplanted with planting material and banana leaves.

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Black Sigatoka disease (E) Fungus: Mycosphaerella fijiensis

Location: Torres Strait Islands (previously eradicated from Tully, Daintree and remote parts of Cape York Peninsula)

Impact: Extensive leaf damage, fruit ripen prematurely and yield is reduced

Spread: This leaf disease is spread by spores carried on the wind and in plants and plant parts. It can contaminate fruit shipments and spread vast distances by transport in vehicles.

Panama disease—tropical race 4 (N, E) Fungus: Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense

Location: Tropical race 4, the most severe kind of Panama disease occurs in the Northern Territory. Several other, less severe races of Panama disease are under quarantine control in parts of Queensland.

Impact: This type of fungal wilt disease eventually kills the entire plant. Several races of the disease exist, affecting different banana varieties.

Spread: It is spread in plant parts, suckers, soil or water and persists in the soil for many years.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Image: Andrew Beattie, University of Western Sydney

Citrus

Citrus canker (N, E) Bacteria: Xanthomonas axonopodis

pathovar citri.

Nearest location: Christmas Island, South-East Asia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea (previously eradicated from Emerald, Thursday Island and Northern Territory)

Impact: Infected trees display raised spots/ cankers that can form on leaves, fruit and stems. Trees are less vigorous and produce lower fruit quality and quantity.

Spread: It is a highly contagious bacterial disease. Splash from rain or irrigation spreads the disease, as does severe weather. People spread the disease by moving infected plants or plant parts, contaminated equipment, vehicles and tools; or on hands, shoes and clothing.

Asiatic citrus psyllids (E) Insect: Diaphorina citri

Nearest location: Irian Jaya and Papua New Guinea

Impact: Tiny nymphs attack buds and shoots, secreting honeydew and causing leaves to become distorted and curled. Psyllids are also vectors of citrus greening disease which is also known as Huanglongbing.

Spread: Winged adult psyllids spread by flying from plant to plant or may be moved long distances in plant material.

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Mango

Blue-striped nettle grub (N, E) Insect: Parasa lepida

Nearest location: Papua New Guinea

Impact: The blue-striped nettle grub is found on many crops, including mango, banana, cotton and palms. They strip the leaves of the plant and are often seen in groups and ‘processions’ as they move from leaf to leaf. The caterpillars have stinging spines. Take care not to touch them.

Spread: Eggs and larvae spread on plant material and adults spread through flight.

Mango leaf gall midge (E) Insect: Procontarinia spp.

Location: Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait (a quarantine area exists and movement restrictions apply)

Impact: Mango leaf gall midge produces wart-like galls on leaves resulting in reduced photosynthesis if left uncontrolled, leading to leaf drop and lowered fruit production. Younger trees may die while older trees fail to recover normal growth after repeated attacks.

Spread: Midge flight is assisted by wind currents. Insects/larvae can be moved on plant material.

Image: R Desmier de Chenon

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Red banded mango caterpillar (N, E) Insect: Deanolis sublimbalis

Location: Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait (a quarantine area exists and movement restrictions apply)

Impact: Eggs are laid on the outside of fruit. Larvae tunnel through the skin and flesh, and then feed on the seed causing fruit spoiling and premature fruit drop. Commercial losses are significant.

Spread: Adult moths spread by flight and are assisted by wind currents. Fruit, plants and soil can spread this pest.

Mango pulp weevil (N, E) Insect: Sternochaetus frigidus

Nearest location: Irian Jaya

Impact: Weevil larvae tunnel into the flesh of mangoes making them unfit to eat.

Spread: The main means of spread is through the movement of infested fruit larger than 6 cm in diameter. Adults are capable, but not regular, fliers.

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Other crop pests Fruit flies (N, E) General: Queensland has many native and

introduced fruit flies that look alike. Unusual signs of damage can indicate exotic species (e.g. maggots on green fruit and flies attacking vegetables).

Nearest location: Papua new Guinea and Torres Strait Islands (Asian papaya fruit fly previously eradicated from mainland Queensland)

Impact: Significant crop losses and closure of markets

Spread: Wet season monsoon winds carry fruit flies from Papua New Guinea towards the Australian coast. Fruit movement can also spread fruit flies over large distances.

Giant African snail (E) Gastropod: Achatina fulica

Nearest location: Papua New Guinea, Timor and Christmas Island (previously eradicated from Cairns)

Impact: Significant crop damage is possible. Giant African snails are active at night, feeding on a wide range of materials. Snail shells can grow up to 30 cm and their bodies can weigh up to 1 kg.

Spread: Snails may be transported on cargo, plant material, crates, shipping containers, machinery and motor vehicles. They can also be introduced at the egg stage in soil.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Invasive ants—electric ants (N, E), red imported fire ants (N, E), yellow crazy ants (E) Location: Electric ants are under eradication

and have been detected in Caravonica, Trinity Beach, Smithfield, Redlynch and Kewarra Beach.

Red imported fire ants are under eradication and have been detected in south-east Queensland and Yarwun, in central Queensland.

Yellow crazy ants are a declared species and have been detected in Brisbane, Cairns, Caboolture, Hervey Bay and Townsville.

Impact: These invasive ants can disrupt the natural environment, economic activities and people’s lifestyles. Animals, including domestic pets, can be blinded by ants. Ants may build up to high densities and sting people working in the field and around their homes. The stings are painful and can cause severe allergic reactions.

Spread: Tramp ants are closely associated with, and are spread by, people. They may be transported on cargo, plant material, soil, waste, crates, shipping containers, machinery and motor vehicles.

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Vegetable leaf miner (N, E) Insect: Liriomyza sativae

Nearest location: Torres Strait

Impact: Larvae feed within the leaf of a range of plants, reducing the plant’s ability to take in sunlight. This can cause delay in the development of seedlings and young plants, leading to plant death. The unsightly damage reduces the value of ornamental plants.

Spread: Leaf miners may be transported with green plant material, soil, potting soil or packaging.

Contact us

Coen Information and Inspection Centre Peninsula Developmental Road (next to the Coen Airport) Coen Qld 4871

Tel: (07) 4060 1135

Operating times: 7 am – 5 pm (dry season) 8 am – 4 pm (wet season)

For more information, contact Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 or visit www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au

Thanks for keeping watch over Cape York Peninsula.

We hope you have a pleasant and safe journey!

Image: Anthony Rice, Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

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