First found on our shores in Northland in 1997, the Guava Moth has been slowly making its way south, and is now firmly established in various areas in Auckland.

Like Codling Moth, Guava Moth lay their eggs onto young fruit. Upon hatching the larvae burrow into the fruit and then spoils it. But unlike Codling Moth, Guava Moth breed all year and can infest a large range of fruit, including Feijoa, Guava, Citrus, Peaches, Plums, and even Chillies.

While this has recently become a real problem for many, especially for feijoa enthusiasts, it's important to know that not lost. There is still a lot to learn, but there are definitely treatment options that will help. Though for best results, it's worth talking to, and working together with neighbours and your local community to really get on top of the problem.

The larvae make a tiny pinprick sized hole as it burrows into the fruit. Once inside damage is often difficult to spot until the fully-grown larvae chew its way out.

How to spot it?

  • Check for immature fruit drop

  • Fruit often drops early.

  • Check windfall fruit regularly for markings such as exit holes or small discolouration.

  • Fruit often appears bruised.

  • In the later stages, some larvae excrement may be visible.

  • Control Measures

  • Sadly there are no easy solutions to this problem, Below are a few control measures that will help deal with the problem. For best results, especially when dealing with severe infestations using multiple methods will provide the best results.

  • Note: Due to their continuous lifecycle, once they are spotted it’s worth controlling their numbers to stop the problem getting out of control.

  • Once discovered don’t ignore the problem, as it will soon get worse. If possible coordinate with your neighbours for best results.

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  • Pheromone Traps - Works by replicating the pheromones produced by the female moth to catch the male moths.  Works best to help control low-level infestations or to help monitor the problem.   Assemble traps as per instructions on the packet and hang in a tree around 1.5m above the ground.   Little Bugga Moth Trap - The trap works by attracting moths to the trap with a solar light. Oil or a sticky trap card then catch the moths.  These traps aren’t targeted and will trap a wide array of different moths. Using a sticky trap will allow you to identify the moths. A pheromone trap lure can also be used to further increase the effectiveness of these traps.

  • Neem Oil - Use pheromone traps to find out when moths are present. Spray your mix of neem oil and water all over your fruit trees, taking special care to spray all the fruit.  Works best when sprayed on developing fruit.

  • Other Sprays - Currently no insecticides are registered for use on Guava Moth. However, Success Ultra has been used with some success. For best results, use in conjunction with a pheromone trap to help you time your spray.  Note: Success Ultra should only be sprayed 4 times a year otherwise insects are likely to build up a resistance. 

  • Removing Fruit - Infected fruit should be removed and disposed of carefully. Don’t add infected fruit to your compost. 

  • Covering your Fruit - Cover the fruit or the entire tree with Bug net as the fruit first starts to develop. Fruit only becomes infested with the larvae if the moths can lay their eggs on the fruit. Don’t cover the tree during flowering as the flowers won’t get pollinated by bees and other pollinator insects. 

  • Biological Control  -  Currently there are no predatory insects within New Zealand known to pray on the moths. But as the population increases existing species may begin to prey on them. It's also possible that in the future more research into predators will be carried out.  As the larvae tend to pupate fairly close to the surface chickens along with other birds may well be helpful in reducing the numbers  

 

This is the recipe for Guava moth mixture to hang in feijoa trees.

 

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 teaspoon vegemite

1 teaspoon ammonia

100 grams sugar

Mix with a litre of boiling water, divide between two 2-litre plastic bottles (no lids) hang in fruit trees.

 

Care of Liz Littlejohn

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