BUTTERFLY PARASITES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18180, 30 August 1933, Page 2

BUTTERFLY PARASITES

GISBORNE LIBERATION LOCATIONS DISCUSSED Hopes are entertained that sufficient white butterfly parasites will be provided for distribution in three different localities in the Gisborne district. This matter was discussed this morning with the instructor in agriculture at Gisborne, Mr. M. A. Black, who will have churge of their distribution and liberation. He said that he did not know yet how many parasites would he available for the Gisborne district, but he hoped there would be sufficient for liberation in three different areas. If

this were so, he would like to choose a site on the Gishorne flats, another in tho vicinity of Whatatiitu, and a third in tho Mutawai area. However, he had doubts of there be.ing sufficient for all three areas, and if in the event, of there being enough for only one section of # the Gisborne district, he would select a place where there was a fair amount of'cruciferous cropping and where there was a considerable infestation by the white butterfly caterpillar. lii the meantime, the white butterfly was continuing to breed, and they were about already in small numbers. The parasites this year would not have a very big effect, in reducing the ravages of the caterpillar of the grub this summer, because it would be well on in the season before the liberation could be ejfected. The crops must be well up before it would be advantageous to liberate the parasites,