THE CATERPILLAR PEST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1214, 28 February 1914, Page 4

THE CATERPILLAR PEST.

Tlie comparatively mild winter experienced in the North Canterbury district has j)reduced an outbreak of the. caterpillar pest. It will be remembered that some five years ago a regular plague of this pest devastated large areas of the northern part of the province, and did damage which is still bitterly remembered by the farmers. The outbreak this season fortunately in no way rivals the extent of the former visitation, but is still bad enough in parts to do a very considerable amount of damage. Some localities which tiro definitely affected are in the Waiau district, while it is reported also that the plague has made its appearance in tho Cheviot district. In the "Waiau district the caterpillar is proving to lie strictly confined to crops which are directly adjacent to old gullies and odd corners filled with scrub and tussock, on which the grub safely hatches out. from the eggs laid by the moth. In the ease of the plague five years ago, it was supposed that the plentiful gorge hedges and strips of undisturbed vegetation afforded an amicable breeding-place for tho myriads of caterpillars, which afterwards overran the country where cultivation obtains. The g'ub cannot get such a hold, and as the tussock area in the. "Waian district, is reduced, it may be expected that tho caterpillar wfll disappear also. The damage done so far has been fairly extensive, but fortunately for the fairyer, the early corps were cut ju,st/as the' caterpillar was appearing. and before it had obtained its most damaging size. Ta the case of sonic crops which have just been cut, the caterpillar has had fuller play, and has practically stripped big patches of every grain of oats, so that tho farmer will have the straw alone for his reaping.