Posted: 14 February 2006
Moth plant’s annual aerial assault looming
Northland Regional Council Biosecurity Officer Ken Massey says every year about this time the wind carries huge numbers of moth plant seeds to new sites.
The highly invasive and toxic climbing vine – among the region’s top five non-pastoral pest plants - then sets about establishing itself and rapidly begins smothering native forest areas, garden shrubs, shelterbelt trees and roadside plants.
In urban areas, severe moth plant infestations can even cause electrical faults by climbing into power lines and can also smother television antennas.
Mr Massey says while moth plant (Araujia sericifera) is well established in Northland, the region’s landowners still have a responsibility to destroy it.
Moth plant is a vine with paired, oblong leaves that at this time of year sports distinctive small, clustered white flowers.
These flowers develop into choko-like seedpods that burst, releasing thousands of wind-borne seeds.
Mr Massey says people noticing moth plant – especially on neighbouring properties – should make landowners aware of the problem and urge them to seek advice on how best to control the plant.
“You can pull or dig out moth plant and dispose of any pods in a rubbish bag that can safely be thrown away with normal domestic rubbish. Only the pods need to be bagged up as the foliage can be safely composted.”
Moth plant can be broken off at ground level and any regrowth should be grubbed out or spot sprayed. For small infestations ‘Woody Weedkiller’ - available from most garden stores - is effective at 360 ml in 15 litres of water for foliage spraying.
Mr Massey says it’s important to wear gloves when handling moth plant because its milky, sticky sap can cause skin irritation and ill health.
People wanting to know more about moth plant should contact Council Biosecurity Officers on the Regional Council’s freephone (0800) 002 004.