Biosecurity Response to the Painted Apple Moth

Painted Apple Moth (PAM) was initially discovered in 1999 in Glendene, in Auckland's Western suburbs. PAM is a serious biosecurity threat to New Zealand due to its potential to severely defoliate fruit trees, natives and introduced trees thus posing a threat to gardens, crops, forests and native bush. It was estimated that if widely established the potential economic impact could be between $58 - $356 million over 20 years. A programme of aerial spraying was carried out between October 2002 and May 2004.

Response actions provided by AsureQuality

Field Staff

Operations management
GIS Analyst
Logistics Management
Ground surveillance
Host removal and treatment
Movement Control
Media co-ordination
Aerial spray operations

Action

Initial

Ground surveillance and infected host removal and destruction
HQ established
GIS / mapping geospatial services
Host surveying conducted over a wide area of West Auckland
Movement control restrictions placed on garden waste and host material from the infected area

Ongoing (during programme)

Project management
Media and communications management
Trapping conducted over a wide area of Auckland city
Sterile moth breeding and release programme
40 aerial spray treatments between Oct 2002 and May 2004
Logistics and supply of BTK spray
Host removal and disposal
Infected site monitoring operations and on-going surveillance until programme ended in March 2006

Result

Following completion of aerial treatments of the infected area, on-going trap and ground surveys produced negative results.
On March 20, 2006 West Auckland Painted Apple Moth declared eradicated
Cost - $ 62.4 million
This programme has since been discontinued.

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