Moth borers represent one of Australia’s most significant biosecurity threats, being common throughout Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. In these areas moth borers are not successfully controlled and they represent a significant productivity constraint (up to 20% yield reduction).

An incursion of moth borers is considered a likely risk by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. This project is investigating the feasibility of using soil-applied systemic insecticides to manage moth borers in the event of an incursion.