WAR ON PESTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 September 1939, Page 9

WAR ON PESTS

VALUABLE FRIENDS OF FARMERS.

In many parts of New Zealand, when land is ploughed, one may see large numbers of gulls feasting on worms and various kinds of harmful caterpillars and other enemies of the farmer. Sometimes the birds go far inland for these feasts which they evidently regard as delicious titbits. Mr D. Matheson, of Lumsden, a Southland member of the Forest and Bird Protection Society, states that black-billed gulls have done very good service for farmers by devouring myriads of grass-grubs which the Dominion Museum has identified as being caterpillars of the Porina moth (Poring umbraculata). “These grubs,” says a Southland farmer, “live deep down in the soil. When the weather is very wet, they are disturbed and come to the surface. I have never seen them in such numbers. The gulls saved us hundreds of acres of grass. I agree that they are of the Porina moth*.” The black-backed, the red-billed and the black-billed gulls are also helpful scavengers in various ways. Accurate observers of their habits declare that they have a very large credit balance in their favour as friends of humanity.