Issue 11 | Sep/Oct 2024

Seeking expressions of interest to review draft NSPs 

We are currently seeking expressions of interest to review the following draft National Surveillance Protocols (NSPs):  

• Spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) 
• Exotic invasive ants (various) 
• Pine wilt nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) and exotic vectors (Monochamus spp.) 
• Honey bee viruses (various) 
• Exotic armyworm (Spodoptera spp.) 
• Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) 
• Dutch elm disease (Ophiostoma ulmi) 

Applications close on Thursday, 10 October 2024 at 5 pm (AEDT). 

For more information on eligibility, the application process and funding, and to download the application form, Reference Standard and review guidelines, please visit the Plant Surveillance Network Australasia-Pacific (PSNAP) website via the button below.    

PSNAP-funded skills-based workshop: ‘Where to next for NSPs?’ 

Bringing together 19 surveillance professionals from government and industry across Australia, the PSNAP-funded workshop Where to next for National Surveillance Protocols (NSPs) took place at the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) offices in Melbourne, Victoria from 10 – 11 September 2024. 

The workshop focused on enhancing the effectiveness of NSPs and participants engaged in discussions to improve content, format, and overall purpose of NSPs.  

The key outcomes and recommendations from the workshop will be consolidated into a paper to be presented at the Subcommittee on National Plant Health Surveillance (SNPHS) meeting, which will take place in Melbourne in October 2024. 

We would like to acknowledge the facilitators and presenters for their dedication in planning and delivering the workshop, as well as SNPHS and the associated National Surveillance Protocol Working Group (NSPWG) for their input and involvement in the workshop and their ongoing commitment to progressing NSPs. 

The workshop funding and travel costs for eligible participants were made possible through funding received from the National Plant Biosecurity Surveillance Professional Development and Protocols Project, coordinated and delivered by Plant Health Australia and funded by DAFF.  

New NSP endorsed: NSP 4 for Khapra beetle surveillance

The Subcommittee on National Plant Health Surveillance (SNPHS) has recently endorsed a new National Surveillance Protocol (NSP) for Khapra beetle, a serious pest of stored grains, rice, oilseeds and dried foodstuffs, and ranked as Australia's number two National Priority Plant Pest. The NSP outlines updated surveillance methodologies and provides essential information on pest biology, taxonomy, identification, and sample processing. It will play a key role in coordinating khapra beetle surveillance activities across Australia and help maintain market access for a range of industries.

We would like to acknowledge the authors and reviewers for their efforts in developing and reviewing this NSP. The progression and endorsement of the NSP were made possible with coordination and support from the National Surveillance Protocols Working Group (NSPWG) and SNPHS. The coordination of NSP progression was facilitated through funding support by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), under the National Plant Biosecurity Surveillance Professional Development and Protocols Project, managed by Plant Health Australia (PHA).

For more information on the khapra beetle NSP or any other NSP-related questions, please contact the NSP coordinator at nspcoordinator@phau.com.au. 

Planning underway for Virtual ASW 2025

We are excited to announce that the Plant Surveillance Network Working Group (PSNWG) recently met to plan a series of Virtual Annual Surveillance Workshops (ASW) for 2025. 

More details will be released soon, so keep an eye out on your inbox for further information.  

To ensure you don’t miss any updates, please add PSNAP@phau.com.au and media@phau.com.au to your ‘safe senders’ list by following these instructions. 

Virtual ASW 2025 will be delivered as part of the National Plant Biosecurity Surveillance Professional Development and Protocols Project, coordinated by Plant Health Australia and funded by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.  

Free Varroa mite resources now available

AgriFutures Australia in partnership with the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) recently launched a suite of Varroa mite (Varroa Destructor) focused resources.

The free resources include:

• the National Varroa Mite Management Program is hosting a series of free, one-day Varroa mite Management Training Workshops, in Victoria and New South Wales in October.
• AHBIC webinar: National Transition to Management, Business Continuity, Planning and Preparedness.
• a Varroa Expert Interview Series of six podcasts produced by AgriFutures and AHBIC.

Honey bee with Varroa mite parasite. (Source: https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/news-and-events/2023/10/11/varroa-mite-and-bees.html)

Careers in surveillance

Visit the careers page on the PSNAP website to keep up to date with current job and PhD scholarship opportunities. 

About the Network

The Plant Surveillance Network Australasia-Pacific (PSNAP) enables members to communicate and share skills in plant pest surveillance. It acts as a coordination point for surveillance professionals and practitioners to strengthen surveillance capacity and capability across Australia, New Zealand and the nearby region. 

The National Plant Biosecurity Surveillance Professional Development and Protocols Projects are coordinated and delivered by Plant Health Australia and are funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.