Green Vegetable Bug Spreading Rapidly In North Island

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 9, 13 March 1950, Page 5

Green Vegetable Bug Spreading Rapidly In North Island

Since last week's report that the green vegetable bug (Nezara Veridula L.) had seen in a number of Whakatane gardens further information on this destructive insect has been released in the latest issue of the Journal of Agriculture. This article by Mr P. Everett, orchard inspector, Department of Agriculture, Auckland, warns that should the spread of Nezara continue at the same rate as during the past few years, at least the whole of the North Island will have become infested the next four or five years. Mr feverett says that further and more, comprehensive spraying tests are expected to be undertaken this year with D.D.T. and other comparatively new insecticides. He suggests that during the winter all rubbish, dead leaves and weeds, places where the bugs are likely to hibernate, should be destroyed. At frequent intervals during the spring and early summer he urges the collection and destruction of eggs on leaves and bugs visible. Most bugs will fall to the ground if the plant is given a sharp shake. Treat infected plants with a spray containing alb actual D.D.T. in 100 gallons of water. However, he advises not to spray silver beet, spinach and similar plants because of the possible ill effects when colected for human consumption. He recommends too, that cauliflowers should not be treated with D.D.T. after the curd begins, to form. Although no plants at Whakatane have yet been reported badly attacked it is definitely known that the bug has reached the district, Gardeners in both the borough and county are warned to keep a watch for Nezara and to destroy it as soon as it is found.