GREEN VEGETABLE BUG REACHES TAUPO

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 162, 4 March 1955, Page 7

GREEN VEGETABLE BUG REACHES TAUPO

Mr W. II. llill, of Henry Hil! Road, recently sent certain specimens found on vegetables to Massey College for identification, and has received advice that they were nymphs of the green vegetable bug. This has become a serious garden pest in the country in recent years, first becoming numerous in Nortli Auckland a few years ago. The bug, known as Nezara viricula, is most active and numerous during spring and summer, and over-winters mainly among weeds in waste places. Eggs are laid in rafts, usually 011 the underside of leaves, and after hatching the insect undergoes five inoults, all distiuct stages. The young nymphs are wingless and vary in colour, increasing in size until the adult stage is reached. The mature bug is sliield-shaped, green witli lliree small white dots on tlie bjick. _ Oue measured last week in 'Taupo was a (juarter inch in widtli and tliree-eighth incli in length. A11 egg parasite has been liberated in the country but at present lias not spread enougli to provide control. The sprays H.E.T.P. and T.E.P.P. can be used to control the pest, but particular attention should be paid to the precautions listed on the containers. The Times gardening coihributor, "Flora," states that the bug was first noted in Taupo gardens fnur or five years ago. It attacks a wide variet.y of plants, especially beans, silver l)eet and tomatoes, sucxing The sap and causing slirivelling and wilting.