Predators to save kiwifruit
PA Wellington . Almost three million predators the size of pinheads will invade kiwifruit orchards this summer.
Their mission is to destroy the two-spotted mites which cost the kiwifruit export industry more than $8 million in fumigation charges in Japan. The shiny red predators, bred by the Depart-
ment of Scientific and Industrial Research’s Entomology Division, will be sold to orchardists for about $47 for 1000 females — enough for 100 m of shelter belt. The two-spotted mite lives mainly in shelter belts but winters on the kiwifruit crop. Though harmless to the fruit, the mite causes expensive quarantine problems if it reaches importing coun-
tries, especially Japan. Japanese fumigation charges cost New Zealand growers 50c a tray last season. The Entomology Division’s project manager, Mr Nick Martin, said that with miticide chemicals banned, growers had no other real control option for the mite. Successful trials with a million predators were held last year.
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Press, 12 September 1988, Page 6
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156Predators to save kiwifruit Press, 12 September 1988, Page 6
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