WHITE BUTTERFLY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume VLI, Issue 3385, 23 September 1935, Page 5

WHITE BUTTERFLY

AGAIN IN EVIDENCE

The white butterfly has again made its appearance, and this pest to all green crops and flower plants has been seen during the past week or so in this district. Only a few have been have suffered from the ravages of seen, but sufficient to make those who the pest in the past take notice and to wonder what they should do in their gardens this spring.

The Ohinemuri County Council has moved in the matter of securing- a supply of the parasites that control the pest. Millions of these parasites have been liberated throughout rhe North Lsland by the Cawthorn Institute and the Government Agricultural Department, and there should be a battle for the survival of the fittest during the summer months. The,white butterfly itself does no damage—it is the caterpillar that plays havoc with crops—and it is upon the caterpillar that the pupal parasite, imported fro mEngland lives. The white butterfly lays its eggs, which in due course hatch into the caterpillar*, and it is into the flfleshy part of the caterpilar that the parasite places its egg. The egg hatches first, and the parasite feeds on the caterpillar, which does not get the chance to become a butterfly. A Government fieldsman who last season liberated thousands of the parasites throughout the country expressed the opinion that the white butterfly pest would be under control ■his season. Farmers and gardeners in whose district the parasite had not been liberated had no reason for concern, because the parasite had been found 100 miles away from the district where it had been liberated the previous season. In the main the white butterfly or rather the caterpillar. showed a preference for cabbage crops, but the Government official stated that provided an arsenic snray was used there was little to : -c feared.

••ininent horticulturist said that for the gardener there were a number of sprays on the market, all of which were effective in dealing with the pest. He was resident in Hawke’s Bay three or four years ago when the rest was so bad that it would strip a field of every green leaf, and at Castlecliff, Wanganui, he had seen 100 acres of lupins “cleaned up.” The pla"t : ng season is now right on. us and those intending to plant have no reason to fear a failure through the white butterfly pest. All that is necessary is to sprav occasionally, and there are many inexpensive but effective sprays obtainable.