Moth-killing virus sought

By ANNE BESTON

Biosecurity authorities are working on a back-up plan in case their $90 million aerial blitz of the painted apple moth fails.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has contracted state-owned science institute AgResearch to develop a biological control agent for the moth from a virus that keeps it in check in its native Australia.

Early experiments on the virus have lain untouched in a fridge in Brisbane for more than 20 years after an Australian scientist began the work but did not complete it.

AgResearch's Dr Travis Glare has applied to the Environmental Risk Management Authority to import the organism, known as a nucleopolyhedrovirus, into quarantine here.

"MAF is doing a good thing," he said. "We need to get on to this now in case eradication fails.

"The virus is a significant factor in the painted apple moth population in Australia."

If early tests were promising, the virus could be used in the form of a spray, Dr Glare said.

MAF painted apple moth project director Ian Gear said field work to find other weapons against the moth began in Australia last month, but "there's a lot of work to be done yet".

He remained upbeat that aerial spraying would eradicate the pest. No live moths had been caught for 3 1/2 weeks in the 1000-trap grid across West and Central Auckland.