INSECT PESTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 413, 3 November 1930, Page 9

INSECT PESTS

LONDON, Aug. J 5. New facilities arc to be provided, in part by the Empire Marketing Board, to cany on the useful Imperial research work upon insect pests. For this research the British Museum (Natural History, South Kensington), ami the Imperial Bureau of Entomology are responsible. Funds received from the Empire Marketing Board, together with a grant from the Treasury, has enabled a large new building in four stories of brick and concrete to be built to the northwest of the main site of the museum, to which half of the entomological collection is presently to be moved.

It is intended fo pursue investigations fo- the assistance of the various tropical administrations of the Empire in distinguishing between different species of tsc-tsc fly, mosquito, an ( ] other pests Hitherto such research has been hamp cred for want of facilities in developing unclassified grubs alive, but a series of three conservatories has been installed upon the roof of the new building which can be kept at different temperatures. In these and in a special refrigerating chambr the natural life of insect types can be studied and meth ods of biological control through parasites devised.

The extension now to be placed at the service of the Entomological Department consists of six bays, each 11ft. flin. lung, but these will eventually be increased Jr, 12, and the building transferred to its original purpose of a new spirit building for the museum. The Depaitnienr of Entomology will then mo-.e to acether projected new build ing to be put up on the site of the existing whale room at the west, end of the main building, built many years ago without, artificial lighting as a temporary home for the whale groupr