THE WHITE BUTTERFLY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 96, 20 October 1934, Page 11

THE WHITE BUTTERFLY

"DAYS ARE NUMBERED"

DISTRIBUTION OF PARASITE

( Two years ago the Hawko's Bay A. and I\ Association offered a prize to tho boy oi' girl who caught tlio largest number of white butterflies. Tho ■winner had something liko 70,000 to his credit, but worn tho lad to. try again today ho would not get within cooeo of that tally, states tho Manawatu "Times." ' This very (satisfactory stale of affairs lis the direct-result of tho work of tho I Department of Agriculture in liberating i a vast army of parasites and tho raids! of these tiny insects have been responsible for a -remarkable- diminution of tho pest in the Hawke's Bay. In fact, according to Mr;. J.-Muggeridge, of tho Pahnerston North ■ .Plant . Bcscnreh Station, who :1m had chargo of tho breeding and ■liberation .of the .parasites, there "are- more-" white butterflies to be scon in Paltaorsfon North-at the present tjmo than in" the • vicinity of Hastings.' ■ ■'-"-■ : •■'•' Mr. Muggcridgo' has just returned from tho Haw'ke's Bay where-ho has boon, conducting Acid investigations into the spread of the parasites. He is more than pleased-with' the results secured so far,' but adds' that one must not infer from this that tho necessary, degree of control 'has been'secured. Ho will not bo able to determine that until tho latter end of the- summer. Hawko's Bay is still likely to see something of tho butterfly and in spite of tho presence of tho pupal parasite, thero are likely to bo local infections, i.e., the butterfly is likely to get away aguin in isolated patches. Throughout the coming, season surveys will bo made mid proper counts kept so that at the conclusion of the season there will bo definite- information as to the progress that has been made. During tho last iivo or six months tho Department has been busily engaged breeding additional parasites for distribution, but these will not bo let loose- until'tho- end of December . and in January, because it is essential to liberato them in localities where thcro is a plentiful supply of hosts and so give them a* chance to become established. Mr. Muggeridgo has now about 40;000 parasitised -butterfly ehrysalids in cool storage, and from these he anticipates raising from 600,000 to 800,000 parasites. A largo number of requests have, come to hand for supplies/ and as the number to be raised is not sufficient to meet all requirements, the.Department will only be able to .distribute iii the'more thickly infected areas. . . ' . ■ ■ ' ' The original baud of parasites was liberated at Maraekakaho, near Hastings, and tho fact that speeiinena have been, found as far south as Alfrcdton and as far east as Porongahau, shows that the raiding army has made considerable- progress in the last two years and lead's to the belief that the days of tho white butterfly are numbered.