THOUGHTS FOR THE TIMES.
AN ENEMY OF GORSE. The insect upon which researches are at present being carried out, with a view to gorse control, is a European species of weevil, the grubs of which live upon and destroy the seeds in the developing pods. This insect is highly specialised and restricted in its' food range to gorse and broom; it is not known* to attack any leguminous I plants of economic value, and even I attempts made in England failed to force it to attack such plants. Before any thought of liberating this insect can be entertained, certain initial difficulties must be overcome to allow thorough tests to be made on economic plants under local conditions. There is a native beetle that normally bores in the stems of living woody plants;' it does not confine its attacks to gorse, but lives in other plants such as apple, tree-lucerne, gooseberry, etc. No attempt is being made to utilise this species since it not only -attacks plants of economic value, but also is not sufficiently specialised in its habits.
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Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1929, Page 4
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178THOUGHTS FOR THE TIMES. Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1929, Page 4
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