Biosecurity staff worried about spread of moth

An alien moth incursion in Auckland is looking much more serious with two further finds in the last two weeks, bringing the total number of moths trapped to four.

Two years ago, the fall webworm was detected in Mt Wellington but further surveillance suggested it had not established a population.

But now four have been found since February, two in Mt Wellington, one in Otahuhu and the other in Panmure.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said yesterday that it would talk to local authorities about "future management activities".

But it's not known whether that would involve an aerial spraying programme similar to the one carried out in West Auckland against the painted apple moth in 2003.

Biosecurity New Zealand spokesman Ian Gear said further "control measures" could not happen until spring when the pest was in its larval stage. Extended vegetation controls in Mt Wellington were imposed in February and would be extended again after the latest finds, he said.

"We also ask everybody to take a good look in their gardens for any sign of this pest, which spins its unique web structures in trees and shrubs."

A public notice advising the extent of the control areas would be published next week.

Worm's tale

* The fall webworm is a member of the tiger moth family and a native of the US.
* It weaves a distinctive web over host trees and feeds on a wide variety of horticultural and ornamental plants.
* The pest has spread throughout Europe and Asia since the 1950s.