RED MITE LESS ACTIVE

Chronicle (Levin), 7 November 1946, Page 6

RED MITE LESS ACTIVE

— The activities of the red-legged earth niite in the Bay View market garden area are now 011 the wane. An inspection of tlie gardens over the weekend revealed tliat the later crops are now tlujving, without serioijs^damage by the mite, reports the Napier Telegraph. Sev,eral hot days, with brilli.ant sunshine, have apparently t.aken heavv toll of the pest, and it appears that crops are now out of dijjiger. # The mite usually disappears in tlie hot season. During recent weeks extensive tests have been earried out with dusts and spravs, and growers at Bay View have reported tliat soiue of these have lieen successful. A spray prepared by a Napier citizcu has proved more effectjve than those recommended by the Australian authorities. Gainexane and D.D.T. have been efieetive for a period up to a week, but the mite h,as returned to plants treated with these ohemieals. "I tliink the worst is over for this year," said a grower at the weekend. " My beams are now coming on quite well* although the first crop was wiped out by the mite. ' ' The red-legged mite is still in evidence in some crops, but its numbers are diminishing rapidly and it appears obvious that the nest is entering the summer cycle of inactivity. Growers considered tliat sufficient had been learned of tlie mite's activities and control metliods to attack it in force wlien it makes its reappearance from the egg stage in tlie autumn of next year. " Wo will be prepared for it next time, and we will make an all-out efl'ort to attack it just as soon as it reappears, " said a grower.