Community Garden Ocean Grove Inc.

Bugs on the Bellarine: Tomato potato psyllid

What you need to know before planting tomatoes this year

Agriculture Victoria has an active biosecurity notice restricting movement of some plants on the Bellarine to control the spread of the tomato potato psyllid (TPP) (Bactericera cockerelli). Read a summary of the issue below, and the full report on the Agriculture Victoria website.

What is TPP?

TPP is a tiny sap-sucking insect that attacks a range of plants in the Solanaceae family: potato, tomato, eggplant, capsicum, chilli and tamarillo.

First noticed in Australia in Western Australia, it was detected in Portarlington in November 2024, and Clifton Springs in March 2025.

Close up view of small mites and bugs on the underside of a tomato leaf
TPP adults, nymphs and empty moulting cases on the underside of a leaf.
Green tomato leaf with psyllid sugar on it. It looks like a light dusting of sugar on the leaf
Psyllid sugars on leaf.
The large image of the tails side of a 5 cent coin next to a tiny TPP mite, showing the relative size of the mite
TPP adult size compared to a 5 cent piece.
TPP adults and nymphs on a tomato leaf
TPP adults and nymphs

All figures courtesy of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Western Australia.

Impact and restrictions

Area: Due to the latest detection in Clifton Springs, the Restricted Area has now been extended to include more of the Bellarine Peninsula.

Restrictions:

  • Plants or plant products from the Convolvulaceae or Solanaceae families cannot be moved out of the Restricted Area.
  • This includes the plants, fruits/vegetables, cuttings and waste material.
Map showing area at tip of Bellarine Peninsula covered by the restricted zone. It includes Bellarine, Port Bellarine, Portarlington, Indented Head and the northern end of Saint Leonards.
Map showing area at tip of Bellarine Peninsula covered by the restricted zone. It includes Bellarine, Port Bellarine, Portarlington, Indented Head and the northern end of Saint Leonards.

How long will this last?

Restrictions are in place until at least December. This advice was provided on 1 October:

Agriculture Victoria will be undertaking further surveillance for TPP between October and December 2025. This will provide confidence that the infestation has been contained. This includes:

  • Sampling and testing of primary host and host weeds for CLso at locations where TPP is present.
  • Sampling outside of the RA for TPP, focusing on residential properties in areas in which TPP may have spread.
  • Sampling and testing of primary hosts and host weeds in production areas within predicted spread areas.

Impact on the Garden

  • The Garden is not in the restricted zone, so we’re not directly impacted
  • However, as Van Loon’s Nursery is, we cannot buy seedlings from there to plant in the Garden

What to do if you see TPP

If you suspect TPP may be present on your property, you must notify Agriculture Victoria by any of these means:

Growers are reminded that it is an offence under the Plant Biosecurity Act 2010 not to report a suspected case of tomato potato psyllid or CLso.

When reporting suspect pests, good photos are helpful. For a guide on taking good pest images, please visit www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/takeaphoto

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