PEACH MOTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22250, 26 October 1935, Page 8 (Supplement)

PEACH MOTH

METHODS OF CONTROL Tho peach moth which wrought such destructive havoc in tho Goulburn Valley, Victoria, is being intensively studied under tho joint auspices of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, tho Victorian Department of Agrieul-. turo and tho Canned Fruits Control Board. In tho first report the scientist in cliargo, Mr. F. J. Gay, B.Sc., draws the following conclusions. (1) Both newlv-hatched peach moth larvae and codlin moth larvae have tho habit of rejecting all surface tissue. The small size of the newly-hatched peach moth larvae, compared with the newlyhatched codlin inoth larvae suggests that tho efficiency of stomach poisons is influenced by particle size. (2) Of tho various substances tested as ovicides and cover sprays, nicotine sulphate definitely gave tho most promising Tcsults. Its compatibility with other sprays makes it especially suitable for use in combination with early routine spring sprays. (3) The evidence indicates that untreated bandages not only catch largo numbers of over-wintering peach moth larvae, but also favour the action of native parasites. (4) Native parasites appear to be restricted in their action to the winter moths. Arrangements have been made with the United States Department of Agriculture to introduce the Ichneumon parasite, Macrocentrus ancyclivorus llohw., which attacks peach moth larvae in the spring and summer.