Flat-pack bed buy goes wrong after exotic beetle crawls out of hole

Launceston resident Jenny Purtell was excited to be buying a brand new bed for her son, “rather than second-hand for a change”.

Earlier this year they went to Harvey Norman and bought a flat-pack timber bed that had been imported from China.

But the family got a surprise when they started putting it together.

“When we put the slats on, I just thought I saw some antennae in a little hole,” Ms Purtell said.

“I had a look and an insect actually crawled out.”

As someone who has a “passing interest” in Tasmania’s insects, Ms Purtell knew this one looked different.

She also thought it was odd for a bug to be inside a piece of furniture.

“I quickly squashed it, and I just thought it would be worth an email or a phone call,” she said.

Ms Purtell contacted Biosecurity Tasmania, who sent over a biosecurity officer to collect the beetle.

The case was passed onto federal biosecurity through the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), which identified the species as Semanotus sinoauster.

The species is also known as the China fir borer, which is considered a high-risk species to the timber industry because the beetle’s larvae feed off the wood of certain trees.

The family was told to spray the room with insecticide, check for more insects and double-wrap the bed in cling wrap.

Three more beetles were found.

Plant-eating beetle could cause ‘economic consequences’

The China fir borer’s known host trees include Chinese fir, Japanese cedar and pines, according to DAFF.

“The species is a concern as it is an exotic pest of forestry significance,” the spokesperson said.

“Semanotus sinoauster is a member of the insect family known as the Cerambycidae.

“Due to their phytophageous [plant eating] feeding habits, Semanotus sinoauster has the potential to cause economic consequences in Australia.”

The China fir borer had only been detected in Australia once before, at border security in 2012.

DAFF confirmed there had been no further detections of the beetle since the June incident.

“There has been a traceback done on the consignment and remaining held goods from the original consignment have been fumigated,” the spokesperson said.

“Nearly 90 per cent of the goods have been recovered for treatment or destruction.

“The large retailer very promptly provided a refund to the customer and the importer had been very cooperative throughout the case management.”

Harvey Norman has been contacted for comment.

Exotic pests frequently intercepted by biosecurity officers

DAFF said it detected live and dead insects every day, as well as larval forms.

“In the 2022–23 financial year there were about 31.5k pests and diseases identified,” the spokesperson said.

“Regulations and import conditions are in place to help keep biosecurity risk offshore.

“Biosecurity officers vigilantly inspect imported goods that can harbour potential biosecurity risk and manage any risk that is detected.”

The types of pests found by biosecurity officers ranged widely in species.

“Detections include many agricultural pests such as exotic ants and sap-sucking bugs, grain pests that can damage our grain industry and borers that can damage our native trees and timber industry,” the spokesperson said.

“Some of the pest species of concern detected during 2022–23 include Halyomorpha halys (brown marmorated stink bug), Cerambycidae (longicorn beetle), Aedes aegypti (dengue mosquito), Trogoderma granarium (khapra beetle) and Coccinella septempunctata (seven-spotted ladybird).”

Biosecurity Tasmania notes it has “some of the world’s strictest biosecurity laws”. In airports, beagles walk the baggage carousels, sniffing for fresh produce, and cars on the Spirit of Tasmania are inspected by biosecurity officers.

Once a pest arrives, it is difficult to stop its spread and industries can be decimated.

More than 30,000 beehives have been euthanased since the arrival of the varroa mite in June 2022.

Tasmania has so far managed to keep it out.

Public urged to report potential pests

Officials are reminding consumers to report any potential biological hazards that manage to sneak through biosecurity checks.

The spokesperson for DAFF said consumers who find a bug in their furniture order or other imported goods should get in touch, by completing an online reporting form or calling the biosecurity hotline on 1800 798 636.

Ms Purtell said she had now replaced her son’s bed, and joked she would be “buying Tasmanian” from now on.

She said dealing with the state and federal biosecurity teams was quick and easy, and urged others to report anything potentially concerning.

“It just set off a little alarm bell going, ‘if it is different and I don’t do anything about it, this could be really dangerous,'” she said.

“It was really easy — just get my phone and send off an email.

“I’d rather do that knowing I’ve done the right thing, than set off a crisis for Tasmania.”