INSECT PESTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5473, 11 September 1929, Page 3

INSECT PESTS.

CRICKETS AND SLATERS.

AN INVESTIGATION ON PLAINS.

Investigations into means of combating the seasonal plagues of crickets which are experienced by parts of the Hauraki Plains are to be conducted by the Cawthron Institute, Nelson, according to advice received by Mr W. E. G. Willy, of Turua, from Dr. D. Miller, director of the Institute, in response to representations made by Mr Willy. Dr. Miller expressed the opinion that a parasite could be introduced from America to kill the crickets, but the matter required investigation before action was taken. He also said that a poison could be used, but this was not recommended, as it would have to be generally used to be effective, and cattle would have to be kept off the treated land for a period.

Mr Willy has also received a reply to representations by him from Mr C. J. Reakes, Director-General, Department of Agriculture, to the effect that the department’s entomology section had in hand the question of the control of crickets. The matter presented considerable difficulty, and it might be some time before the department was in a position to indicate whether any progress had been made. Slaters. Being of the opinion that there had been an enormous increase in the number of “slaters” or “woodlice,” and that these insects ate the young shoots in clumps of grass as. well as destroyed vegetables and fruit, Mr Willy made representations to have the matter investigated. Mr J. MuggeridgJ, assistant in entomology at the Department of Agriculture’s plant research station at Palmerston North, to whom the subject had been referred by the DirectorGeneral of the department, stated that he did not know of any remedy which could be used on a large scale for keeping slaters or woodlice under control. When working on crickets during the coming season it might be possible to devote some time to the problem. However, he doubted whether anything of value could be undertaken in regard to slaters during the coming season. Manuring. In regard to the matter of fertilisers suitable for use on the Hauraki Plains, Mr C. J. Reakes, Director-Gen-eral of the Department of Agriculture, has advised that the director of the Fields Division had been asked to submit a report and recommendation on the whole question at an early date.