FARM PESTS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1929, Page 7

FARM PESTS

SEA RCH FOR PA HAS ITES,

WORK AT CAWTHKOX INSTITUTE,

DUNEDIN, April 21. Dr D. Miller, chief entomologist :it the (Jn wtlimn Institute, Nelson, was .1 lisitor to Dunedin during the weekend. He supplied a Pressman with s-.ine interesting details of some of Die work lie is performing as director ■)l noxious weeds research.

A matter mentioned by Dr Miller •'liieh will be of particular interest to .ru.[growers in different parts was tile ontrnl of (he earwig pest. He was. ■if said, busy with that problem ai present. A lly had been introduced ti a 1 used to prey on the earwig, bin a> was sorry to say that it was noi doing as well as had been ’expected Aloeovcr, he did not think it woulo over be of much use. It was hoped in the near future, however, to find an egg parasite that would have sonic lleet, but it was only fair to remind fruitgrowers that it was likely to prove a long search. Most of the countries of the world, were* engaged on this proloin, and when the egg parasite was found he felt sure it would provide a nucli more reliable control than the fly.

Speaking of the sheep maggot fiy, Dr Miller stated that a parasite had been secured for the pest, and was now being bred at the institute. Towards tliis.,work a contribution of £IOO from the Sheep nvners’ Federation had been ii groat help in carrying out the experiments. The horntail borer, a menace to the Dominion’s pine forests, had also been engaging a good deal of attention, and through the agency of the Imperial Bureau of Entomology several consignments of the necessary parasite had been received and groat success had attended the efforts to rear and acclimatise them. This was the first occasion on which ail attempt had been made to ship them from one side of the world to another, and the outcome was being watched with keen interest in more countries than New Zealand. Dr Miller added that research work was steadily going forward in respect to the control of blackberry, ragwort, gorse and bidibidi*l>y means of insect parasites. Good progress had l>een made in regard to ragwort and there also appeared to he every possibility that .a Chilian insect, which was now being imported would prove an effective means of checking the bidibidi. "lie work in regard to blackberry and gorse was as yet not very far advanced.