News archive

25 March 2011

Eleventh weekly update on psyllid traps for 2011

It is getting to the end of the season and TPP numbers are declining in all areas except for Mid Canterbury. Numbers in Mid-Canterbury have dropped from the peak seen 4 weeks ago, but have levelled off at around 6 TPP/trap for the past 3 weeks. South Canterbury data is a week behind, but last week was showing a drop in numbers from the peak on 12th March. There is only one trapping site remaining in North Canterbury (also a week behind) and although the graph shows a slight increase in numbers, a more detailed look at the data shows that 2 weeks ago one site had an average of 0.25 TPP (now sprayed off) and the other an average of 54 TPP which has now dropped to an average of 30 for that site.

In Manawatu a new trap site has been added to replace one that was sprayed off. Numbers at that new site have remained low (6 TPP/trap) compared to site A which has now dropped from a peak of 323 TPP/trap last week to 88 TPP/trap this week. Two new tomato sites have been added for Hawkes Bay, but numbers have stayed very low. We don’t have any updated Waikato data, but I understand numbers have also stayed low. In Pukekohe TPP numbers have also dropped rapidly, although it should be noted that we have no data this week from site C, which had extremely high numbers and influenced the overall average trap catch.

See most recent data tables and graphs.

Each week Potatoes New Zealand reports on the number of tomato potato psyllids (TPP) and other species of psyllids in the psyllid traps to help growers monitor and control for the potato tomato psyllid. Traps are localed in Pukekohe, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, North Canterbury, Mid Canterbury and South Canterbury. Numbers of tomato potato psyllids (TPP) and other species of psyllids are reported.

For more information please contact Psyllid Coordinator Stephen Ogden.