WHITE BUTTERFLY PEST

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21341, 7 December 1934, Page 12

WHITE BUTTERFLY PEST

APPARENT SUCCESS OF CAMPAIGN PARASITE'S WARFARE ON INSECT U'HESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) PALMERSTON N., December 6. Gratification has been expressed by Manawatu gardeners that the white butterfly pest seems to be less prevalent, in spite of the long spell of dry weather. The probable explanation was given by Mr J. Muggeridge. Government entomologist at the Plant Research Station here, who has been controlling the campaign against the butterfly. He ascribed the reduced numbers of the pest to attacks made on the butterfly by a parasite which appeared to have become well established. However, the main attack of the invading buttenly host, was usually concentrated in February or March and comparisons would be safer at that period. Having recently completed a survey of the Hawke's Bay district, where the butterfly first made its appearance, Mr Muggeridge said he was satisfied that the butterfly was definitely less prevalent there than formerly. Areas in which crops had been practically devastated last season seemed now to have only a j few butterflies. There had been wonderful results —much better than had been expected so early after the liberation of the parasite, he said.

PAIiASITIC CONTROL OF INSECTS COMMENT BY DIRECTOR OF CAWTHRON INSTITUTE The success of the campaign against the white butterfly in the North Island was referred to last evening by Mr T. Rigg, director of the Cawthron Institute, who is visiting Christchurch, as another instance of the possibilities of biological control of insect pests. Parasites had been similarly introduced to combat the woolly aphis all over the Dominion several years ago, he said. They had been, and were still, effective against this orchard pest, and were also used in the control of the golden oak scale. The white butterfly was mainly confined to the Hawke's Bay district, Mr Rigg said. Although he could not speak with authority on its activity in the South Island (because he had not studied it closely), he understood that it appeared only in isolated cases here. The fight against the white butterfly had not been under the control of the Cawthron Institute, but was carried out entirely by Mr J. Muggeridge, the Government entomologist at Palmer - ston North. Mr Muggeridge had made the arrangements to obtain the parasite from- England, and had carried out the liberation in the North Island. The institute had assisted him by agreeing to hold some of the parasites in cold storage, but he had been responsible for the whole of the war against the white butterfly.