THE BIOLOGICALCONTROLOFWEEDSBOOK erratic circling manner, landingfrom timeto for themothsflyingaround gorsestandsinan you can identify them by their behaviour. Look 5–8 mmlong,andpalebrown incolour)but not lookparticularlydistinctive(theadultsare them during the summer. Gorse pod do (in the spring or autumn), but you may also see on awarmsunnydaywhengorseisflowering The best way to find gorse pod moths is to look gorsepodmoths? How would Ifind widespread in both the North and South Islands. 1990s. Gorsepodmothsare nowbecoming released throughout NewZealandintheearly in 1989.Themothswere massreared and were firstimportedfrom EnglandbytheDSIR Gorse pod moths are native to Europe, and they Zealand inNew ofgorsepodmoths The history TE WHAKAPAU TARU-ISBN 0-478-09306-3 Gorse pod caterpillar podmoth Gorse GORSE PODMOTH on thegorsestems(sometimes theymakea leave thepodstopupate.Oftentheypupate The caterpillars feed for about 1 month and then entrance/exit holes. carefully atpodsyoumayseethesmall its wayoutandintoanewpod.Ifyoulook has eaten all the seeds inside a pod it will burrow Gorse seedweevil feeds ongorseseed,theseedweevil(see grubs then you have found the other agent that caterpillars. However, ifyouseeseveralwhite pods andlookinsideyoumayseethe chew their way into the pods. If you open some white caterpillarswithblackheadshatchand diameter. After about2weeks,smallcreamy- shiny whiteeggsare flatandabout1mmin flowers thatcoverthedevelopingpod.The hide themonthepetalsandpartsoffertilised You are unlikely toseetheeggsasfemales will attractmalemoths. similar. A pheromone have larger bodies than males, but are otherwise time ontheplants.Thefemalemothstendto March 2007 ). Onceapodmothcaterpillar mixture isavailablethat succedana Gorse podmoth Gorse

GORSE GORSE arboreus that damagegorse. moth, Gorse spider mite, Gorse thrips, Native extent. exotic members of the Fabaceae family to a lesser ( See other gorse biocontrol agents or insects on gorse. Gorse podmothsare easytodifferentiate from prepupae andemerge thefollowingspring. peak ofgorseintheautumn.Othersremain as generation to coincide with the second flowering about 2months),andproduce asecond (overall onegenerationfrom eggtoadulttakes adult mothsemerge afteraboutafortnight ground. The pupae are light brown. Some new cocoon out of old flowers) or occasionally on the broom ( Spanish broom ( of gorseandScotchbroom ( Gorse pod moth is only likely to attack the seeds plants? other attack Will gorsepodmoths seeds intwoorthree pods. on the seeds. Each caterpillar can destroy all the The caterpillar is the damaging stage and it feeds How damagegorse? dogorsepodmoths Gorse colonialhardshoot Lotus pedunculatus monspessulana ), Russelllupin( Spartium junceum A pheromonetrapindicatingagood sized gorsepodmothpopulation Lupinus polyphyllus ), andpossiblyother moth, Gorsesoftshoot ), tree lupin ( ), Montpellier Lupinus ), ), gorse floweringandpodmothactivity. due tolessthanoptimalsynchrony between autumn are lowerthanhoped,andthismaybe indications suggestthatinfestationlevelsinthe autumn/winter seedcrop atthatsite.Early moth wastakingabout15–20%ofthe seed crop (abouthalfeach),andthegorsepod destroying between 90–100% of spring/summer pod mothandgorseseedweevilwere jointly investigated atasiteinCanterbury. Thegorse The effectiveness of the gorse pod moth has been How effective are gorsepodmoths? moths are more abundant then. Keep an eye on autumn – spring is probably the best time as the You canharvestinfested podsinthespringor releasing insectbiocontrol agents. Read How doIcollectgorsepod biocontrol agents. Read How arelease site? doIchoose from establishedareas. help tospeedupdispersalbyshiftingmoths if theyare notyetpresent inyourarea youcan Gorse pod moths are now widespread. However, How can I get the most out of gorse pod moths? Guidelines forcollecting,relocating, and Guidelines forselectingrelease sitesfor moths for release? moths Entry/exit hole Entry/exit if there isnodangerofitgettingblownaway. the uninfestedbushesorleaveitonground At the new site wedge the infested material into site –donotleavethemlyingaboutinthesun. infested podsasquicklypossibletothenew least 1000podsintheautumn.Transport your to shift several hundred pods in the spring or at to each new site, so conservatively you will need countryside. You need to shift at least 100 moths don’t inadvertentlyspread gorsearound the careful that gorse seed cannot escape so that you otherwise remove branches with ripe pods – be whole bushes (as they may have pupae on them) you have a large vehicle then you can cut down and paperrubbish bagsorasmalltarpaulin.If You willneedisapairofsecateursorloppers, year toyear. timing will vary from site to site, and even from to shiftthepodsinOctoberorMay, butthe will beempty. As ageneralrule youwillneed However, ifyouleaveittoolatethenthepods be abletocompletedevelopmentandmaydie. the podstooearlythencaterpillarsmaynot and green tolightbrown incolour. Ifyoucut leave themontheplantuntiltheyare leathery how thepodsare maturing.Itisimportantto Fax (03)321 9998 Ph (03)321 9683 email: [email protected] NEW ZEALAND PO Box40,Lincoln7640 Landcare Research Hugh Gourlay For furtherinformationcontact: Harvesting infestedpods pod mothreservoir. then leaveafewbushesne undertaking control measures overalarge area be abletoshiftundamagedgorse.Ifyouare – atothertimesofthe immobile moth life stages, are present on plants control measures whenpods,andtherefore pod moths’ life cycle, e.g., avoid applying gorse Avoid activities that will interfere with the gorse releaseHow sites? doImanagethe collecting themeitherasitonlyattractsmales. available toattractthemothsisnotsuitablefor die soonafter. Thepheromone thatwehave leaf vacuumasit Do not be tempted to catch moths with a garden- damages theirscalesandthey Pods attherightstageforharvesting year theadultmothswill arby toactasagorse March 2007

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