Painted apple moth was alone

Experts say there is no cause for alarm over the discovery of a painted apple moth in Takapuna on Auckland's North Shore last month.

Biosecurity New Zealand says it is not from an established New Zealand population.

They suspect it was a lone hitchhiker that arrived from Australia after it had pupated.

Spokesman Ian Gear says since the moth was trapped, extensive ground searches in Takapuna and Cornwall Park have not turned up any more.

Two years ago a massive aerial spraying campaign was launched in West Auckland to eradicate an established population of the Australian pest, which poses a danger to New Zealand's forestry industry.

- NEWSTALK ZB