New research will look at finding a biological control for a fruit and nut pest found in parts of Auckland and Northland.
The guava moth is native to Australia and was first found in Kaitaia in 1997. It infests and damages a range of soft fruit and nuts.
The Feijoa Growers Association says there are no natural enemies of guava moth in New Zealand and insecticide control is limited.
President Tim Harper says other management techniques used to control this pest have also failed, and growers are worried it might spread into other fruit and nut growing regions south of Auckland.
Mr Harper says new research, with funding from the Sustainable Farming Fund, is looking into using pheromones to trap the moth.
Guava moths eat yellow guava and feijoa in autumn, citrus fruit thoughout winter and spring, and plums, peaches, and nashi pear in summer. It also infest macadamia nuts from summer through to early winter.
