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30 April 2025
🍅 Biosecurity Update: Response to Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP) detection in Victoria
What has happened
Tomato potato psyllid (TPP) was found in Victoria in November 2024. This was the first detection in Australia outside of Western Australia. Initially detections were found within a 3km zone near Portarlington, on the Bellarine Peninsula. A further detection has since been made in Clifton Springs, which is approximately 10 km from the initial detection site. While Agriculture Victoria undertakes further investigations, a Restricted Area has been established to stop the pest spreading further.
Genetic analysis has shown the Victorian population is consistent with the population found in Western Australia.
Testing of insects and plant material has shown no evidence of Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso), the bacterium responsible for zebra chip disease in potatoes. TPP is a known vector of this disease overseas. Australia remains free of CLso.
What is the latest update on the situation?
As a result of the recent detection in Clifton Springs, the original Restricted Area, declared under the Plant Biosecurity Act 2010, has now been extended to include areas of the Bellarine Peninsula within 20km of the initial detection (see attached map). Movement of host material from the Restricted Area is prohibited.
Restricted Area information
Plants or plant products from the Convolvulaceae or Solanaceae families such as tomato, potato, eggplant, chili and capsicum, cannot be moved out of the Restricted Area. This includes plants, fruits/vegetables, cuttings and waste material.
The prohibition does not apply:
To tubers (including dormant seed, ware and processing potatoes), bulbs, corms and rhizomes without attached green material (e.g. leaves, stem, etc.), or
To fresh fruit/vegetables without leaves, calyx or other attached green material, or
To green waste which is double bagged and placed general waste bins for disposal through a council collection service, or
If a permit has been provided by Agriculture Victoria.
Obtaining a permit to move from the Restricted Area
If you are seeking a permit to move host material from the Restricted Area, please email Agriculture Victoria at market.access@agriculture.vic.gov.au. In your email, please provide the address of where you would like to move host material from, the type of host material and your intended date of movement.
Information on TPP 📰
What is TPP?
The tomato potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) is a tiny sap-sucking insect that attacks a range of plants in the Solanaceae family which includes potato, tomato, eggplant, capsicum, chilli and tamarillo. It also attacks sweet potato.
Adults resemble small, winged cicadas and are about 3mm long. The body is brownish and has white or yellowish markings on the thorax and a broad white band on the abdomen. Their wings are transparent and held vertically over their body. The nymphs have flattened oval pale yellow to green or orange scale-like bodies and red eyes. More mature nymphs have wing buds and are fringed with hairs. Eggs are often found on the lower leaf surface or along the leaf stalk. They are less than 1mm long, orange to yellow or green with a short stalk.
What are the signs of TPP?
When TPP is present in a crop, noticeable signs include insects jumping from the foliage when disturbed, as adults, often called 'jumping plant lice,' readily jump or fly. Plants may wilt severely when heavily infested, and leaves may show yellowing along the edges and upward curling.
White, sugar-like granules excreted by psyllids can coat leaves and stems, leading to the development of sooty mould. Sticky honeydew and psyllid sugar make plants appear dirty. Growth may be stunted, with shortened stem internodes and stem death that resembles other potato and tomato disorders. Early detection is essential to minimise damage.
What you can do
If you suspect TPP may be present on your property, you must notify Agriculture Victoria by:
Via the website at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/reportpestsonline, or
Emailing to plant.protection@agriculture.vic.gov.au, or
Calling the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
When reporting suspect pests, good photos are helpful. For a guide on taking good pest images, please visit www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/takeaphoto.
More information
Know more about Tomato potato psyllid | Priority pest insects and mites | Pest insects and mites | Biosecurity | Agriculture Victoria.
For further information on this Biosecurity Update please email market.access@agriculture.vic.gov.au.
Restricted area
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