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.
