Modelling the incursion and spread of hitchhiker and windborne plant pests in Australia

Recent incidents of Khapra beetle have highlighted the need for improved surveillance of hitchhiker pathways. The Centre for Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA) have developed a model APPDIS (Australian Priority Plant & Disease Model) which has been parameterised for fruit fly and tramp ants. This investment is to parameterise the model for Khapra beetle. APPDIS models incursions spread, detection, surveillance, treatment and proof-of-freedom for critical plant pests.