No Aerial Operation Monday 10 March - Forecast For Wet, Windy Conditions

The aerial operation to wipe out the painted apple moth, planned for Monday 10 March, has been delayed due to forecast rain and high winds.

The operation, that will cover the reduced general eradication zone, will be carried out on the first day that weather permits.

Last week, MAF announced an initial reduction to the painted apple moth eradication zone, following positive results from monitoring traps over a number of weeks. Oratia and parts of New Lynn will no longer be included in the aerial operations.

“The eradication programme is working” says Robert Isbister, General Manager for the Painted Apple Moth Programme. “We are consistently getting positive results from our monitoring traps that suggest the painted apple moth population is dwindling. This is particularly significant as we are in the heart of the moth’s breeding period. The key is to make sure we wipe out every single painted apple moth – just one breeding female can have a huge impact on the size of the population.”

Additional reductions to the eradication zone are anticipated in the future, as consistent results from monitoring traps indicate that the risk of infestation in specific areas has been eliminated.

The public can free phone 0800 96 96 96 for additional information.

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