WAR ON PESTS

Evening Star, Issue 23377, 21 September 1939, Page 5

WAR ON PESTS

VALUABLE WORK OF SEAGULLS FRIENDS OF FARMERS In many parts of New Zealand, when land is ploughed, one may see large numbers of gulls feasting on worms arid various kinds of. harmful caterpillars and* other enemies of the farmer. Sometimes the birds go far inland for these feasts, which they evidently regard as delicious titbits. Mr D. Matheson, of Lumsden, a Southland member .of the Forest and Bird Protection Society, states that black-hilled gnlls have don© very good service for farmers by devouring myriads of grass grubs which the Dominion Museum has identified as being ■caterpillars of the Porina moth (Forina umbraculata). “These grubs,” says a Southland farmer, “ live deep down in the soil. When the weather is very wet they are disturbed and come to the surface. I have never seen them in such numbers. The gulls saved 11s hundreds of acres of grass. I agree that they are of the Porina moth.’-’

The black-backed, the red-billed, and the black-billed gulls are alsp helpful scavangers in various ways. Accurate observer's of their habits declare that they have a very large credit balance in their favour as friends of humanity.