Aliens Injure & Destroy Young

(Sacramento, California) Eight San Francisco Bay area counties are being invaded by aliens from the Southern Hemisphere.

The light brown apple moth (LBAM), Epiphyas postvittana, is an exotic pest native to Australia and New Zealand which has also become established in Hawaii. Authorities are now mobilizing to control the moth in California.


Light Brown Apple Moth

The host range for LBAM is broad with more than 250 plant species know to be susceptible to attack by this pest. Major domestic hosts of concern are stone fruit (peaches, plums, nectarines and apricots), pip fruit (apples and pears), grapes, cherries and citrus.

The pest destroys, stunts or deforms young seedlings; spoils the appearance of ornamental plants; and injures deciduous fruit-tree crops, citrus and grapes.

LBAM has the potential to cause significant economic losses due to increased production costs and the possible loss of international and domestic markets. However, these impacts can be effectively mitigated through production-level management practices. State and federal officials are working together to take appropriate regulatory action to prevent the spread of this pest in association with the movement of host commodities.

It is not surprising that the alien Australian moths have taken to infesting San Francisco since Mayor Gavin Newsom has declared the city a sanctuary for alien border-crossers.