INSECT PESTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1699, 31 October 1887, Page 2

INSECT PESTS

From all parts of cne country (aaya the " Horn? JNewn " of September 2) oomplaints are rife of a plagae of Insects, the resalt of the abnormally dry summer. In this respeot the usually favored olimate of Kogland somewhat resembles at present that of the Australian Colonies, where not ouly at particular Beaßonu, but through the year, crawling or winged pests create annoyance. Our kinsfolk, however, aoouttomed as they are to the inevitable presence, treat these things m a philosophic manner, without airing their grievances before the world by piteous appeals to the local papers aa is the custom among Englishmen. The latest invasion of the country after the 9esiian iy is represented by an it-flux of earwigs, 1 whioh m aome placeß are rapidly increasing la numbers, and swarm through the houses at the olobo of day. Ants are also a greater trouble than usual, and the ordinary home and blow flies, whioh In the colonies are unmitigated nuisances, are m some couuties causing much inconvenience to householders by spoiling their meat and drink. Another pest— the mosquito — is now acclimatised Id our midet, so that another dry summer may bring on us plagues hitherto only known to foreigh countries. With regard to blow-iies, it may interest Australians to learn that, aooording to a calculation made by Line to as, a couple of those prolific and hateful insects, if permitted to multiply, could carry off a horse m less than J cummer, and m less than five years would cover the earth with their progeny.