Collector imported eggs of moth pest

By TONY STICKLEY

An Auckland man has admitted breaching stringent biosecurity laws by importing eggs of a foreign moth that could ravage the country's horticulture and forests.

The pale tussock moth belongs to the same family as the white spotted tussock moth and the painted apple moth, which authorities fear could ravage New Zealand's forestry industry.

In 1996 MAF spent $10.8 million in eradicating the white spotted tussock moth from Auckland's eastern suburbs.

It has now budgeted $110 million to wipe out the painted apple moth from West Auckland and the North Shore.

The pale tussock moth was one of five types of moth imported between April and July 2001 by Epsom man Andrew Hollingsworth, 30, who has an interest in breeding moths and butterflies.

The laboratory technician has admitted a charge of buying unauthorised goods under the Biosecurity Act. He is due to be sentenced in the Auckland District Court next month. The charge carries a maximum term of five years' jail and/or a $100,000 fine.

Hollingsworth was caught when the International Mail Centre in Auckland intercepted an envelope containing eggs from the scarlet windowed moth.

On five occasions between April and July 2001 Hollingsworth ordered moth and butterfly eggs from a British supplier through the internet. They included the pale tussock moth, the giant or royal silkworm moth, the citrus swallowtail butterfly, the scarlet windowed moth and the luna moth.

When MAF searched Hollingsworth's home they found four species of moth and butterfly eggs and caterpillars, alive and dead, including 85 live caterpillars from three species.

None of the species is found in New Zealand.

According to MAF's summary of facts, Hollingsworth denied knowing it was illegal to import the eggs, but acknowledged that he was aware that if the caterpillars or moths had escaped some would have become pests, defoliating trees.

While he had no intention of releasing the moths or butterflies, he could not guarantee that the larvae could not escape.

Hollingsworth, who said that he used to keep butterflies when he lived in England, told MAF that he fed the caterpillars birch, rose and native titoki leaves and they would also eat leaves from fruit trees, citrus and Mexican orange blossom.

He told MAF officials that he ensured no larvae were present when he threw the leaves away and always put the leaves in tied-up rubbish bags.

The caterpillars were kept in plastic containers in Hollingsworth's bedroom.

Hollingsworth allegedly told the officials that he was aware of the tussock moth and painted apple moth eradication programmes.

MAF said that Hollingsworth's actions put the country's billion-dollar agriculture and forestry industries at risk.

Malcolm Kay, a forest entomologist with Forest Research in Rotorua, who compiled a report for MAF, said that importation of the pale tussock moth was "particularly galling" in the light of the huge efforts in the recent past to eradicate tussock moths.

"At worst it is extremely irresponsible, but you don't know just how naive these people are," Mr Kay said yesterday.

New Zealand was renowned for its border biosecurity; there were constant television advertisements and warnings when people returned from overseas.

"For someone to be ignorant of that is almost unbelievable," he said.

Female pale tussock moths can fly. Pit and stone fruit trees - which have a high economic value to New Zealand - are among their favourite plants. Native beech would also be at risk.

An outbreak of an introduced pest could result in New Zealand's trading partners banning New Zealand horticultural products, says MAF.

It is estimated that eradicating any pale tussock moth outbreak would cost around $100 million.

Last night Hollingsworth's lawyer Ron Mansfield said his client had had a fascination with moths since he was a child.

"It started in London where it is not an offence and he has continued with it in New Zealand. He has pleaded guilty to being reckless in not making an inquiry as to whether he could raise moths here.

"He is not charged with intentionally doing it. He is charged with being reckless," Mr Mansfield said.

"He had taken precautions to ensure that none of the moths, if they hatched, could escape and there is no suggestion at all that any moths escaped.

"And certainly there is no suggestion he intended to introduce these species of moths into New Zealand."

Herald feature: Environment