Farm Forestry New Zealand
PESTS AND DISEASES OF FORESTRY IN NEW ZEALAND
Orygia colony destroyed
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 75, June 1998.
Shortly after the white-spotted tussock moth (Orygia thyellina) was discovered in Auckland in April 1996 a laboratory breeding population was set in up the insect quarantine facility at Forest Research. Initially the purpose of this lab population was to give an indication of likely host plants but soon after the work was expanded to more rigorous host testing to better evaluate the threat that the tussock moth posed to New Zealand's flora. In addition to this, the population was also the source of material for collaborative work between New Zealand and Canadian scientists on identifying the insect's sex pheromone. During the summer of 1996/97 it provided the females that were used in the 'caged moth trapping programme' to monitor the moth's population in Auckland. Live, wingless, caged moths were used because at that time the pheromone had not been identified. Prior to the summer of 1997/98 researchers had identified and synthesised the pheromone but a supply of male moths was still required to test each batch of pheromone upon delivery before it was used in the field. During this time host testing work was still continuing.
On 22 June the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry was able to announce the eradication of the tussock moth from the known infested area in Auckland's eastern suburbs. The success of the eradication programme means that there is no further need to maintain the lab population and it will be destroyed on 30 June.
John Bain, Forest Research
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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