This contingency plan provides background information on the pest biology and available control measures to assist with preparedness for an incursion into Australia of the longicorn beetle Anoplophora chinensis. While many species of longicorn beetles occur throughout the world, this document will refer only to this species (referred to by the common name Citrus longicorn beetle) unless otherwise stated. It provides guidelines and options for steps to be undertaken and considered when developing a Response Plan to this pest. Any Response Plan developed using information in whole or in part from this contingency plan must follow procedures as set out in PLANTPLAN and be endorsed by the National Management Group prior to implementation.

The plant genus Anigozanthos consists of 11 different species which are endemic to Western Australia. Commonly known as kangaroo paw, both species and hybrids are used for domestic and export cut flower production and are also important as ornamental native plants that attract bees, nectar-eating birds and butterflies into the garden.
Several foliar diseases of kangaroo paws are serious enough to make the plants unsellable, but the major foliar disease is ink disease or ink spot. Ink disease may be caused by Alternaria alternata which is a fungal pathogen that has been identified on kangaroo paws plants with ink disease symptoms . The symptoms of ink disease are large black blotches on the leaves.

Various species of the fungus Cylindrocladium cause a wide range of destructive diseases in nursery plants and are particularly prevalent in more tropical areas. Cylindrocladium scoparium occurs worldwide, and is the most commonly reported causal agent of Cylindrocladium diseases in Australia, although a number of other species are also important pathogens including Cylindrocladium spathiphylli. This nursery paper was prepared by Lindy Coates, Leif Forsberg and Tony Cooke (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Queensland) as part of levy funded project NY11001 Plant health, biosecurity, risk management and capacity building for the nursery industry. It provides an overview of the fungus Cylindrocladium and how to prevent and control this disease of nursery plants.

Cycad blue butterfly, Theclinesthes onycha, is actually represented by two sub-species that are very similar in appearance. Sub-species capricornia occurs along coastal Queensland from Cape York to about Mackay and Rockhampton. Sub-species onycha occurs from about Rockhampton to as far south as Mt Dromedary, near the NSW-Victoria border. The onycha sub-species occurs along the coast and inland regions, as far west as Carnarvon in Queensland, and Coonabarabran in NSW. Their biology is quite similar, but differences are highlighted in each relevant section below.
Cycad blue butterfly is virtually indistinguishable from wattle blue butterfly (T. miskini), which feeds on many Acacia species, some Corymbia spp., Eucalyptus spp., Atalaya spp. (Sapindaceae), Sesbania spp. and some other species from Fabaceae. In fact, these two species often cannot be identified unless host plant information is available. Overseas, cycad blue butterfly can refer to different species. For example, Chilades pandava in Guam and Asia shares a common name, is closely related and appears very similar to Australian species.

The Australian nursery and garden industry has a lead role to play in managing the effects of climate change and variability upon our urban and natural environments. The industry, through the provision of plant material, has strong linkages with key primary industries throughout Australia which are responsible for providing food and fibre to feed and clothe the world. The production sector also services other key end users including forestry, revegetation providers, landscapers and local government, as well as many involved in developing the Australian urban forest (a term used to describe trees and shrubs on public and private land in and around urban areas).

The industry is a significant user of post entry quarantine (PEQ) and ‘approved facilities’ to import new germplasm in various forms, including tissue culture, vegetative cuttings, seed and whole plants. This supports a diverse range of crops in the food, fibre and foliage industries valued at more than fifteen billion dollars nationally. Although the industry has traditionally had a small export focus, the richness of Australian
Flora offers ample opportunity for export growth. To ensure the longevity of the industry and the protection of the Australian environment, plant industries and the wider community, it is essential pest risks are identified, prepared for and effectively managed. These biosecurity responsibilities must be shared equally between governments, industry and the community. Accordingly, the NGI has a lead role to play in the biosecurity continuum through information dissemination, grower education, on-farm management and risk reduction strategies.

The Nursery and Garden Industry grows and supplies a vast range of plants to many different regions of Australia. Plants grown by the industry are subject to a range of pests across the different climatic regions and environments throughout Australia. It is not just the existing established pests within Australia which the nursery industry should be concerned about. Exotic plant pests not currently known to exist in Australia
are a real threat as well. Fortunately, due to the geographic isolation of Australia, we have had relatively few of the exotic plant pests which have impacted on plant industries overseas such as Sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum). Freedom from these pests is a vital part of the future profitability, productivity and sustainability of Australia’s plant industries and will also help protect the natural environment and
landscape across Australia.

