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Story: Insect pests of crops, pasture and forestry

Gypsy moth trap

Image
Gypsy moth trap

Asian gypsy moths are not established in New Zealand, but they are a serious pest elsewhere. In March 2003 an adult moth was found in Hamilton, prompting an intensive spraying and trapping programme. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry officer Dave Kershaw inspects a trap containing pheromones, used to attract male moths. New Zealand was declared free of the pest in 2005.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: EP/1993/4118/7A

by Mark Coote

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Alison Popay, Insect pests of crops, pasture and forestry – Control of horticultural insect pests, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/17991/gypsy-moth-trap (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Alison Popay, published 1 March 2009.