CATERPILLAR VISITATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17948, 28 November 1932, Page 9

CATERPILLAR VISITATION

THE ARMY WORM TROUBLE

DISTINCT PROM GRASS GRUB

The caterpillar which did much damage among ’rye grass seed crops iu the Gisborne district last year, and which is reported to be showing up again this summer, is distinct from the grass grub which has done so much damage in the Auckland district recently. This statement was jnadp to-day by Mr. M. A.' Black, instructor m agriculture, who wished to remove any suggestion that the grass grub was associated with the Gisborne visitation. In , an article ini Saturday’s Herald, it was suggested that the caterpillar in the Gisborne rye grass, areas was identical with the grass grub, and in correcting this Mr. Black states : ~ “The insect in question is locally known ‘the caterpillar," and in some districts as the ‘army worm, it attacks more especially the seed heads pi rye-grass, but also does a great deal o damage to oats and other cereals, f did hundreds of pounds worth of dam-, age to the rye grass crop in this district last season, and, as it has already put in an appearance this season, it seems probable that it will dd a R99P deal of damage again. “The reports published b.y your agricultural reporter are always exceptionally good, and the fact that the heading of the article mentioned is misleading is undoubtedly my fault, as I supplied the information for it.”