CATERPILLAR HAVOC

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20278, 21 August 1937, Page 12

CATERPILLAR HAVOC

Plagues Attack Two Areas in Great Britain

Caterpillars—millions of the lnsects—are creating havoo in two widely-separated areas in Britain, The banks of* the River Wavcnev. In Norfolk and Suffolk, and valuable pasture land between the Oeliil Hills and 'Kirkcudbright, in Scotland, aro the ureas at tacked by the plagues. Willow trees on the river banks extending from Berries to Burgh St. Peter. Norfolk, are covered with a small brown caterpillar, believed to have arrived from the tropics last year. Every piece of green foliage has hern eaten a\\a> • Spraying the trees with solution seems to have little effect, a inline t.i Mr Mobbs. In.roucli survejor of may extend operations inland. ' lie

• stated. i The menace is heightened by the . fact that the birds do not appear to feed on the caterpillars. In Scotland some of the caterpillars • are two inches long, and aro laying i waste valuable pasture land. One i farmer lias lost 10*10 acres of pasture. The posts are able to rover a mile ; a day. and in some parts of the Doli lar area are two feet deep, i Concern is felt that reservoirs, into • which thousands of the insects hive t boon waslio.l by rain, may be. contam- • inn tod. Already one reservoir is to i I nly hope held out by the :! distinguished scientists is that within s' ja fortnight tlm caterpillars will have > |re:ie!ied the chrysalis stage, when they