Quantifying detectability of exotic pests in local contexts is crucial for designing efficient and
regionally relevant surveillance guidelines. Ironically, for areas most in need of
preparedness advice, the study of detectability is hampered by the pest's absence. Here, we
present a mock surveillance method whereby pest symptoms are simulated on plants, and
the detection probability of visual inspection by practitioners is measured across a range of
high priority regions at risk of incursions. Detectability of simulated leaf mining damage was …