Biosecurity Queensland | Government organisation

Biosecurity Queensland

Phone: +61 132523

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25.01.2022 Do you know what this is? No, it’s not a medieval torture device but something integral to keeping one of our industries safe from marauders Click ‘See more’ for the answer! This is a mango guillotine!... Staff at the Cape York Biosecurity Centre in Coen are on the lookout for pests that could affect Queensland’s mango industry. All surrendered and seized mangoes are cut in half so they can be checked for red banded mango caterpillar, mango fruit borer, mango pulp weevil and other exotic pests that affect mangoes. You can give them a hand by not moving mangoes south of the Jardine River and by declaring fruits and vegetables at the Coen Centre. For more info on how you can help https://www.qld.gov.au///plants-weeds/far-north-queensland. Aussie Mangoes Australian Mangoes #capeyork #mangoes

25.01.2022 Fifth case of Panama TR4 confirmed in Far North Queensland A banana plant sample taken from a Tully Valley property in August has tested positive for Panama disease tropical race 4 (Panama TR4). A final test has confirmed last month’s preliminary positive result. Our surveillance team found the infected plant during a routine check of the property.... We've been working closely with the grower to support meeting the set of strict biosecurity measures required to limit disease spread. The grower’s existing on-farm biosecurity measures will make it easier to meet these requirements. This is the 5th detection of Panama TR4 since it was first found in Queensland in 2015. All 5 properties are in the Tully Valley, in close proximity. Panama TR4 is a soil-borne fungus that is a serious threat to Australia’s $580 million a year banana industry. It’s easily spread, can live in soil for decades, and can’t be eradicated. People, machinery and animals can spread the disease, but strong on-farm biosecurity and regular surveillance are the best ways to limit further spread. More about #panamatr4 and on-farm biosecurity at https://panamatr4ready.com.au/.

25.01.2022 Planning to ’go bush’ these holidays? By ensuring that your shoes and clothes are clean before you go hiking or mountain biking, you can protect our precious native bushland from plant diseases such as Phytophthora dieback and myrtle rust. Both diseases can result in death of our susceptible native plants. Help protect our bushland from invasive species, come clean and leave clean. ... Don’t destroy what you have come to enjoy!

24.01.2022 Do you receive cargo from overseas? Containers and their contents, equipment, vehicles and ships are all at risk of bringing exotic gypsy moth (usually as eggs) to Australia at this time of year. Exotic gypsy moths (http://bit.ly/gypsy_moth) are a group of exotic plant pests that could have serious impacts on our agricultural, nursery and forestry industries and our natural environment, plus they could be a public nuisance and a minor human health hazard. Their egg masses ...hitchhike to Australia on ships, planes and cargo, and are more likely to survive the journey to Queensland between September and May. Queensland participates in a national program to trap exotic gypsy moths, (see https://www.facebook.com//a.1623679971497/3085219971531188) but you can help us keep them out of Australia by inspecting any imported goods for signs of gypsy moth. If you do suspect exotic gypsy moth, report them to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

23.01.2022 Cluster fencing grants available now! Another $5 million dollars in cluster fencing grants is open to drought-declared local government areas to help protect livestock against feral pests. Round 5 funding of the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative (QFPI) is for cluster fencing projects that complement existing activities and support the shared responsibility approach. Landholders should contact their local government, industry group or regional NRM group to discuss inclusion in ...Round 5 projects. Previous rounds have seen thousands of kilometres of protective fencing built around hundreds of sheep properties encompassing millions of hectares, which in turn has seen an almost doubling in lambing rates, and significant job creation. Applications close 5pm, Wednesday 11 November 2020. For more information, head to https://www.daf.qld.gov.au//anim/qld-feral-pest-initiative.

