NRC-Screening of shipping containers for pest hitchhiker species:Phase 2

Shipping containers and the cargo and packaging materials they carry pose important risks to Australian biosecurity, as they can carry pests and pathogens of importance to Australian environments and primary resources. Containers imported to Australia must satisfy Australian biosecurity concerns and comply with biosecurity conditions at the time of entry, which involves an important component of risk management during biosecurity inspections. Novel molecular detection techniques targeting environmental DNA could greatly enhance detection of cryptic species and complement Australian biosecurity responses. Phase 1 of this project tested for eDNA/eRNA of brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), electric ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) and Asian spongy moth (Lymantria dispar asiatica) in 2110 dust samples collected from shipping containers and tested cost-effective workflows for metabarcoding. This proposal outlines species-specific and metabarcoding associated costs for testing during Phase 2.