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Melon thrips (Thrips palmi Karny) is one of several Risk Group 2 pests on New Zealand MAF Biosecurity Authoritys list of unwanted pests Its wide host plant range and its presence worldwide including several countries in the Pacific region underpin its biosecurity status In this case study we used CLIMEX a climate matching software program to determine likely locations in New Zealand where melon thrips could establish once introduced Possible establishment was based on climate match with overseas locations where melon thrips is present and on a range of biological parameters specific to the response of melon thrips to climatic conditions The upper North Island is predicted to be most suited to melon thrips establishment This also matches the known New Zealand distribution of Hercinothrips bicinctus banana thrips a species found worldwide in locations similar to that of melon thrips

The mortality response of diapausing and non‐diapausing twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) on persimmons to hot water immersion treatments between 44 and 54 °C was examined, for potential as a quarantine treatment. The mean immersion time for mean 99% mortality (LT99) of diapausing mites at 44 °C was 211 min, and this time decreased with increasing temperature to 3.6 min at 54 °C. Non‐diapausing mites were found to be less tolerant to temperatures below 48 °C, with an estimated LT99 of 102 min at 44 °C, but had similar thermotolerance above 48 °C. In 47 °C water the immersion time required to kill 99% of diapausing mites was estimated at 67 min. This time was not reduced by subsequent coolstorage at 0 °C for up to eight weeks. Rather, coolstorage had the effect of keeping mites alive, relative to LT99 estimates calculated for mites stored at 20 °C. Similarly the thermotolerance of mites did not change with increased time in diapause, even though mites in diapause for 12 weeks had high control mortality. Hot water immersion appears to be a potentially useful disinfestation method for persimmons.

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Huhu beetle larvae, Prionoplus reticularis White, were successfully reared in the laboratory at 20°C L:D 0:24 h on an artificial diet containing pine sawdust. The larval period was reduced to c. 250 days compared with at least 2 years in the field. Mean larval weight increased from 1.38 mg (neonate) to 3639 mg (mature larvae) after 230 days on artificial diet. Most larvae entered diapause, which was successfully terminated by ambient field conditions in season but not by laboratory chilling regimes. The diet used may be suitable for other cerambycids, and especially useful for rearing field-collected larvae to provide adult beetles for taxonomic studies.