White Butterfly Appears in Southland

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 19, 23 January 1937, Page 6

White Butterfly Appears in Southland

DEPARTMENT TAKES EARLY ACTION. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Last Night. The white butterfly, the dreaded crop pest that has done much damage in the northern districts in recent years, is making isolated but none the less unwelcome appearances in Southland. The Department of Agriculture has been notified of the appearance of several of the pests in Invercargill gardens and butterflies have been also seen at Gore. It has been known for some time that there is a danger of the pest spreading southward and before there had been any reports of actual damage or of the presence of the pest in sufficient quantity to cause damage the department had taken action in advance against its coming.

In most gardens from which the pest has been reported to the department, including two in Invercargill, there have been released a number of special parasites which were brought to the Dominion specially to stop the spread of the pest. An official of the department said to-night that he thought that The butterflies came sout by rail in vegetable consignments. If the pest began to spread in Southland it might do damage, especially to the turnip crops and every possible step would bo taken to prevent its spread. A florist who discussed the pest with a reporter expressed doubt about the ability of butterflies to live in Southland’s climate, but the department holds the opposite view—that the climate might not check the spread of the pest once it started and that no risks should be taken iu the way of letting it get a hold.