How to identify and control guava moth

Guava moth (Coscinoptycha improbana) is a pest causing severe damage to a wide range of fruit grown commercially and in home gardens in New Zealand. It was first discovered in 1997 in feijoas in Kaitaia, and in citrus in nearby Ahipara, and is now well established. It became so bad that some feijoa growers pulled out their trees. It’s moved slowly south since, and has been recently found in North Waikato and Coromandel region.

ORIGIN AND ARRIVAL IN NZ

Guava moth is endemic to Australia, also found on Norfolk Island and more recently New Caledonia. Although widespread in Australia, it is not considered a pest, maybe due to predation by natural parasitoids or predators there.

MAF (now MPI) suggested it arrived in New Zealand around 1995–97, and may have flown or been blown across the Tasman during favourable wind conditions. Other new Australian insect species arrived here around the same time. It could have been brought in on illegally imported fruit on ships or planes.

HOST PLANTS AND AREAS OF SPREAD

A few years ago, Plant and Food Research (PFR) deployed traps in several New Zealand regions, including the Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay