BURNING GRASS GRUB

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19998, 25 July 1939, Page 15

BURNING GRASS GRUB

OTAGO SUGGESTIONS A SERIOUS MENACE A serious menace to the South Otago farming community has made its appearance felt during the last few years and that is the subterranean grass caterpillar, the grub that is known as the “big fellow'” by the farming community.

It is safe to say that thousands of acres of good grassland are partially ruined by its depredations. This year pastures in the area extending from Hillend to Tuapeka West and including the districts of Stoney Creek, Pukeawa, Awamangu, Greenfield, and Tuapeka Mouth are attacked.

Although the grass grub lias been responsible for a certain amount of the damage it is considered that the porina or subterranean grass caterpillar has been the major cause, many excellent three and l'our-year-old pastures being badly attacked.

As yet no satisfactorw means of destroying these grubs on a farming scale has been evolved, and as damage to pastures has been going on for some years and is getting worse instead of better farmers are very concerned.

It is suggested that farmers in South Otago should arrange to light fires at night towards the end of November when the night flying moths (from the subterraneon grass caterpillar) arc about in large numbers. By the aid of fires millions of moths bent on maternal duties could be destroyed in a few nights. By this means it is possible that damage done to pasture could be eventually greatly lessened.