The Good, The Bad, and the Bug-ly Urban Plant Health Network

Biosecurity risks to plants and horticulture production are not only exotic pests, but sometimes it’s often the diseases they carry. Asian Citrus Psyllid is an exotic pest to Australia, but most of the damage from this pest actually comes from a bacterium it carries, which has devastated overseas citrus industries.
Biosecurity Manager with Citrus Australia, Dr Jessica Lye, joins us again to explain more about a program Citrus Australia runs and how it aims to keep Australia free of this pest and the disease it spreads in the latest ‘The Good, The Bad, and the Bug-ly’ episode.
For more information visit the Urban Plant Health Network.
If you see something unusual, call the Exotic Pest Plant Health line on 1800 084 881 or take a photo and upload it to the MyPestGuide Reporter. 

As annoying as flies are, they have an important part to play in our ecosystem. With many different types of flies, it can be easy to think they are all the same. There are good flies, bad flies and some really bad flies that are exotic to Australia. Senior Entomologist with Agriculture Victoria, Kyla Finlay, helps us determine which flies are bad flies and which are good flies in the latest ‘The Good, The Bad, and the Bug-ly’ episode.

The large earth bumblebee is exotic to mainland Australia but has been present in Tasmania since 1992.  These large, furry, and loudly buzzing bees are ferocious foragers and experts are concerned about the impact these large bees could have on our native species of bees and other nectar eating wildlife.
Agriculture Victoria invasive species analyst, Michael Whitehead, explains why the large earth bumblebee is not the kind of bee you want to hear buzzing around your garden, and what to do if you suspect you find one in the latest ‘The Good, The Bad, and the Bug-ly’ episode.
For more information visit the Urban Plant Health Network or Agriculture Victoria.
If you see something unusual, call the Exotic Pest Plant Health line on 1800 084 881 or take a photo and upload it to the MyPestGuide Reporter. 
 

We are used to advancements in technology changing the way we live, but did you know it can also assist with protecting our plant industries from exotic pests? Early detection of an exotic pest could become more efficient as we take a look at some of the emerging science and technology being developed and deployed to help keep Australia free of a range of exotic pests.
Tim Hurst, Surveillance Design and Analysis Officer with Agriculture Victoria explains to us how some of these technologies work in the latest ‘The Good, The Bad, and the Bug-ly’ episode.
For more information visit the Urban Plant Health Network .
If you see something unusual, call the Exotic Pest Plant Health line on 1800 084 881 or take a photo and upload it to the MyPestGuide Reporter. 
Glossary:
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB)
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE)
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
 

There are around 1,700 species of native bees that have been given names by scientists, but it is estimated there is as many as 2,000. Unlike European honeybees, native bees are mostly not social, preferring to live solitary lives, rather than in large swarms. With that many different native bee species, you may or may not have come across some in urban Melbourne. So how can you encourage these solitary native bees into your garden?
Robert McDougall, research scientist with Cesar Australia, explains what some of the more common native bees look like and where they like to live, and how you can encourage them into your garden.
For more information visit the Urban Plant Health Network .
If you see something unusual, call the Exotic Pest Plant Health line on 1800 084 881 or take a photo and upload it to the MyPestGuide Reporter. 

Queensland Fruit Fly is a significant horticultural pest which creates problems for both home gardeners and fruit producers. The host range of Queensland Fruit Fly is huge as it attacks and damages a wide range of fruit and vegetables.
If you find Queensland Fruit Fly in your garden, you can find information on how to manage it on the Agriculture Victoria website. However, this pest doesn’t need to be reported.
Join the regional coordinator of the Yarra Valley Queensland Fruit Fly Group, Bronwyn Koll as she explains why this pest is everyone’s problem and why the community needs to get on board with managing Queensland Fruit Fly together and the ways that we can all do that.
For more information visit the Urban Plant Health Network or Agriculture Victoria.
If you see something unusual, call the Exotic Pest Plant Health line on 1800 084 881 or take a photo and upload it to the MyPestGuide Reporter.