Stink bug sighting in Melbourne garden prompts Agriculture Vic warning
Catching whiffs of rotting onions or smelly socks in your backyard? Agriculture Victoria has reported at least one sighting in a Clayton garden of a notorious stinky pest believed responsible.
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Catching whiffs of rotting onions or smelly socks in your backyard?
Agriculture Victoria has reported at least one sighting in a Melbourne backyard of a notorious stinky pest believed responsible.
Authorities are on the alert after the accurately-named brown stink bug was spotted — or smelt — in Clayton.
The pest feeds on more than 300 types of vegetable crops, fruit and ornamental trees, and can cause significant damage.
When disturbed or crushed, it lets off a foul odour described as rotting onions or smelly socks.
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It shelters inside homes and buildings, vehicles, machinery and sheds, producing an unpleasant odour when disturbed or squashed, but it poses no risk to human or animal health.
Agriculture Victoria chief plant health officer Dr Rosa Crnov said the bug could have hitched a ride into Australia on imported goods, with the authority starting trapping and surveillance within a 2km zone around the detection point in Clayton.
The stink bugs are 12 to 17mm long, have a distinctive brown ‘shield’ shape and variable body colour.
Dr Crnov said people should not be concerned but asked them to watch for the bug and monitor their fruit trees.
“You can identify a stink bug by looking at its back,” she said.
“The back is veined and has distinctive black and white branding around the outer edge of its body.
“If you see one, trap it in a container and put it in the freezer and make a report to Agriculture Victoria. Do not crush it as we may need to test the sample.”
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