The Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade is leading the project with results reported to the entomology team at Berrimah Farm Science Precinct.

Registrants will receive a ‘trapping pack’ a free tomato plant together with a simple instruction sheet.

Tomato Potato Psyllid traps will need to be sent via postage paid envelope to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade, where the entomology team will continue a range of investigations.

The results will form part of a national research program led by the Western Australian Government’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to determine the status of Tomato Potato Psyllid across Australia.

The project runs for the month of May 2021 and participants have the opportunity to participate again in August 2021.

Tomato Potato Psyllid has never been detected in the Territory. Your support will help the Northern Territory Government to ensure we remain pest free.

This is the 2nd year the project has run in the Northern Territory with a total of 80 participants across Darwin and Palmerston registering for the project in 2020.

The project is part of a national program funded by the Western Australian Department of Industries and Regional Development.    

Registrations for the project can be completed at industry.nt.gov.au/tpp-trapping

Quotes from Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade Plant Biosecurity Operations Manager and Chemicals Coordinator Sally Heaton:

“You don’t need a garden to participate in the Tomato Potato Psyllid project, anyone who lives in an apartment or house can participate as well as schools and community gardens.

“This is a fun project to get kids involved in the education of pests and their potential threat to the Territory.

“We need 100 participants in locations across Darwin and Palmerston to be part of the project.

“Participants will receive official notification to demonstrate that their property is free from Tomato Potato Psyllid if their property has negative results at the time of trapping."

Media contact - Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade - 0428 052 647