NEW GARDEN PEST

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28835, 4 March 1959, Page 14

NEW GARDEN PEST

Green Vegetable Bug In City

A plant pest, lezara vindula, which has been prevalent in the North Island for many years and which has spread to Nelson and •Rlenheirn has been discovered in Christchurch. The pest i» found in two forms, the harmless variety, commonly known as the native green bug, and the dangerous—the green vegetable bug. ... The bugs, which grow to about half an inch in length and look like a green shield, are easily identified—the dangerous variety has three minute spots about one third of the way from the front end. The pests were found in two gardens in the New Brighton and Murray Aynsley Hill districts and because of the widely spaced areas in which they were found it is suspected that the pest is already well established in the city. The Department of Agriculture s horticultural superintendent in Christchurch (Mr A. R- Grainger) has appealed to gardeners to inform his department when they discover the pest, but he holds out no hopes for complete eradication. "Complete eradication is unlikely and control measures are therefore necessary.” Mr Grainger said yesterday. He explained that the pest is a sap-sucker which seriously reduces plant growing vigour by its activities. It was particularly troublesome on beans, tomatoes, and maize, sweet corn, and also attacked a large range of other vegetables and some fruits, weeds, grasses, and native shrubs, he said. Much of its damage was done 'in the autumn, he explained. Mr Grainger likened the pest s potential danger to that of the white butterfly. If gardeners did not protect their crops from the depredations of the white butterfly, the crops suffered. A Mmilar thing would now happen with the green vegetable bug. Spraying, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, of malathion. D.D.T, or lindane was advised by Mr Grainger for home gardeners. Two sprayings with a 14-day interval should be applied but not within three weeks of harvesting, he said. Commercial growers were advised to use T.E-PJP, except on tomatoes.