By ANNE BESTON
The numbers of a pest moth found in traps in Auckland is down, but a bigger generation could emerge, says the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
The leader of MAF's painted apple moth programme, Dr Ruth Frampton, said the latest figures probably represented the tail-end of a generation that
emerged in late November and early last month. According to the count, 432 moths were caught in the week ended December 14. That dropped to 244 in the week ended January 4.
Dr Frampton said this generation of moths had probably finished emerging and were now mating and laying eggs - meaning a subsequent increase would not be surprising.
"These eggs will hatch soon ... which means the caterpillars will be the target of the aerial spraying that begins on January 19, and that's good news," she said.
No caterpillars, pupae or female moths had been found in the Scenic Drive area of the Waitakere Ranges. The area had been of concern to conservationists because of the effect the voracious moth could have on the ranges' native vegetation.
Dr Frampton said the moth was still concentrated in the Waikumete Cemetery area and the Whau River, the target areas for the helicopter aerial spraying scheduled for January 19.
Yesterday's figures appear to show significant moth catches in Westmere and Western Springs.
