RED-LEGGED MITE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22416, 25 August 1947, Page 4

RED-LEGGED MITE

ERADICATION PLAN GISBORNE AND WAIROA RESTRICTED OUTBREAKS Attempts at total eradication by various means will be made in the restricted outbreaks of the red-legged earth mite infestation at Gisborne and Wairoa, according to a statement by the Minister of Agric'ulture, Mr. E. L. Cullen, The nature of the pest and the likelihood of re-infestation from other sources were likely to make the investigations most difficult, the minister said when dealing with the infestation generally. but added that the work would be prosecuted vigorously. Cabinet authority has been given for the expenditure of £2OOO during the present financial year for carrying out certain control and eradication measures in Hawke’s Bay. The area over which the mite has spread in Hawke’s Bay was too extensive for measures to be applied which could give total eradication.

The programme for the Coming season in Hawke’s Bay will be aimed at confining the main outbreak to the Bay View area, and the conducting of largescale experiments with a view to ascertaining the most promising methods of complete eradication.

Following a visit to Hawke’s Bay in November, 1946, Mr. K. R. Norris, of ihe Division of Economic Entomology of Australia, reported that two dustings of DDT over the 17 square miles of affected land in that area would be required for the eradication and control of the mite. The estimated cost of the two applications was £200,000. In June of this year reports were received from the United States and Australia that excessive use of DDT on pastures and crops was regarded as dangerous. Its use was not recommended on plants or crops likely to be eaten by human beings or animals because more knowledge was required of its accumulative action. U.S. Congress found that DDT showed up in meat, milk and butter of cows fed on crops dusted with the insect killer.