Wasp Army Raids Butterfly Camps

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7192, 26 June 1933, Page 6

Wasp Army Raids Butterfly Camps

ENTOMOLOGIST REPORTS SPLENDID CONTROL RESULTS. Very satisfactory results in the control of the white butterfly pest in Hawke's Bay areas, arc reported by Mr. J. Muggeridge, entomologist at the Plant Research Statiou, who ■ has just returned from a survey of the districts where the two parasites of the butterfly were liberated earlier in the year. Mr. Muggeridge states that the parasite (generally referred to as a wasp) that attacks the butterfly in the pupal stage, is making its presence felt to a marked degree, its establishment varying from 25 to 00 per cent. -Such highly satisfactory results wero by no means expected, but now everything augured well for a very good control of the pest. In view of these results it seems now that every effort should be made during the coming season thoroughly to distribute the parasites throughout the country, because it is only when this becomes general —and it will involve three or four seasons of concentration—that its full effects wall be produced and the white butterfly removed from the list of serious pests to farm crops.