LG enlisted in efforts to help eliminate stowaway pest beetles

The federal Agriculture Department wants local government’s help to eradicate khapra beetles detected in white goods and highchairs imported into Australia last year.

The highly
invasive beetles target stored grains and dried foods and are regarded as the
world’s second most damaging insect pest.

Last August, khapra beetles were detected in the packaging of a refrigerator sold at a Canberra store.

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) traced the fridge to a consignment imported in a single shipping container from Thailand. The other 75 fridges were distributed across NSW and the ACT.

The beetles
were also detected in a container consignment of 320 highchairs imported from
Italy in October and distributed nationally to 57 retail stores and two
distribution centres.

Should it
to became established here, the khapra beetle could cost Australian agriculture
and industry up to $15 billion over 20 years.

Following
emergency containment and control measures for the fridges and highchairs, DAWE
is overseeing follow-up trappings, inspections and surveillance at facilities
and sites where infested packaging may have been received. 

The traps
are non-toxic and have been approved for use by the Australian Pesticides and
Veterinary Medicines Authority.

They will
be inspected regularly by biosecurity officers, and council staff at the
selected sites should not handle or tamper with the traps as this may reduce
their effectiveness.

Sites where
the beetles are detected may require fumigation treatment by state/territory
biosecurity officers.

This DAWE webpage has more information on the khapra beetle detections.