WOOLLY APHIS CONTROL

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9028, 6 November 1925, Page 6

WOOLLY APHIS CONTROL

WUHK OF APHELIN OS MALI. During the next three or four weeks it is anticipated a sufficient quantity of parasitised aphides will be available to enable the Victorian Government entomologist. Mr French, says a Melbourne paper, to further distribute the wooll}' aphis parasite, Apheliims Mali, lit* ports received from various districts indicate that tiny parasite is making slovv. but steadv progress. Tiie laicsL information toncerumg its spread is from the Bacchu Marsh district, where the parasite has'wintered well, and is now giving indications of good progress. The paper quoted says; —“It cannot be said that our short experience of the parasite has been fully satisfactory. In many orchards the ehalcid wasps have been bred cut in large numbers, and it would seem as if it will ■ make considerable headway during the coming season. On the other hand, there have been numerous orchards to which specimens have been sent for liberation, in which the parasite does not appear to have acclimatised itself. In no small measure this is due to the methods adopted in introducing the parasitised aphides. “A number of orchard ist§ adopted the practice of simply tieing the parasitised twigs to branches of apple trees infested with the woolly aphis. The fact was not recognised that, as the twig shivellcd and died, the sap disappeared, and with it the nourishment necessary to maintain the aphides. Consequently as they died the parasites also succumbed. “In West Australia, where the Apheliuus Mali has been successfully established, the practice WS-5 adopted of setting out the parasi- ! Used aphides on the twigs in ves- I sets containing water and sand. ! The laterals used for the distribu- j tion of the parasites were kept in i this manner for weeks, and even months, sc that every opportunity was afforded the parasites to emerge from tlv ’ ' -s. With the approach . weather it- 5 s obvious that the twies carrying the hosts will fgs drv out, unless placed ) jin ves. ell supply the requirion amo”-' e midst me. “In e past it h. nor boon cusi .unary A the ein""no’osical j ibi andi to wsue directions when | jSuppl\iu_- parasitised aphides Tc j i grower. s ff the practice were I i ado: ted o; mtonnam rr dpients of j .Me b-.-st means of . • rving the | ■ ■: ion- tor the para- j i s.i <■> in hai-di at id "become liberal- ; • ■■■ l '•* e- lov eable t hat these bene- t t ' ."av; ... wu-.Pi mak-' n.nsicTer- | ' ’" * i ' “ * '