21.01.2022 It’s question time would you know the answers? Always report suspect banana plants to 13 25 23 For more information, head to https://panamatr4ready.com.au/community-members/

21.01.2022 Going camping these holidays? Make sure you dispose of food waste or leftovers in a secure bin. The international spread of African swine fever has been linked to feral pigs eating food or food waste that contained infected pork, so it’s really important we all limit any chance of this happening! Read about foods that are a biosecurity risk for pigs: https://bit.ly/2Za4Sbu.

20.01.2022 Massive thanks must go to all our plant health inspectors for helping keep Queensland produce moving interstate. Biosecurity officer Warwick here is checking produce and nursery stock for pests and diseases, as part of a state-wide team that keeps Queensland plants and plant products moving to interstate markets. This has been especially important in 2020, with COVID-19 creating many challenges for Queensland producers. With their personal protective equipment (PPE) firmly in place, our inspectors have worked right through the pandemic to keep Queensland-grown plants and plant products getting to market.

20.01.2022 It’s not just beekeepers who should be concerned about keeping Australia’s honey bee population safe from varroa mite. Crop pollination is a multi-million dollar industry responsible for ensuring much of Australia’s fruits, vegetables and nuts make it to harvest and to our tables. Apples, peaches, almonds and pears are just some Australian produce that relies on bees. We’re currently responding to an incursion of varroa mites found on a nest of feral Asian honey bees at the Townsville port in April 2020. If you’re in the Townsville area, you can help ensure Australia maintains its status as the only inhabited continent in the world to be free of varroa mite by reporting any suspect Asian honey bees to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23. See what some different types of bees look like at https://bit.ly/3bVvXDS.

19.01.2022 Wafa | Terrestrial veterinary pathologist I manage animal health and disease investigations from the laboratory and the diagnostic side of things. Every day at work is a new chapter and every new case I manage is a new challenge. My work can relate to an animal disease investigation, animal health for export, routine surveillance or quality assurance. I do post-mortem examinations and collect samples, histological examinations, and interpret results and write final reports.... I’ve worked for Biosecurity Queensland for more than 20 yearssince before we were called Biosecurity Queensland! I find making diagnoses and seeing negative test results for exotic animal diseases really rewarding. My work and the work of our team helps show Queensland is free from exotic animal diseases, and this supports international market access and trade for primary producers. #BQinthefield

19.01.2022 Dogs die in hot cars. Most people who leave their pets unattended in a vehicle are unaware of the dangers, but temperatures inside a car can reach 75C in summer. Leaving the windows down doesn’t stop a car reaching extreme temperatures. With summer just around the corner, it’s best to leave your dog at home with shade, shelter and fresh water. Read more from our friends at RSPCA QLD at https://bit.ly/2K68gwg.

18.01.2022 Broad-leaved pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) is a large spreading tree that can out-compete and replace native species. It can also harbour mango black spot disease and witches' broom diseases that affect citrus. It‘s primarily spread through seed dispersal by birds. Herbicides are available using foliar application, basal bark and cut-stump methods. To find out how to control broad-leaved pepper tree with herbicides, check out https://bit.ly/3io2uVy.

18.01.2022 Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help us protect Australia from plant and animal pests and diseases. Fancy yourself a bit of a biosecurity expert? Mission Biosecurity (www.missionbiosecurity.com.au) has a bunch of interactive and digital resources for you to test your knowledge and skills as a biosecurity champion. Or if you're still learning, jump on over to discover what biosecurity is, how it can impact our way of life and how we can all help ...protect our environment, community and economy from biosecurity baddies. It's a national initiative aimed at strengthening biosecurity awareness and prevention and we'd love for you to share it so we can all help protect our beautiful state and country! #missionbiosecurity

18.01.2022 What’s it mean to come clean and leave clean? When entering banana farms to look for symptoms of the devastating banana plant disease Panama TR4, our surveillance officers make sure they come clean and leave clean. This video shows the four-step decontamination process of cleaning off dirt, rinsing, disinfecting and making a record which our officers do every time when they enter and exit a banana farm. This is in addition to following the grower’s biosecurity procedures.... So remember: Always follow farm rules if visiting a banana farm; and Always come clean and leave clean. Check out https://panamatr4ready.com.au/ to find out what you can do to help protect our banana industry from Panama TR4.

