Urban Plant Health Network

Urban Plant Health Network

Healthy Plants, Healthy Future

Welcome to the Urban Plant Health Network

Why urban gardeners should care about biosecurity

How do new pests and diseases get into the country? And how do we detect them

Looking out for the brown marmorated stink bug

Do you have citrus gall wasp in your garden?

Keep those backyard beehives free of disease

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Image Credit: Eva Do
published - 1 November 2019
By Jess Lye (cesar)
Urban plant biosecurity – understanding emerging risks, supporting resilient cities and safeguarding rural industry

Urban growth is critically linked to biosecurity risk, however the extent of this risk is not well understood and efforts to engage urban dwellers in biosecurity best practices are few. Ninety percent of Australian residents live in urban areas, mostly on the Eastern seaboard. For such a heavily urbanised society, …
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Protect your patch, Uncategorized

Exotic pests and diseases can hitchhike in cargo from trading and travel
published - 30 October 2019
By Lana Russell (Agriculture Victoria)
How do pests and diseases get into Australia and how can we detect them?

Historically, our country has been protected by its geographic isolation, which means Australia is free today of many of the pests and diseases common to other countries.
However, as Australia becomes more connected to the world through increasing trade and international passenger movements we will become progressively more reliant on good …
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Protect your patch, Uncategorized

Community garden in Melbourne
published - 25 October 2019
By Madeleine Quirk (AUSVEG)
Why urban gardeners should care about Australia’s biosecurity

Australia has a world-class biosecurity system and natural barriers that protect us from exotic pests and diseases, which allows our agriculture industries to thrive. But global trends supporting increased trade and travel makes managing biosecurity threats coming into Australia increasingly difficult. In 2018, there were 21.1 million international travellers coming …
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Uncategorized

published - 2 October 2019
By Agriculture Victoria
Look out for the brown marmorated stink bug this spring

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is an insect that feeds on fruits and vegetables and over winter shelters inside homes and buildings, vehicles, machinery and sheds.
BMSB produces a very unpleasant odour when it’s disturbed or squashed – hence the term ‘stink bug’. 
Originally from eastern Asia, this pest it is …
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Uncategorized, What bug is that?

If you see anything unusual , call the exotic plant pest hotline 1800 084 881
published - 1 October 2019
By Lana Russell (Agriculture Victoria)
Reporting unusual plant pests or diseases

Have you spotted an unusual plant pest or disease?
You can report these to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline -1800 084 881.
Calls within Victoria will be diverted to Agriculture Victoria. This Hotline is answered 0800 – 1800 Monday to Friday within Victoria. Please leave a message if you phone …
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Home, Protect your patch, Resources, What bug is that?, What plant disease is that?, Where to go for help

Gall on a lemon tree
published - 1 October 2019
By Jo Chong Wah (Agriculture Victoria) and Jeff Milne (Citrus Australia)
Do you have citrus gall wasp in your garden?

Citrus gall wasp (Bruchophagus fellis) affects all types of citrus across Australia. The wasp produces lumpy, woody galls around their larvae on branches. The galls weaken the trees, making them produce less fruit and sometimes causing branch dieback.
Urban gardeners are encouraged to act now to stop the spread of this …
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Uncategorized, What plant disease is that?

published - 2 September 2019
By Jo Chong Wah (Agriculture Victoria)
Welcome to the Urban Plant Health Network

Urban and community gardeners of Greater Melbourne, this is your network!
The Urban Plant Health Network connects you with industry and government experts to help you identify and manage exotic plants pests and diseases in your home and community gardens.
All gardeners should keep their gardens clean and free of plant pests, …
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Home, Resources, Where to go for help

Bee on a flower
published - 2 September 2019
By Jo Chong Wah (Agriculture Victoria) and Nikki Jones (Agriculture Victoria)
Keep those backyard beehives free of disease

With spring upon us, backyard beekeepers should be preparing to conduct inspections and maintenance on their hives.
Beekeepers have an important role to play in protecting their honey bees and the entire honey bee industry from the spread and impact of established pests, as well as the possible entry and establishment …
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Uncategorized, What bug is that?