News

Mites of the genus Cenopalpus are plant-feeding pests that can cause significant damage to fruit and ornamental plants, such as apples and peaches. These mites are mainly found in Asia, Europe, and northern Africa, but the global trade of plants is facilitating their spread to new areas. This study, published in Insects journal, examines official border inspections from several countries to understand how often and where Cenopalpus mites are being transported.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has developed a series of five capacity-building videos to support global stakeholders to minimise pest contamination associated with the movement of sea containers. 

This document details how to design and implement statistically sound, risk-based surveys for non-EU Cicadomorpha vectors of Xylella fastidiosa regulated as quarantine pests within the European context, using pest survey cards for leafhopper, treehopper and spittlebug vectors of Xylella fastidiosa.

This article, published in NeoBiota, looks back over 9 years of invertebrate interceptions at Australia's borders, offering insights into the evolving challenges of managing invasive invertebrates in the context of global trade.

This article, published in NeoBiota, explores the possibility of honey bees as potential vectors of Austropuccinia psidii, the causative agent of myrtle rust.

This article in Frontiers explores the challenge of using citizen science in plant disease surveillance through structured training, educational support, and professional validation.

Urban green spaces are emerging as important and often overlooked hubs for plant pest and pathogen establishment, persistence, and spread. This article in Frontiers journal compiles records of Phytophthora–host associations from 16 peer-reviewed studies (2005–2025) across botanical gardens, parks, street trees, and managed urban landscapes and argues that cities can act both as entry points and amplification hubs for Phytophthora.

This article in Insects journal, documents the aphid fauna recorded in five European botanic gardens and illustrates the value of botanic gardens for documenting aphid diversity and supporting early detection of non-native species relevant to plant health and biosecurity.