RAVAGES OF THE ARMY WORM

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27990, 9 June 1956, Page 7

RAVAGES OF THE ARMY WORM

DEPREDATIONS IN NORTH ISLAND

SPECIAL SURVEY BY DEPARTMENT

According to the officers of the Department of Agrictulture governing the area from the Palmerston North district, the ravages of the army worm are being studiously surveyed. While there has been no infestation in the Manawatu district itself, the caterpillar is doing considerable damage to crops in the East Coast area, where it at present appears to be confined to an area embracing the Mahia peninsula down to Nuhuka and through Wairoa to Lake Tutira. Unfortunately, too. it is familar to Canterbury farmers.

The caterpillar, which is of the night-flying moth variety, has invaded Meanee. in Hawke’s Bay, but its major operations extend for about 40 miles down the East Coast from the Nuhuka Peninsula to a depth of about six miles inland.

Its depredations are being studied by officers of the Department of Agriculture, particularly in the ' Wairoa area, where a departmental officer flies over the infected country to obtain a comprehensive picture of the infestation and its effect on plant growth. In some places, “The Press” correspondent was informed. individual farmers have battled the problem on their own properties before the ravages of the pest got out of hand.

A slow-hatching caterpillar, the army worm lays its eggs among the pastures. Untoward climatic conditions, such as recent warm muggy weather experienced in the North Island in the late autumn, precipitated mass hatchings and it is this factor that has brought about such serious inroads on pastures in the area under review.

One of the pecularities of the army worm is that the eggs are laid en masse in one particular area and not over a wide stretch of country, so that it is difficult for observers to predict an outbreak at any time. Army Style Officers of the Department of Agriculture declare that the pest is most voracious and advances, army style, eating everything edible, within range or sight. One of the officers, stationed at Palmerston North told “The Press” that in the infested areas, within the last few weeks, the infestation had been sufficient to denude whole valleys and hillsides of all growth. It was anticipated, however, that the more consistently cold weather should appreciably reduce the ravages m stock food areas. There is not sufficient regrowth at this time of the year to replace in sufficient quantities, the loss caused by the ravages of the worm, and the plight of farmers most adversely affected is an extremely serious one indeed.

Departmental officials agree that infestation of reasonable dimensions can be controlled by spraying with an insecticide, but on the East Coast the infestation is of such magnitude that over-all control is not feasible.