HIGH COUNTRY RESEARCH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 47, 24 January 1939, Page 5

HIGH COUNTRY RESEARCH.

SPECIAL OFFICER APPOINTED. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 23. The approximate identity of a caterpillar which is generally believed to have wrought considerable damage in tile Mackenzie Country and other iiigliconntry tussock areas lias now been established. This information was given by Mr F. R. Callaghan, chief executive officer of the. Plant Research Bureau, Wellington, in an interview. The bureau, lie said, was about to launch an extensive campaign into the study of grasslands and their deterioration. To further this aim a special officer had been appointed to study grass insects. Mr It. D. Dick, a former student of Lincoln College, had been selected to fill this position. The caterpillar. Mr Callaghan said, had ben identified as one of a species of leucania. There were about three dozen different kinds of leucania, and which particular variety the one attacking the tussock in the Mackenzie Country was had not been definitely established. Not much as yet was known of its habits or of the range of the country it infested. It seemed certain, however. that its depredations were much more noticeable in the high sheep country, which was subject to spells of very dry weather, as was the .Mackenzie Country and Central Otago. Elsewhere, its activities were not nearly so noticeable.

“The whole question of inserts in grasses has been taken up very seriously by the Department of .Scientific and- Industrial Research,” lie said. “A special officer, Mr R. D. Dick, a former student of Lincoln College, who has shown a considerable inclination for this work, has been appointed to specialise, in grass-insect research. Mr Dick will work under Mr L. Morrison, entomologist at the college.” Mr Dick lias assumed his official duties already. Work would be started immediately, lie said, when communicated with last, evening, most of it being in the field. It was intended to make a thorough survey of the hill and mountain runs from North Canterbury to Central Otago.