ENEMIES OF BLACKBERRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1920, Page 6

ENEMIES OF BLACKBERRY.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—lDurinj? the past fortnight I have reeelved small U\m<|les of blaoTtbfcrry very much infesfiert with the well-known rose aphis, together with a number of browncolored lad?bird hectics found associating with theni. They were received from Inglewood. Oakura and Ureiini. It has lons been known that the bitroduoed rose aphis will also attack other species of plants- of the rose family, to which tie blackberry belongs. Whan at the Hatapihipibi Reserve a

fortnight ago I observed the two species of Insects together, in large numbers, on a patch of blackberry bushes. It Is the mission of ladybirds to destroy aphis and scale insects, which ttey generally devour In large numbers. Whilst It is gratifying to knowthat the native ladybird* (coeMUa) are attacking aphis injurious to economic plants, ihelr work in devouring them on blackberry plants Is more or less encouraging the growth and dispersion of this noxious and costly weed. To illustrate the value of the work of ladybirds on farms and In gardens, I may mention the invasion of some New Zealand orchards by the dreaded! cottony cushion scale twenty-six to ttlrty years ago. In two years the Insects spread with alarming rapidity, and threatened greater destruction and loss to fruitgrowers than the flrebllght disease now devastating imany northern orchards. At the request of the late Mr. Maskell, a distinguished authority on scale insects, the Government despatched Mr. Koehele, a. Callfornlan entomologist to South America and South Australia m quest of tl"o natural enemy of the*, cottony cushion scale Amongst the species of ladybirds collected in these countries by Mr. Koebele and liberated In the' scale-stricken orchards In New Zealand, was one which Immediately assailed the scale pest and Increased In numbers and sprend rapidly. In less thnn two years this valuable Insect had cleared the orchards of the destructive fruit scale, and thus saved several millions sterling to tte State. It was one of the best investments and experiments that the then Government of New Znland could have made. Though Nature would appear to exhibit perverse moods occasionally—as in the case of the ladybird destroying the aphis on the noxious blackberry—it will enable the former to Increase in numbers, mid probably divert Its work against oilier destructive aphis and scale Insects 'introduced, and now Westlhg this beautiful and fruitful country.—l am, etc., W. W. SMITH.