Insect Pests

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 82, 7 April 1938, Page 3

Insect Pests

FARMERS’ UNION CONCERNED The white butterfly, the diamondback moth and the monarch butterfly , occupied the attention of members of the Manawatu provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union for a little while at , their monthly meeting yesterday. Replying to an inquiry from the exe- ; cutive, the Director of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture (Mr. R. B. Tennent) stated that the Government Entomologist (Mr. Muggeridge) had recently completed a hurried survey of the white butterfly , pest, and had advised that, so far as , the Manawatu area was concerned, his examination disclosed that the parasite ( for control of the pest was well distri- . buted, but parasitism was comparatively low, due to the unfavourable weather , conditions that had been experienced. , The entomologist stated that uh- , doubtedlv the white butterfly was very prevalent, and he was afraid that, . should the humid conditions experiL enced recently continue, the white butterfly would get ahead of the parasite, but in the event of fine dry weather becoming general, the presence of the parasite would rapidly be noticed. i Mr. A. N. Morcom said the parasite was doing good work in the Kongotea ; district. j Another member pointed out that the letter made no reference to the dia-mond-back moth. On the motion of Mr. J. D. Balmer, it was decided to inquire from the department what was being done in regard to the diamond-back moth. . Mr. J. T. Kent asked whether the ! monarch butterfly was inimical to farm- ! Mr. G. J. Wilde: I think an assurance -• has already been given that it is not. In view of the fact that the executive t was writing to the department about the diamond-back moth, it was decided to incorporate an inquiry about the monarch butterfly.