CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21236, 7 August 1934, Page 10

CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS

PARASITES INTRODUCED TO FIJI [THE PRESS Special Service. 1 AUCKLAND, August 6. The many recent successes o* biological control of insect pests far outweigh any failure in the past, said Mr T. McCarthy, senior assistant entomologist to the New South Wales Government, who is returning to Australia by the Aorangi from a research expedition to Fiji. "In recent years," continued Mr McCarthy, "great advances have been made in the control of insect pests by the introduction of parasites. In Fiji, th« once deadly levuana moth that attacked the coconut has been practically stamped out by the tachinid fly. The clidemia weed has been controlled by the introduction of Thrip's insect from Trinidad. This valuable insect prevents the weed from fruiting, and keeps it in a weakened state so that other plants can smother it. Another recent success has been the control of the scale insect by a species of the ladybird beetle. These three successes alone outweigh any failures in the past." Mr McCarthy has been some five weeks in Fiji carrying out research on a certain type of parasite tnat it is hoped will be of benefit to Australian fruit growers. He is bringing with him a large specimen case full of queer-looking black beetles like small Maori bugs. As he has not yet reported to his Government, he was unwilling to discuss what particular Australian pest they are planned to destroy. They have one extraordinary characteristic, however, and that is feigning death. When Mr McCarthy , carefully handled them, they would curl up and appear quite lifeless.