Finding a moth in a haystack - The important role of citizen scientists (BDIS)

Aotearoa New Zealand’s next biosecurity threat might not arrive by ship or plane — it could already be in the air. In this episode of scigest, scientist and host Ki-Taurangi Bradford speaks with biosecurity scientist Dr Toni Withers about the invisible wind pathway carrying pests across the Tasman. Toni explains how moths, butterflies and plant pathogens can travel vast distances on air currents, how new forecasting models are predicting when and where incursions may occur, and how interceptions on offshore platforms help test these predictions. The episode also explores the vital role of volunteer citizen scientists and the use of isotope analysis to trace where intercepted insects originate. Blown Away web pages: To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages:

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Finding a moth in a haystack - The important role of citizen scientists (BDIS) is an episode from scigest - Plant & Food Research podcast by New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited.

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This episode was published on Jan 25, 2026.

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