Notes on Lasioptera cerealis.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 21, 1888, Page 507

3. “Notes on the Lasioptera cerealis,” by G. V. Hudson. Abstract. Mr. Hudson said that, in view of the extensive crops of rye which he understood were grown in the southern parts of New Zealand, he felt it his duty to bring before the Society a very serious insect-enemy to rye, which, although he believed it had not at present arrived in the colony, yet might reasonably be expected to appear at any moment. When he pointed out that this insect bears exactly the same relation to rye as the Hessian fly does to wheat and barley, its serious character would be at once understood, especially when we reflected that whole tracts of country in Russia are completely devastated by its attacks. It therefore behoved all farmers and others in charge of rye-crops to be on the lookout for any kind of disease in the plants during the coming summer. Any specimens which might be sent to him he would be very pleased to examine and report on, as he had descriptions of the insect and its mode of attack in his possession. Sir J. Hector said, in reference to this subject he might state that Mr. Koebele, of the United States Agricultural Department, who had been specially sent to Australia to obtain the natural remedy for the Icerya purchasi, or wattle-blight, had been successful in securing the particular ichneumon-fly near Adelaide, and that he (Sir J. Hector) had arranged for a shipment being made to New Zealand at an early date. The society would remember that the Icerya purchasi was the remarkable Coccid described by our President some years ago, and which had proved

so destructive in Nelson and in most parts of the North Island except the Wellington District.