17.01.2022 If you guessed Queensland, then it looks like you’re checking your yard for fire ants South East Queensland is continuing to battle one of the world’s most invasive pests. Did you know they could be hiding in your backyard? The super pest loves: Footpaths and driveways Lawns ... Garden beds Taps Utility pits Let’s work together to stop the spread of fire ants. bit.ly/reportfireants #fireants #NRIFAEP #biosecurity

17.01.2022 Hitting the great outdoors for the school holidays? If you’re heading up to Cape York remember to make sure your gear is clean! Vehicles, trailers, boats and quad bikes are perfect places for pests and weeds to hide out, but making sure everything is clean both before you leave home and during your trip will help protect this beautiful part of the world for future generations. For more info on how you can help https://www.qld.gov.au///plants-weeds/far-north-queensland. ... #capeyork #4x4 Explore Cape York Cape York Road Report Explore Tropical North Queensland Visit Queensland, Australia AUSSIE4x4

16.01.2022 Who’s been honing those search skills? Increased community vigilance has meant an increase in suspect ant reports sent to the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program. While not all reports were positive, we know you’re eagle-eyed, so will make easy work of this fire ant word search. Which ones can you find? Keep up the good work and keep your eyes out for fire ants. Look, report, treat together we can protect Australia. ... #fireants #NRIFAEP #biosecurity See more

15.01.2022 Just ducking into the shops? Won’t be long? Remember that leaving a dog in a hot careven for a short timecan be an act of cruelty. Fines of up to $266,900 or up to 3 years imprisonment can apply to people convicted of cruelty for leaving animals in hot cars. If you see a dog left in a hot car report it immediately to RSPCA QLD by calling 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) or to us on 13 25 23. If it is an emergency call 000.... More information about animal cruelty at https://bit.ly/3mTL0TM.

15.01.2022 Four pictures, one theme, what is it? Can you guess what biosecurity risk these photos all relate to? How about a few clues: - The disease was first detected in Queensland in 2015 - It has the potential to devastate one of our major horticultural industries... - We all have a role to play in limiting its spread. If you're still unsure, or want to know what you can do to help limit its spread, head over to panamatr4ready.com.au/.

14.01.2022 Bunny ears cactus (Opuntia microdasys) is related to prickly pear and could have significant negative impacts on Queensland’s agricultural and environmental systems if it is allowed to establish and spread. We’ve been working with local governments to find and remove bunny ears cactus from gardens to prevent this from happening. If you see any bunny ears cactus, call us on 13 25 23. To help with identification, check out this short video https://bit.ly/2PGstuV.

13.01.2022 Travelling through melon farming districts this summer holidays? Check out these videos from the Melons Australia on what you’ll see and how to enjoy your trip without spreading pests and diseases. https://www.melonsaustralia.org.au/consumer-travelling-in-/

13.01.2022 Simple biosecurity measures help protect the health of your chickens, you and your family. What’s your top tip to keep your chickens healthy? Ours is to always wash your hands before and after contact with your chickens and eggs. ... Find out more about how to protect chickens from disease and manage their health at https://bit.ly/2ZKW89y.

13.01.2022 Cacti in Queensland today. If you’ve been following our posts, you would have learned how prickly pear covered 60 million acres of Queensland and New South Wales in 1920. There are now approximately 20 species of invasive cacti that have established weedy infestations in Queensland. This includes the prickly pears (from the genus Opuntia), and many species of cholla cacti (from the genus Cylindropuntia). For this reason, some species of invasive cacti are regulated in Qu...eensland. There are restrictions on keeping, selling and moving these species to prevent them from establishing in the environment or to reduce their impacts. Pictured here is a coral cactus (Cylindropuntia fulgida) infestation near Hebel in south-western Queensland. #cactusfeatureweek

11.01.2022 Bee on the lookout Our honey producing bees are under attack! The varroa mite is a tiny parasite that attaches itself to honey bees and honey bee brood, weakening the bees and potentially, wiping out entire colonies. Hear what all the buzz is about in our latest episode of Turf’n’Surf, which looks at the impact of varroa mites on the honey industry overseas and how we are working to eradicate varroa mites detected in Townsville. ... Check it out here https://www.daf.qld.gov.au//eradicating-varroa-mites-the-s

10.01.2022 ~ Name the native ~ Do you know what this festive flower is called?

