Porina are found throughout NZ, with species present varying between regions. Caterpillars attack most pasture species including ryegrass and white clover. AR37 endophyte provides a level of tolerance. We expect NEA12 and RGT18 endophytes will too.

 

Identification

Porina caterpillars damage pasture in late autumn and throughout winter as growth slows. Caterpillars are greyish yellow with a dark brown head, and grow up to 6 cm in length. They live in tunnels in the soil, emerging at night to feed on the surface, grazing grass and clover.

 

Their tunnels are associated with bare patches of pasture, and dead plants. Tunnel entrances can be found as holes, covered in soil castings and debris held together with silken threads.

To assess numbers dig to depth of 30 cm. Caterpillar populations of 2/spade square (50/m²) in March can reduce pasture production by 1500 kg DM/ha. Caterpillars range from 4-30 mm in length, with a high proportion of small caterpillars suggesting damage will increase.

Adult moths fly mainly in October-January, and do not feed. They are brown with white and black markings on the forewing. A female will scatter up to 3000 eggs, which hatch over the following two to three weeks.

 

Porina eggs and young larvae need good protection within pasture, therefore populations fluctuate year to year, being worst in years of good summer growth and in pastures allowed to become rank.

 

Prevention and management

To reduce the risk of porina damage, maintain low pasture cover during late spring to reduce survival of eggs and young larvae. Paddocks left for hay or silage, or poorly grazed and rank, are typically worst affected by porina as higher pasture covers help eggs survive.

 

Porina can be relatively easily controlled by insecticides. Insect growth regulators should be applied late January-early March. Organo-phosphate and synthetic pyrethroids can be used later, in which case digging in April will give a good assessment of numbers. If possible apply insecticide to short pasture.

 

Mob stocking in summer can control porina. Intensively graze pasture to 20-30 mm using high stocking rates (1000 ewes/ha) over a few days.

 

Biological control
AR37 provides pastures with a level of porina control. Initial testing with NEA12 and RGT18 has shown they also provide a level of control, but field trials are not yet complete.

 

Experience suggests pastures with these 3 endophytes will still need to be monitored for porina and sprayed when larval numbers are high (but sprayed less often than other endophyte options)..