RAGWORT MOTHS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 281, 28 March 1929, Page 5

RAGWORT MOTHS.

STATEMENT BY EXPERT. Caution Advised. At a meeting of the Putaruru branch of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday the following copy of a letter received by Mr. C. H. Clinkard, M.P., from Dr. Miller, chief of the Entomological Department of the Cawthron Institute, relative to the efficacy of the ragwort moth was read, and members were unanimous in the opinion 1 that the fullest publicity should be given the letter. Dr. Mille2-’s statement is as follows:

“ It must be fully realised by the community that the present liberations of the ragwort moth are merely preliminary and a phase of the experiment to determine if the larvae will control ragwort under New Zealand conditions. This has yet to be proved. Experiments at the Institute were to ascertain whether or not the insects would damage plants of an economic value. The present supplies of the insect are far from sufficient to stock every area of ragwort throughout the Dominion. Consequently our present liberations are on four selected areas only.

“ Next season we shall attempt to rear and distribute throughout the country large supplies of the insects, but there are many factors to be considered, any one of which may prevent us from doing so. In any case, it would not be possible for us to supply every individual farmer. Rather insects will have to be distributed to certain spots in every district and their establishment throughout these districts left to their natural increase. Farmers must not be over optimistic concerning control of ragwort by this insect, and must actively continue to check the weed by cutting and by other means at their disposal. Unfortunately too much publicity has been given to the possibilities of control by insects, and anyone believing that ragwort or any other weed will suddenly disappear as soon as the insect is liberated will stand to be deeply disappointed. Though the areas of ragwort upon which the Cinnabar moth is now being liberated are to be left uncut and kept free from stock, this is being done in' order to give the insects a chance of establishing. If they do establish they should soon spread to adjoining areas, but even so more than one season will lapse before thorough establishment results. Therefore selected areas to which insects have been sent are in Hamilton, Te Puke, New Plymouth and Invercargill districts. A total of about 125,000 eggs have been sent to date.