09.01.2022 Which species of cacti are regulated in Queensland? All species of cacti from the genus Opuntia (the prickly pears) are regulated in Queensland, except for Indian fig (Opuntia ficus-indica). Also regulated are all species in the genus Cylindropuntia (cholla cacti), Harrisia cacti (three species), Eve’s pin cactus (Austrocylindropuntia subulata) and cane cactus (Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica). All of these cacti are invasive and the Biosecurity Act 2014 lists these species ...into either prohibited matter or restricted matter (find a full list at https://bit.ly/QLD_invasive_plants). Pictured here is Harrisia cactus. #cactusfeatureweek

09.01.2022 Did you know we continue to research and introduce biocontrol agents for invasive cacti? Remember our post explaining how cacti were first introduced to feed cochineal, to dye the uniforms of the British Marines? Cochineal is now used as a biological control for several species of invasive cactus. Following a recent detection of Hudson pear (Cylindropuntia pallida) at Kingaroy, scientists from the Ecosciences Precinct in Brisbane determined that one variety of cochineal meal...y bug (Dactylopius tomentosus) was host specific. They transported the insects to Kingaroy for mass rearing and release at the site. You can read an ABC News story here for more details: https://www.abc.net.au//hudson-pear-plays-havoc-w/10302052 This image shows scientists carefully preparing boxes of Hudson pear infested with cochineal for release. #cactusfeatureweek

08.01.2022 Nothing can ruin a game of backyard cricket or family BBQ like fire ants! Practice your yard-checking skills with our spot the difference. How many differences can you spot? Do you know when the best time is to spot the super pest? Answer below ... After rain! Why? Because fire ants tend to build their nests higher after rain and thrive in the humid conditions which often follow wet weather events. Fire ants can also raft on water and relocate their nests when they are threatened by rain or floodwaters. Learn how to check your yard at bit.ly/identifyingfireants #NRIFAEP #LookReportTreat #fireants #biosecurity

07.01.2022 Do you know how many #fireant invasions have been stopped in Australia? The answer may surprise you... #biosecurity #NRIFAEP

06.01.2022 Think spring is the start of the growing season? It’s actually the end of the season for gardeners and primary producers in Queensland’s north! Either way, whether you‘re a commercial grower, hobby farmer or just occasionally grow a few veggies in your backyard, now is a great time to have a good ol’ spring clean! Getting rid of dead plants and leaf litter helps ensure you don’t carry over pests and diseases into next year’s crops. If you’ve had pests and diseases in... your plants, make sure you dispose of the residue carefully - into the general waste is best. All healthy leftovers can go in the compost or a green bin. And of course, don’t forget to give your tools, vehicles and equipment a really good clean too. See more

06.01.2022 Are you spreading invasive plants these holidays? They can be easily spread via clothing, camping gear and vehicles. Follow these simple steps to prevent invasive plants from spreading: clean your clothing and shoes before leaving natural areas, camping grounds and properties keep to designated roads and tracks keep vehicles and camping gear free from dirt and invasive plants ... remove plant material from boats, trailers and propellers especially when moving between different waterways learn to identify invasive plants in the areas you visit. #checkforpestsbeforechristmas

