Painted apple moths to face wider spraying

By ANNE BESTON

An aerial topdressing plane is being brought into the attack against a moth pest in West Auckland.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry announced yesterday that a single-engined Cresco, purpose-built for aerial spray work, would be introduced against the painted apple moth from the next round of spraying, due on May 21.

The ministry says its twin-engined helicopter is not doing the job quickly enough but will continue to be used over difficult terrain where the aircraft would be ineffective.

According to documents obtained by the Herald, the group of experts advising the ministry on its attempt to get rid of the moth believe the best chance of eradication is a huge, fixed-wing operation 11 times bigger than the 1996 campaign in East Auckland against the white spotted tussock moth.

The documents show that a majority of the 19 members of the technical advisory group believe that spraying up to 44,000ha - most of Auckland - is the option most likely to succeed.





An option put forward by a community group designed to save the people of West Auckland from further aerial spraying was rated as having a low chance of success.

All the expert advice will be included in a cabinet paper to be put before the Government this month. The ministry appears keen to continue aerial spraying in West Auckland despite accusations from some critics that the aerial operation is half-hearted and will not succeed.

The documents show that the ministry's leader of the painted apple moth programme, Dr Ruth Frampton, is still asking the technical advisory group to rate ever more aerial spraying options.

She has asked for their views on a 6000ha option, which brings to about five the number of possibilities being floated.

Dr John Clearwater, a senior scientist involved in the successful Operation Evergreen in East Auckland, questioned why the ministry was introducing a fixed-wing aircraft five months into the campaign.

"Perhaps it's finally dawning on them they are not winning against the moth," he said.

But the ministry's communications adviser on the painted apple moth programme, Mary-Ann Crawford, said just 71 live moths were captured in traps last week, the lowest number since spraying began.

Up to 900 live moths were being caught in the 700-trap grid across Auckland at the height of the summer breeding season.

But entomologists attribute some of the decrease to the winter temperatures.

Ms Crawford denied that the introduction of a fixed-wing plane, long promoted by some technical advisory group members and other independent scientists, was a rehearsal for a much larger campaign.

"After a few sprays it became clear we'd get increased efficiency if we used a plane," she said.

The ministry cannot extend the present target zone without going to the Government for more money.

A decision on whether ministers would back a continuation or extension of the aerial operation was due this month but is now not expected before late next month.

The painted apple moth is a native of Australia. It was discovered in Glendene more than three years ago and is estimated to be a $48 million threat to horticulture and forestry.

nzherald.co.nz/environment