NO MORE WEEVILS SEEN

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32956, 30 June 1972, Page 7

NO MORE WEEVILS SEEN

It was reported recently that the whitefringed weevil had been found in a potato crop in the Fairton district near Ashburton. The fields superintendent of the Department of Agriculture in Christchurch, Mr A. R. Dingwall, said this week that so far the pest had not been found in any other situation, nor had it been found on the farm concerned outside the potato paddock. The weevil is already widespread, however, in the North Island and has also been reported in the Nelson district. It does most damage in the. larval stages in which it may remain for about 17 months feeding on the roots of plants. The larvae are creamy-white grubs.

Mr Dingwall said that since the discovery of the weevil near Ashburton potatoes had been inspected during digging and at tuber inspections and also about 40 inspections had been made or lucerne stands near Fairton and there had also been inspections in other districts, all without any further. positive identifications of the weevil. At present the grubs would be well down in the ground, Mr Dingwall said, but once they become active again it might be possible to locate them next season and it was planned to continue surveys of crops and pastures in the province then. Negotiations were also in progress to take the necessary action to eradicate the weevil from the area where it had been located. This included the replacement of seed potatoes harvested from the area and now held by the grower and securing approval to dispose of the line, and also treatment of the area chemically to proof

it against the weevil and kill anything that might emerge from it. It was thought that aldrin, a hydrochlorine insecticide, was likely to be the only chemical that would be effective against the larvae. Mr Dingwall said it should be possible to secure a permit for use of this chemical, which was applied under strict agricultural chemical regulations. They were not hopeful that it would be completely effective but it would be the first step in the direction of controlling and eradicating the pest in the area. It would be applied in the spring and would have to be worked into the soil. Further action might be needed against adults if and when they emerged and it might also be necessary to repeat the soil treatment at a later stage.