SAW-FLY PEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 988, 3 June 1930, Page 11

SAW-FLY PEST

PINE TREES DAMAGED A natural enemy <>f an imported pin* tree pest, commonly known as t e Oregon saw-fly. has been liberated by the Forest Biological Research Committee. according to Mr. X. G. Gribbl , a member of the committee. lie said yesterday that the pest w. -* apparently identical with the sirex. or noratafl borer, which attacks pine trees and larch in this country. In older countries the pest had several enemies i in certain birds, but in the Dominion t i there are apparently no birds which I are enemies of the pest. - | Judging from the districts from s which specimens of the fly had been r received, the pest was becoming fairlv {widespread. A male of the species hts been forwarded to the Wanganui Museum from Waverley. and ■* number j of pine trees at Okoia was killed by t ; the pest last year. Mr. G. Shepherd. { curator of the Wanganui Museum, i* 1 a prominent authority on insect study i and he said that the pest would do a j certain amount of damage if it bei came plentiful. * Mr. Gribble reported, in reply to * i recent statement that the fly had n•» [ known natural enemy in-New Zealand. I that the committee s research, station had been working on a remedy for the past two years. They had, however, liberated a natural enemy, the rhyssa. • persuasoria, and hoped to liberate . more of that species during the com- - ing season. The committee expects to . commence work with ibalia leucos- , poldes. another insect, to countera danger of general infection.