White-Spotted Tussock Moth
Orgyia thyellina Butler
White-Spotted Tussock Moth
Legal Status: Unwanted Organism - MAF
Status in New Zealand: Eradicated
Organism: Insects, worms and other land invertebrates
White-spotted tussock moth (Orgyia thyellina) is a member of the same family (Lymantriidae) as gypsy moth, which is a serious forest pest in North America.
White-spotted tussock moth was discovered in Auckland's eastern suburbs in April 1996. Operation Ever Green was established in October 1996 to eradicate the pest. It was wound up in 1998, confident that it has achieved both its objective and a place in history as one of the most successful eradication programmes ever undertaken in an urban area.
Information about White-spotted tussock moth
Information about Operation Ever Green
- Health surveillance following Operation Ever Green (May 2001) PDF
(1867 KB) - Environmental Impact Report (July 1996)
- About the spray used (Btk)
- Health monitoring
- The pheromone breakthrough
Page last updated: 22 October 2008