TOMATO INSECT PESTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 772, 22 March 1910, Page 10

TOMATO INSECT PESTS.

..' : , SOUTHERN COMPLAINTS., The Timaru. "Post" recently published tho following paragraph:—"A local resident showed ono of our reporters a finelj-rgrown green tomato that had been rendered worthless through, having bean attacked by somo insect pest. Tho tomato was perforated by a number of holes similar to those made in apples aud pears by tho codlin moth; and on being opened it was. found to be in a state of decay. ■ In. Tasmauia the tomato is often attacked by the maggots of a fly known as lonchaea splendida, blue tomato-fly, and: theso maggots have frequently- been mistaken for those of fruit flies: but the insect is not known to attack fruits. To tho tomato, however, it is often very . The fly itself is smaller than the common housefly, and is of a beautiful de«p-bluo colour. Complaints have been made by fruiterers and others that codlin moths have been found in a large proportion of the out-door grown tomato crop this season." ■';■'■■:

TheTnsniajiian fly referred'to is not at present breeding in New Zealand so far as is known. t From the reports of the Department-of it appears that . imported tomatoes hare frequently been, condemned becaiiso of the presence of the maggot of this fly. The. damage referred to is probably caused by ono of ■ the varieties of. the .well-known. army worm, the common New Zealand caterpillar, which plays havoc with the grain crops .from-time to time. - ; .'• ■