RAGWORT ENEMY

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6543, 27 February 1928, Page 10

RAGWORT ENEMY

THE CINNABAR MOTH, RELEASE AT NELSON. A Government, permit was received at Nelson last week, by telegraph by the Director of the Cawthron Institute .(Professor T. H. Easterfield), for the liberation of larvae of the Cinnabar moth, which have been bred In the noxious weeds control insectary. Dr. Tillyard, Mr David Miller (Government Entomologist), and Mr Tonnoir (Field Entomologist under the Marketing Board’s scheme) were summoned, and a number of the larvae were removed from the insectary to a patch of ragwort which has been planted in the grounds of the Institute. The first caterpillar was formally placed on a ragwort plant by Dr. Tillyard, who has been in charge of the scheme. The remaining larvae were then liberated by other members of the party. It was interesting to note the eagerness with which the caterpillars attacked the ragwort.Observations in the inscctary have shown that, though the tyria larvae feed greedily upon ragwort, they show an aversion to all other plants upon which they have been placed, with the sole exception of groundsel, for which however, they show a limited appetite only. The permit issued by the Government is not a general one ,and it is unlikely that the larvae can bo distributed to farmers during the present season.