Australian travellers warned of stowaway brown stink bugs

Travellers returning from Europe or Asia have been warned to carefully check their luggage.

Travellers returning from Europe and Asia have been asked to carefully check their luggage for stink bugs, which could threaten the agriculture industry if reintroduced.

The urgent warning comes after the hitchhiker pest was discovered in the luggage of a traveller returning to NSW from Asia.

The traveller found the stink bug in a pair of pants, placed it in a jar and froze it, before calling NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

Testing confirmed it was a brown marmorated stink bug.

Travellers returning from Europe and Asia have been asked to carefully check their luggage for stink bugs. Picture: Supplied/ NSW government

While the pests have been eradicated in NSW since August 2018, Agriculture, Regional and Western NSW Minister Tara Moriarty urged people to be on the lookout for the bugs in their luggage, including their clothes and shoes, as well as around homes and yards.

The insects feed on more than 300 plant species including crops such as apples, peaches, raspberries, sweet corn, green beans, capsicums and tomatoes.

Outbreaks can also be extremely difficult and expensive to manage, with the bugs not easily eradicated through pesticides.

Adult bugs are about the size of a five cent coin – 12 to 17mm long and 7 to 10mm wide – and are generally mottled brown in colour with white bands on its antennae, legs and the sides of their abdomen.

The bugs notably release a strong, putrid odour when disturbed that’s been likened to rancid coriander, ammonia and sulphur.

Young woman passenger collecting her luggage from conveyor belt. Female traveller picking up suitcase from baggage claim line in airport terminal. Escape 14 January 2024 Kendall Hill Photo – iStock

Ms Moriarty said the smelly pests posed a “serious threat” to the state’s flora and farming industry.

“Sheltering in large numbers in buildings and equipment during the winter months, it’s a nuisance pest for businesses and households,” she said.

“This exotic pest is not present in Australia and infrequent detections associated with imports and international travel have been managed through diligent surveillance by national and state biosecurity authorities.”

As the stink bugs hibernate in winter, it will typically burrow into cargo and luggage of people travelling across the Northern Hemisphere during September to April.

In Australia, importation rules and seasonal surveillance in shipments from high-risk locations are also increased during this time.

Travellers who find instances of the stink bug are urged to call the NSW Exotic Plant Pest Hotline, 1800 084 881 whether they are dead or alive.

Originally published as Australian travellers warned of stowaway brown stink bugs