Farm Forestry New Zealand
PESTS AND DISEASES OF FORESTRY IN NEW ZEALAND
Asian Gypsy Moth Monitoring in Russia
Scion is the leading provider of forest-related knowledge in New Zealand
Formerly known as the Forest Research Institute, Scion has been a leader in research relating to forest health for over 50 years. The Rotorua-based Crown Research Institute continues to provide science that will protect all forests from damage caused by insect pests, pathogens and weeds. The information presented below arises from these research activities.
From Forest Health News No.46, September 1995.
John Handiside and I spent 10 davs in Russia with representatives of the United States Forest Service, the United States Department of Agriculture Plant Quarantine Inspection Service and the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service, to observe the Russian Quarantine Inspection Service and the Russian federal Forest Service's efforts to monitor the Asian gypsy moth population. This effort includes pheromone trapping at the ports of Vladivostok, Nakhodka, Vostochonyy Vanino, Olga and Petropavlovsk, and ultraviolet light traps at the three former ports. Pheromone traps, light traps and permanent plots with burlap banded trees for trapping larvae, pupae and egg masses are placed in the forest within a 15 kilometre radius of the ports.
This years populations are little changed from last year although the flight period is a week later due to the cooler, wetter weather experience in early summer. The Russians consider that the net epidemic is 2 to 3 years away, which would be consistent with the reported 7 year peaks (the last epidemic was in 1991). In preparation for the next peak the Russians have been encouraged to investigate spraying of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (B.t.k.) close to the ports, and to adopt a sodium based lighting system that is less attractive to moths.
The Russians have taken the Asian gypsy moth threat to their trade very seriously and as well as monitoring the flight in the forest and around the ports, they issue tight operating instructions to the Captains of all ships visiting the ports during the flight period. Loading and unloading at night is prohibited, and strict control on vessel illumination is imposed.
A severe outbreak of a conifer defoliating caterpillar, Dendrolimns sibiricus in central Russia has defoliated over 100,000 hectares. This defoliation was incorrectly reported in Izvestia as being caused by the Asian gypsy moth.
A Memorandum of Understanding between New Zealand and Russia was signed whereby the Russian Quarantine Service will inspect all ships destined for New Zealand for any sign of Asian gypsy moth egg masses, will issue a cerificate of Cleanliness, and notify the Ministry of Forestry in New Zealand of all ships inspected.
Also signed was a bilateral Quarantine Agreement with the Russians which places very tight controls on any forest produce that is likelt to be imported into New Zealand.
(Alan Flux, Manager, South Island, Protection and Quarantine, MoF)
This information is intended for general interest only. It is not intended to be a substitute for specific specialist advice on any matter and should not be relied on for that purpose. Scion will not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or exemplary damages, loss of profits, or any other intangible losses that result from using the information provided on this site.
(Scion is the trading name of the New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited.)
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