FOE FOR BIDI-BIDI.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 June 1928, Page 10

FOE FOR BIDI-BIDI.

INSECT FROM CHILE!. A SAMPLES! COMING FOR TEST. What the a-miiulal loss to New Zealand Is through bidi-bidd, or piniipdlri, it is difficult to estimate, but it must be very considerable. It causes serious damage to late-clipped wool and in some (Hasses of country is so troublesome as a weed as not only to detract from tlie pasture value of the land, but also to affect adversely the- value of the wool clip, especially from November onwards. In order to combat bidi-bidi the Noxious Weed Committee of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has been on the look-out for some parasitical insect which will destroy it, or, at any rate, prevent it from fruiting. The fruiting calyces of bddibidi have four angles, each with a barbed spin© a-t the appex. The whole forms a large spring burr, which. Nurture arranges -shall be broadcasted b-y clinging to gome passing animal. -Bidi-bidi, a speoiias of acae-tia, is widely distributed in the cooler and temperate parts of the Southern Hemisphere, being especially abundant in South America. In certain districts in the Andes, especially in Chi-le and the Argentine, hidi-bidi is particularly rampant, so inquiries- have been made in those quarters. Information has now come tp hand that in those districts this noxious weed is attacked and prevented from seeding by an insect- o-f the Tenth-renidid species-. A Chilean entomologist, Brother Claude Joseph, of Teniuco, has undertaken, to send, supplies of this insect to New Zealand, in order that they may be tested at the Oawtborn Institute. In the meantime the life bi-story and general cba-racheir-i,sties of the insect will be subject to further -investigation in Civile. It may be too soon to prophesy, but the Department ha-s great hopes that in the Tenthrenidid will be- found a parasite which will assist in ridding the Dominion of one of the curses of pastorailists.