WINGED PESTS.

Franklin Times, Volume XXV, Issue 59, 24 May 1935, Page 6

WINGED PESTS.

WHITE BUTTERFLY AND DIAMOND MOTH. During the early part of the season indications were that the white butterfly pest w ? as not as bad in the country districts this year as last, but of late the pest has become as active as it was last year and cabbage, cauliflower and rape crops have suffered severely (says “The Hoe,” in the Dominion). Last, year the butterflies did not attack silver beet, but this green received their unwelcome attention this season, and in many cases runner-bean crops have been .eaten down to skeleton frameworks of leaves and stalks. The white butterfly has been seen in considerable numbers in the outback bush in the Manawatu, but what it levies toll on in the bush lands is not yet generally known. The Diamond moth is to be seen in clouds in some areas, according to a well-known farmer, and runs the white butterfly a close second south of Otaki. It will, in the opinion of this farmer, be useless atempting to grow root crops at all if these two pests are not checked. The alternative will be to rely on maize and young oats for green fodder, these so far not being attacked by the butterflies.