06.01.2022 ARE WE THERE YET??? ARE WE THERE YET??? ARE WE THERE YET??? Heading to Cape York for the school holidays? We can’t help you entertain your kids but we CAN help you keep Cape York safe from invaders!... Pests like toads and ants love hiding out in camping gear, boats and trailers - and weed seeds can also stick to your shoes and socks or to the wheels of quad bikes. Making sure everything is clean before you leave home and while you’re travelling will help stop the spread of pest plants and animals and protect this beautiful part of the world. For more info about travelling in the Cape, check out www.qld.gov.au/protect-cape-york. #capeyork #4x4 Explore Cape York Cape York Road Report Explore Tropical North Queensland Visit Queensland, Australia AUSSIE4x4

05.01.2022 They may be pretty turtley but these red-eared slider turtles are definitely not welcome in our turtle club! Native to the USA, the red-eared slider is a freshwater turtle with a distinctive red strip behind each ear. They’re very aggressive and will out-compete native species for food and space. The International Union for Conservation of Nature even lists the red-eared slider as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species! While we’ve narrowed them down to a single known location in South East Queensland, they have been known to be distributed through the illegal pet trade, so definitely let us know if you see any, anywhere. You can call us on 13 25 23, or snap a picture and send us a direct message.

05.01.2022 More reasons to buy Australian made... Biosecurity officers have responded to two recent cases of exotic snakes being found within imported goods. In the first incident a customer purchased an office chair imported from China and discovered a deceased snake within the packaging. Another customer purchased a doona made in Pakistan. When using the doona the person felt something sharp, finding a deceased snake stitched into the doona stuffing. The person was admitted to hospital as a precaution. If you find something unusual in imported goods, report it immediately by calling 13 25 23.

05.01.2022 Spring is here! Is your beehive ready? Watch this week’s bee biosecurity live talk on Getting your hive ready for spring at 7pm tomorrow, 15 September at https://bit.ly/33bWr24. If you can’t make that time just use that link to watch the recording later! ... If you do watch it live on the night though, you'll be able to ask all your questions in the Q&A session after the talk.

04.01.2022 New penalties for travellers who don’t declare high-risk biosecurity goods Australian Biosecurity is increasing penalties for not declaring high-risk biosecurity goods at the Australian border, including more cancellation of visas. From 1 January 2021, biosecurity officers will be able to issue infringement notices up to $2664 where travellers fail to declare potential high biosecurity risks (like uncanned meat or live plant material) when arriving at Australian intern...ational air and sea ports. They'll be rolling out further communication material at air and sea ports too, to educate travellers about biosecurity risks, the changes in penalties and their obligation to comply with Australia’s biosecurity laws. Check out what you can or can't bring or import to Australia at https://www.agriculture.gov.au/travelling. Australian Biosecurity

04.01.2022 Digging out that green thumb again? Just because a plant is pretty, doesn't mean it's friendly. Check what you're cultivating isn't a prohibited or restricted invasive plant in Queensland at https://bit.ly/DAF_invasive-plants.

04.01.2022 Did you know that native bees get pests and diseases too? Join our bee biosecurity officer Rebecca and Associate Professor Lori Lach from James Cook University, plus Emily Lamberton and Dr Jenny Shanks from Plant Health Australia and Tobias Smith from The University of Queensland tomorrow 1 December at 7pm to discuss what we know about pests and diseases of native bees. We’ll also cover good biosecurity practices for keeping native bees and the risks native bees may pose in spreading pests and diseases to honey bees. Join the webinar at https://bit.ly/3jAvcmr or save the link to view the recording at a later date.

03.01.2022 Before moo-ving cattle sheep or goats from your property, check out these tips from Meat & Livestock Australia's Integrity Systems Company to be sure your National Vendor Declarations are clear, correct and complete. Records of livestock movements help trace animal movements in the event of an emergency animal disease and support market access for producers. Watch the video https://bit.ly/2Z5Yu5i.

