VALUABLE PARASITE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 120, 20 April 1934, Page 7

VALUABLE PARASITE.

ATTACKING INSECT PEST. CAWTHRON INSTITUTE’S WORK. Per Press Association. NELSON, April 19. One of tho problems upon which the Oawthron Institute entomologists are engaged is the control of mealy hug. These insects attack a . variety of plants by draining the nutrient sap therefrom. In some parts of the Dominion mealy bug infests apple trees, upon the fruit of which there presence may be responsible for a considerable part being discarded for export. The insects also infest citrus trees, grapevines, ornamental vines, etc., and, when abundant, form masses of white sticky festoons. Mealy bug has for many years been one of the major problems oi citrus growers in California, where a large stall was employed for the purpose of rearing and distributing, each year, millions of ladybirds to fight the pest. To seek, other more effective natural enemies, the Californian authorities sent an expedition to Australia a few years ago, and there was discovered a minute parasite which was sent to California. On its way to its new home,' the parasite passed through New Zealand, when a fresh supply of mealy bug was secured for the remainder of the voyage. This was of interest to New Zealand as it was not kiiow-n at the time whether New Zealand mealy bug would be suitable. Fortunately, this turned out to be tho case and the parasite landed safely in California. _ During Dr Miller’s visit to that country in 1930 he made a special study of the influence the parasite wms having upon the mealy bug situation. It was shown that the parasite had been such an enormous success that tho mealy bug problem had become practically a thing or tlie Pa On account of this a consignment of the parasite was asked for, and sent to the Cawthron Institute last year when work was commenced to breed the insect in sufficient quantities for liberation in New Zealand. The attempt so far has been such an outstanding success, and the parasite is adapting itself so freely to conditions in Nelson, that large numbers are now being reared, enabling the Cawthron Institute to make an initial distribution of over 2,000 parasities to different points in the country. The end of next season should find the parasite well established. . Not only is tliis parasite being liberated in New Zealand, but it is also being sent to the Cook Islands and Samoa. From what can he seen of the parasite’s activities at the Institute, there is every possibility of it controlling mealy bug in as spectacular manner as Alphelinus did the woolly aphis.