INSECT WARFARE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21694, 12 July 1932, Page 11

INSECT WARFARE

WHITE BUTTERFLY’S ENEMY RELEASE NEXT SPRING. Next spring insect, warfare, organised by scientists on the staff of the plant research station at Palmerston North, is to be waged in New Zealand upon the white butterfly, whose ravages among crops has directed attention to its remarkable capacity for destruction. Preparations are being made for the release of an insect enemy of pieris rap® .(white butterfly).... The parasite has the formidable name of Apantiles glomeratus, and was imported from the Imperial institute of Entomology some time ago. it has been thoroughly pampered in order to keep it alive and has undergone the common methods of biological control. The rearing of insects of value in checking or exterminating the enemies of plant life in this country is the special work of Mr J. Muggeridge, B.Sc., the Government entomologist, who is stationed at Palmerston North. He has successfully reared a generation of these parasites and is their proud foster parent. The insects from which so much is expected are now being held alive in cold storage and hundreds of them are swarming in a little box. In some cases a second generation is being reared. The work being carried out is regarded as quite a triumph from the scientific point of view, and will, probably prove to be of considerable economic signihCfIDCS* The possibility of the imported insects which are to take the'offensive against the white butterfly being attacked in turn by a hyper-parasite has been eliminiAed. An unknpwn species of the latter was discc red among them when they arrived and was speedily isolated. The parasites are to be liberated during the coming spring in selected localities. ■ ■ ! . ,