Act now to protect fruit from guava moth, Northlanders urged

Now is the time to practise good orchard hygiene and take other steps to protect Northland fruit crops favoured by the unwanted Aussie insect invader the guava moth, biosecurity experts say.
Loquat fruit bagged with a fine mesh netting to protect it from guava moth.

Guava moth (Coscinoptycha improbana) is thought to have blown across the Tasman in its adult form in the late 1990s and is now an established and unwelcome pest, whose larvae infests and ruins a range of soft fruit and nuts from Northland to the Waikato year-round.

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 because they develop within affected fruit, guava moth larvae are not easily targeted by insecticides.

“The larvae render fruit inedible with their excrement and can also lead to the development of damaging moulds and fungi.  They can also cause premature fruit drop.”

Dr Dymock says experience has taught that following good orchard hygiene is one of the best ways for both home gardeners and commercial growers to try to protect their crops from the moth’s larvae.

“It’s important to rake up any fallen, rotting fruit and either remove it or bury it as this removes any pupae which are in the soil.”

She says use of a fine weave mesh (like curtain netting) wrapped around fruit people are keen to protect does prevent guava moth laying eggs on fruit, although realistically this is not an option for commercial growers.

“It’s important not to use bird netting as guava moths can get through its broader weave.  Secure your mesh by simply taping around branch of tree.”

Dr Dymock says the best time to cover fruit is just as fruit is swelling, not earlier when a tree is flowering.

And she says it’s important to remember that while guava moth pheromone traps are useful for monitoring guava moth in the region, they offer little in the way of control.

“Guava moth is now too widespread through the region.”

Dr Dymock says advice about a range of insect and other pests is available from the regional council’s website via: www.nrc.govt.nz/nasties  Biosecurity officers can also be contacted via the council’s freephone (0800) 002 004.