A NEW PEACH PEST.

Thames Star, Volume XX, Issue 6131, 29 November 1888, Page 2

A NEW PEACH PEST.

[To the Editor of the Erssisa Stab."]

Sic.—l am adriaed by the TJ.S A. Division of Entomology that an insect; injurious to the peach has been reported to the Department by ono of the State naturalists visiting Japan, The insect is a small moth, as yet undesoribed, and supposed to be indigenous to Japan, the larva of which to the number of several bore into the peach fruit, and render it quite unfit to eat Jong before it is ripe. la this way the whole crop of peaches has been totally destroyed, and the people are in despair of being able to continue this once extensive and pros? perous industry. Commissioner Coleman considers the matter serious, and has directed inquiries to be made from Professor Sasaki, of Tokio College, and further information is expected. In the meanwhile it would be prudent to warn our Thames fruit-growing friends to look well to their peaches, aod if any suoh insect should be detected, to (destroy it, as I wish to warn them that should it gain a footing, there are reaaouß wbj it will prove a worse enemy, and a more difficult one to..fiflt rid of, thau either the eodlin ejotU v\- tii£ «ott9S| seal®? ib4 tl»»y aw

bad enough. We have been importing trees and plants largely from Japan, and it is not improbable that the pest may arrive, or has arrived, and hence the caution. Should any one be so unfortu ' nate as to find such an insect, I would be much obliged if they would send me the peach with it in it in a box, in order that I may obtain the moth, which is a matter of great interest to Professor Eiley and bis staff.—l am, &c,

E. Allan Wight.

PS.—Mr Koebele, the American En to* mo!, gist, intends to spend a month in New Z alaad looking up the parasites of icerya, and we have much to expect from hit researches ; he also will bring some of the par*.ghn flies from Adelaide with him for Auckland. These flies {Izstophonus iceryae) have all but exterminated the scale from Australia, and the cause of their failure in California is now fully explained, so that we may hope they will do the same gcod offioe for Auckland. Te Komata, 2»th Nov. 1888.