03.01.2022 Red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) are an invasive exotic turtle species from North America. They're aggressive, will out-compete native species for food and can carry diseases that will threaten native turtles. There is a single known population of red-eared slider turtles in Queensland, where we've been working to remove them from the environment. Research is being undertaken to improve the effectiveness of surveillance techniques, including the use of D...NA analysis and automated surveillance platformsone of which took this image. These images can then be used to confirm the presence of red-eared slider turtles in a waterbody. You can help. If you see a red-eared slider turtle, take a photo and call us on 13 25 23 to report it. To find out more about red-eared slider turtles, head over to https://bit.ly/2XNKOuE.

03.01.2022 TOWNSVILLE: Have you heard of varroa mite? The varroa mite is a tiny parasite that attaches itself to honey bees and honey bee brood, weakening the bees and potentially, wiping out entire colonies. We’re currently responding to an incursion of varroa mites found on a nest of feral Asian honey bees at the Townsville port in April 2020. If you’re in the Townsville area, you can help ensure Australia maintains its status as the only populated country in the world to be free of ...varroa mite by reporting any suspect Asian honey bees to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23. Help keep Australia free of varroa mite by reporting any suspect Asian honey bees on 13 25 23. More on varroa mites at http://bit.ly/_varroa.

02.01.2022 Willow | Odour detection dog | National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program I’ve been with the program since 2013. My typical day sees my handler pick me up from the kennels and gives me a quick health check to make sure my snout is wet, paws are prepped and I’m ready to go. We then go for a car ride out into the field for a day of surveillance activity. I love that I get to visit new places every day. Once I’ve had a good sniff around, I get to have some chill t...ime with my handler or play some odour games to keep up my training before it’s time for bed. I’m great at staying super focused on finding fire ants even with all the distractions and smells around me. It’s sometimes really hard, 'cause there are so many sticks, birds and people to play with! But I know I’m pawsome and my team needs my help. My snout is extra sensitive, and I can detect a single fire ant from more than 30 metres away. I love my job, eating, playing and visiting my human friends in the office. They’re always so happy to see and cuddle me, especially when they’ve had a ruff day! "For Christmas I’m really hoping for some treats and LOTS of pats! " Help make Willow’s Christmas wish come true. 1 = 1 pat for this very special doggo! #NRIFAEP #LookReportTreat #fireants #checkforpestsbeforechristmas

02.01.2022 New suburbs have been added to the fire ant biosecurity zones this year. Has yours? Check today at bit.ly/new-fire-ant-zones The National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication is beefing up the fight against fire ants to provide extra protection against human-assisted movement. Will you join the fight against fire ants? ... #fireants #NRIFAEP #biosecurity See more

02.01.2022 This week is Australian Pollinator Week which acknowledges our important pollinators including bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, beetles and birds. Unlike people or animals, plants can’t go find their own mates to reproduce, so it’s really important that our pollinators stay healthy and free from pests. No pollination = no plants = no food! ... As one of Australia’s most prolific pollinators, we’re working hard to protect Australia’s European honey bee population, including through the National Varroa Mite Eradication Program, which is responding to detections of varroa mite in Townsville in 2019 and 2020 following successful eradication of an earlier detection in 2016. More information on the NVMEP can be found at https://bit.ly/daf_varroa. For more information on Australian Pollinator Week, head to australianpollinatorweek.org.au/.

01.01.2022 What’s the difference between prohibited and restricted matter? Can you guess if this violet prickly pear (Opuntia gosseliniana) is prohibited or restricted? Prohibited matter poses a significant biosecurity risk and is not known to be present in Queensland. Prohibited matter is subject to eradication if detected. If you find prohibited matter, it must be reported to us within 24 hours by calling 13 25 23 or sending us a private message with the details. ... Restricted matter is present in Queensland. There are different categories of restricted matter and each category applies a different restriction. Restricted matter cannot be sold, given away or released into the environment. A list of prohibited weeds can be found here: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au//72253/prohibited-invasive-plan A list of restricted weeds can be found here: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au//383818/restricted-invasive-pla #cactusfeatureweek