GRASS GRUB PEST

Southland Times, Issue 22728, 2 November 1935, Page 12

GRASS GRUB PEST

FARMERS MORE WORRIED THAN USUAL ANOTHER RESULT OF DRY SUMMER Reports have come from several parts of Southland, particularly from the Waimatuku district, that more trouble than usual is being caused this season by the grass grub. Evidently the dryness of last summer favoured the development of all insects and this menace in particular. Previously it has not been as serious a danger in Southland as in other areas, notably Hawea Flat, Central Otago, where it has been very bad for some years. There is really no proved means of disposing of this pest. Turnip land should be worked as often as possible to expose the grubs to birds, and turnips and swedes should be sown early enough to get them past the seedling stage before the adult beetle emerges, which is generally early in December. Ducks can be very useful in accounting for the)’grub, but this is only garden control. The pest does damage to grass as a grub in the autumn. Then it burrows well down into the subsoil for the winter, coming to life again in the spring and feeding on grass roots or whatever is available. The adult beetle emerges about the first week or two of December and also is responsible for damage to growing crops. The female then lays eggs usually at the foot of any rough grass growth, and the whole vicious circle is begun all over again. It is the female of the species that is responsible for destroying turnip and swede crops in the seedling stages, but if the crops can be got past that stage by the time the beetle emerges, it can do little damage. Pastures usually suffer most seriously, since most turnips are sown by the middle of November and the dangerous stage is avoided. Late crops are liable to suffer and occasionally are cleaned out.