WHITE BUTTERFLY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 19, 23 January 1937, Page 15

WHITE BUTTERFLY

APPEARANCE IN SOUTH

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

(By Telegraph.—Press association.) INVERCARGILL, January 22. The white butterfly, which has done much damage in northern districts in recent years, is making isolated but none the less unwelcome appearances in Southland. The Department of Agriculture has been notified of the appearance of several of the pests in Invercargill gardens, and the butterflies have been also seen at Gore. It has been known for some time that there was a danger of the pest spreading southward, and before there had been any reports of actual damage or of the presence of the pest in sufficient quantity to cause the damage, the Department had taken action in advance against its coming. In most gardens from which the pest has been reported to the Department, including two in Invercargill, there have been released a number of parasites which were brought to the Dominion specially to stop the spread of the pest. An official of the Department said tonight that he thought that the butterflies came south by rail in vegetable consignments. If the pest began to spread in Southland it might do damage, especially to turnip crops, and every possible step would be taken to prevent its spread.