Light Brown Apple Moth Controversy

Light Brown Apple Moth Controversy

The Light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana, often abbreviated to LBAM) is a leafroller moth belonging to the lepidopteran family Tortricidae. The insect is regarded as an herbivorous generalist, and the larvae consume numerous horticultural crops in Australia and New Zealand. The species is native to Australia and is found in New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Hawaii. It has been classified as a noxious insect in the United States and Canada, but not in Europe, leading to restrictions on produce from Mexico and Canada under the North American Free Trade Agreement. Although it is not known when the moth arrived—some UC Davis Invasion Biology experts suggest decades ago—in 2007 the moth was found in mainland United States, principally along the West Coast. Quarantine measures and aerial spraying of cities with untested pesticides were imposed to try to eradicate the moth, leading to substantial public controversy and reports of adverse health effects. As of 2010, no significant impact on California crops or agriculture has emerged.