CAWTHRON INSTITUTE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 19 April 1934, Page 6

CAWTHRON INSTITUTE

CONTROL OP MEALY BUGS On e of tlie problems upon which’the Cavvthron Institute entomologists are engaged is the control of mealy-bugs. These insects attack a variety of plants by draining the nutrient sap therefrom and in many cases cause very extensive damage. In some parts of the Dominion the mealy-bugs infest apple trees upon the fruit of Which their presence may be responsible for a considerable putt of the crop being discarded lor export. These insects also infest citrus trees, grape-vines, ornamental vines, etc., and when abundant form masses ol white, sticky festoons. Mealy-bugs for many years, have been one of the major problems of citrus growers in California where a large staff was employed for the purpose of rearing and distributing each year millions of lady-birds to fight the pest. To seek other and 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, this parasite passed through New Zealand when a fresh supply of mealybugs was secured for it to work upon during the remainder of the voyage. This was of interest to New Zealand as it was not known at the time whether the New Zealand mealy-bugs would be suitable. Fortunately this turned out to be tile case and the parasite was landed safely in California. During Mr. Miller’s visit to that country in 1930 lie made a special study of the “influence th e parasite was having upon the mealy-bug situation and ho was shown that the parasite had been, such an enormous success that 'the. mealy-bug problem had become practically a thing of the past. 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 lias been such an outstanding sue cess, the parasite adapting itself freely to our conditions in Nelson, that large numbers are now being reared, enabling the Cawtlnon Institute to make an initial distribution of over 2,000 parasites to different points in the country. As the numbers increase to the stage of mass production the end of next season should find the parasite well established. Not only is this parasite being liberated in New Zealand but it is also being sent to the Cook Islands and Samoa. From what can be seen of the parasite’s activities at the Institute there is every possibility of it controlling the mealybug in as spectacular a manner as the aphelinus did tlie woolly-aphis. Tliis parasite at work upon the mealybugs is one of the interesting exhibits on view in the entomological laboritories open to the public during this week, as advertised.