The caterpillar larva of a fall armyworm. Photo / Getty Images
In response to the detection of Fall Armyworm (FAW) in Tauranga last month, Summerfruit NZ has participated in two Biosecurity NZ / industry meetings, as an observer in our role as a Government-Industry Agreement (GIA) partner.
The information to date would suggest that the winter temperatures in most, if not all, parts of New Zealand would be too cold for a FAW population to establish. In addition, stonefruit is probably not a preferred host. Further confirmation of these parameters will become clearer over time.
The method of entry into New Zealand is not clear either. The two theories being, one, blown over from established Australian populations during storm events or, two, as a hitch hiker pest into the Port of Tauranga. At this stage the degree of response and type of response is still being assessed by GIA partners, including Biosecurity NZ.
For our Bay of Plenty and Auckland growers, please be a little bit extra vigilant. Have a look around now and then again in spring for any FAW larva. Summerfruit NZ will circulate any monitoring protocol if they are developed.