VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1934, Page 9

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY,

WHITE BUTTERFLY PARASITE. IS IT PRESENT IN TARANAKI? (To the Editor.) Sir—lt was reported in Friday’s News that the introduced white butterfly pararite (ptiromalus puparum), which was released in Hawkes Bay, “has- appeared at Masterton, 90 miles away.” In March and April last I collected several dozen larvae from cabbages in Gill Street gardens, and fed and reared them in large glass jars until they pupated. Before the butterflies begin to emerge from the chrysalis in July a number of the latter became discoloured and shrivelled. Several of the specimens were almost black. On dissecting and examining these pupae I noticed them being attacked by an internal parasite which had consumed much of the internal viscera of the chrysalides attacked. I do not know the introduced parasite, but if it proves to be such it is evident it was here in Taranaki during last summer; otherwise the specimens I have described could not have been parasitised, unless possibly by some native parasite. If it be the latter none of the minute winged bees developed in the glass jar. There are a number of species of native ptiromalus.—l. am, etc., W. W. SMITH. . New Plymouth, Oct, 12, 1934.