THE FRUIT FLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13860, 25 March 1907, Page 5

THE FRUIT FLY.

STATEMENT BY AN EXPERT. 3TROU Oua Own CoamsrouDKNT.i OIIIUSTCHUIiCII. Marcli 23. Mr G. (Jiiinn, Ihe Soitili Australian expert, who brought the recent shipment of grapes to tii« colony, (|uc6tioncd about tho fruit il.y, said that -ho regretted that lie had liMJtj information to give, though ho was glad that the cause- of his ignorance was tlio absence of t-lie fly from South Australia.. His State Inul had no trouble with the fly, but tho alarm among fruit-growers in South Australia had been duo to the growth of the post in Victoria. It seemed to be easy of transport, anil ilio growers who had Lad no experience of its ravages wore naturally anxious i-o prevent Hie possibility of its introduction from another State. It was the Mediterranean fry, and was evidently very similar in its 'habits and methods of working to the Queensland fly, but while the latter appeared capable of existence only in a tropical or semitropical climate, the Mediterranean fly lived in much colder climates. The fly itself was- fairly easy to detect, as it !ia<l ii habit of spreading out its wings when resting on fruits, but the eggs were laid under the skin of the fruit, and wcro therefore more difficult to discover. In the- maggot singe the. insect would horo through tho fruit and drop to the ground, so that largo numbers were found in tho earth at, the foot of a- tree that hads liceii attacked. In order to destroy the pest it, was lKceseary not only to boil or burn the fruit, but to treat the earth as well, and ii dressing of kerosene had boon found to bo effectual. Tasmania had been visited 1 by the peet. but it lad been eaußlit early and stamped out, and ho hoped lhat •New Zealand would havo no . greater Irouhlo tlian Tasmania . had had. The transport of Iho fly in the maggot sla;;o was a simple matter, tlio insects often sheltering in the woodwork ot fruit uaree. That would probably account for its discovery in Ilawko's Baj' and Marlhorough.