NZ: Now is time to act against guava moth
The moth is thought to have blown across the Tasman sea in the 1990s and is now an established pest which infests a range of soft fruit and nuts from Northland to Waikato.
Cable Bay, Northland-based entomologist Dr Jenny Dymock, who works with the Northland Regional Council, says guava moth typically infest citrus including lemons, oranges, mandarins and grapefruit over the winter months, although citrus can continue to produce and provide food for the insects well into summer.
"But by about this time of year, guava moth are also infesting loquat, which then gives the insect a big population boost heading into plum, peach and pear production over Christmas and early summer."
Dr Dymock says that because the moth develops within the affected fruit, the larvae are not easily targeted with insecticides.
Dr Dymock says because they develop within affected fruit, guava moth larvae are not easily targeted by insecticides. She says good orchard hygiene is amongst the best weapons against attack and says it is important to destroy any affected fruit as swiftly as possible.
She also points out that pheromone traps are ineffective as a control and only useful for monitoring the population.
Source: voxy.co.nz