HOST OF CATERPILLARS.
OATS PADDOCK STRIPPED. STARLINGS DESTROY. PEST. NEW PLYMOUTH, April'9. A visitation of caterpillars recently in the Cardiff district, four miles from Stratford, caused a good deal of alarm. They stripped a six-acre paddock of oats and then traversed a strip of pastures without leaving a blade of grass. Thousands of caterpillars swarmed up the oat stems and tho owner was powerless to drive them away. Their passage over the pasture was clearly defined by a broad trail of destruction, which was visible from a distance. Neighbours hurriedly communicated with the stock inspector at Stratford, who advised the use of a roller as an emergency measure to crush out the pest. The same evening the inspector paid a visit to the locality and was led by the farmers to an area of bush nearby, where a large flock of starlings had arrived and were preparing to nest for the night.. ! The next morning tho number of birds grew to large proportions and they conducted on onslaught on the pest. In a very short time the caterpillars were .annihilated.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 111, 10 April 1929, Page 10
Word Count
180HOST OF CATERPILLARS. Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 111, 10 April 1929, Page 10
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