BID! BIDI PEST

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 2, 3 January 1936, Page 9

BID! BIDI PEST

PARASITES FROM CHILE

THE PIRI PIRI SAW FLY

The secretary of the Wanganui branch .of the Farmers' Union, Mr. F. G. Seddon, has received a letter from Dr. D. Miller, of the Cawthron Institute, who has '~3en visiting Chile to collect the parasitic insects which are to be introduced to counteract bidi bidi in New Zealand. In his letter, which was written from Orsono, on October 29, Dr. Miller states: — "I can now definitely state that I have secured a large supply of the piri piri saw fly, and the visit has been a great success. I have now so many in the resting stage and suitable for transport that I have decided to leave Chile at the end of November and should be in New Zealand early in January. I had thought of starting out on November 16, but decided to wait until the end of the month and bring with me a greater supply. Aftei> I have left here I have arranged with the Englishman I have employed to carry on with the work.

"That will mean that shipments will be sent approximately each month as long, as the insect is in the resting stage. That will be up till March next, and I hope we will have in New Zealand an enormous number. This man is willing to continue this work if need be in the following season from October next. I have developed a method which allows of an unlimited number of these insects being handled with the minimum of labour. Of course, all depends on the insects being available for collecting in the field, »but there should be no difficulty in this respect, judging from the conditions I find here. v

"The location of the collecting grounds has entailed a great deal of work, and at times one is encouraged to new grounds by false repoits. I now have the best collecting grounds marked out. The weather is improving, which will also aid the work considerably. For some time heavy rains have been the drawback. I should connect with the New Zealand boat at Panama about November 15., My next stage is the nursing of'the insects; during the voyage to New, Zealand."