The nursery industry in Australia is very diverse with enterprises ranging from small owner/operator ventures to large multi million dollar commercial businesses. A wide range of plant types are grown, from immature seedlings through to fully mature trees. Some production occurs in glasshouses and shade houses while in other cases stock is grown in open plan production areas. It is in this range of environments that pesticides need to be efficiently and safely applied for the management of pests. The management of pests (insects, pathogens and weeds) is an important part of nursery operations. A wide range of pest management measures is available including chemical, biological, varietal and mechanical measures. All available methods should be used within an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program (eg. as described in the AGRILINK kit and Field Identification Guide, “Integrated Pest Management in Ornamentals”). Pesticides are a useful tool for managing pests. The purpose of this manual is to provide information on the effective and safe application of pesticides as part of an integrated pest-management 

The Asiatic citrus psyllid (ACP – Fig. 1), Diaphorina citri, is a major pest of citrus in North and South America, throughout Asia, and some South-Pacific islands (e.g. north-western Papua New Guinea). While ACP may cause damage to flushing citrus in its own right, its role as a vector of huanglongbing (HLB) (also called citrus greening) is of great importance when both are present. This bacterial disease (Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus) is considered by many to be the most important and damaging disease of citrus in the world and has only two main vectors: ACP and African citrus psyllid, although recent evidence suggests other psyllids (Cacopsylla citrisuga – pomelo psyllid, and Diaphorina communis) can acquire and perhaps transmit the disease 5, 7. None of these psyllid species, nor HLB are currently found in Australia, but would present a significant economic threat to citrus growers if it were to become established. While other psyllids have been reported on citrus around the world, only ACP and African citrus psyllid are significant pests 10.

This contingency plan provides background information on the pest biology and available control measures to assist with preparedness for an incursion into Australia of a range of viruses that are transmitted by aphids. In this contingency plan viruses have been used as examples of those considered to be of greatest economic impact and risk to the Nursery and Garden Industry. It should be noted that some aphid transmitted viruses with a high economic impact are already present in Australia.
The contingency plan provides guidelines and options for steps to be undertaken and considered when developing a Response Plan for incursion of the virus pests. Any Response Plan developed using information in whole or in part from this contingency plan must follow procedures as set out in PLANTPLAN and be endorsed by the National Management Group prior to implementation.

As you should be aware by now Cotton mealybug was recently detected in Queensland. It was discovered in the Burdekin and Emerald cotton crops. This is a timely reminder to everyone to thoroughly inspect and monitor all imported crops.
Pest management systems cannot be implemented if the grower does not know which pests exist and whether their populations are significant. This is true for both imported product before it enters your production areas and for your existing greenhouses, shade-houses, container stock bed, block or pad. Hence a wise grower will have a monitoring plan devised for each area and for imported stock.

Myrtle rust (Uredo rangelii) has been detected in the central coast region (Gosford/Wyong) of New South Wales (NSW) initially on a cut foliage farm on the 22nd April 2010. NGIQ notified all of industry via an electronic Alert in late April and through the May edition of Leaflet encouraging all plant producers to undertake property surveillance for this fungal disease. The plant disease has not been detected in any other state or territory of Australia.

The fungus Uredo rangelii (Myrtle rust) has been detected on a commercial property on the New South Wales central coast. Myrtle rush is considered to be part of a group of rust fungi collectively known as eucalyptus/guava rust. Early identification of this rust is vital to eradication efforts.

It is a demonstrated fact that the movement of live germ plasm (plants) increases the risk of moving plant pests whether a disease (bacterial, viral, fungal, etc) or insect. The nursery industry is going to come under greater scrutiny in the future particularly as we appear to be increasing the detection rate of exotic pest incursions throughout Australia. As a result of the experiences with the recent Citrus canker outbreak and the expected exposures to exotic plant pest incursions in the future DPI&F have amended the Plant Protection Act 1989.

A Townsville specialist cycad production nursery has more than halved the crop damage from various leaf chewing plant pests by adopting a holistic crop monitoring and strategic pesticide program across the production system. This has been achieved thanks to the help from the Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries (QPI&F) and the Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland (NGIQ) with on-farm Integrated Pest Management (IPM) advice.

THE sky is an unlikely place to fight ground-based fire ants yet the Biosecurity Queensland are using helicopters to destroy the tiny pests.
The chopper plan, which uses thermal imaging to detect hot ant nests, is aimed at wiping out the invaders. Biosecurity Queensland boffins have been working on the idea since 2009, which will be rolled out in rural and semi-rural areas such as south and west of Ipswich.