PARASITES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 43, 20 January 1936, Page 8

PARASITES.

USE IN FIGHTING FRUIT PESTS

SPECIMENS FOR N.S.W

A search in India and East Africa for parasites to .attack fruit flies and white wax scale 'of citrus trees was carried out by the entomologist of the Mew South Wales Department of Agriculture (Mr W. B. Gurney), who returned to Sydney recently. Mr Gurney secured specimens of parasites of the fruit fly in India, and four varieties of the parasite on the wax scale in Kenya and Uganda. The latter specimens were despatched by air mail to Alexandria and thence by air mail to Australia, where some of them arrived safely. All of the parasites are very minute, and all varieties were fed during their journeys in glass tubes on specks of honey. Some of them were procured in the jungles and others in cultivated territories during a tour by Mi; Gurney lasting more than eight months. Although hopeful as to the success of his efforts, Mr Gurney said it remained to be seen whether the specimens he had obtained would adapt themselves to Australian conditions and exercise appreciable control of the pests. If thev did so, great benefit to the fruit industry would ensue.