Nébih helps detect quarantine pests with trapping

By: STA Date: 2025. 07. 29. 10:00

Early detection of the presence of priority quarantine pests is extremely important for domestic agriculture and flora, as it is key to preventing their spread. In order to ensure effective detection, the National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih), in cooperation with experts from government agencies, will continue the targeted trapping of quarantine pests in 2025.

(Photo: Pixabay)

Nébih – with the support of the European Union – has acquired several hundred traps, which are placed by plant protection experts from government agencies based on a risk assessment. The primary goal of trapping is to detect priority quarantine pests that cause major economic damage and are already present in neighboring countries. This includes, for example, the Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) found in Slovenia or the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in Bulgaria and Romania.

Priority quarantine pests can only enter the EU through export and tourism

The deployment of species-specific traps greatly facilitates early detection and effective phytosanitary measures. The earlier an infection is identified, the more effective its eradication can be, thus protecting farmers and the Hungarian flora.

The traps are deployed based on a risk assessment, and they can be used to monitor the spread of quarantine pests and priority quarantine pests of insect species

However, awareness is essential not only for professionals, but also for the general public, as pathogens can easily be introduced into our country with plants brought home from a trip. The participation of the general public is also essential in detection. In the event of suspicion of the occurrence of non-native pests, there is also an obligation to report them.

Nébih