The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1907. A MISCHIEVOUS INSECT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2171, 29 August 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1907. A MISCHIEVOUS INSECT.

To many it may seem somewhat peculiar that the decease of a few insects should be made the subject matter of a Press Association telegram, but modern science has discovered vast potentialities for good or ill in various species of microbes and insects, and these in consequence take a prominent place in our daily life. One of the latest vo receive siiecial attention in New Zealand has been- the fruit fly, and the definite statement of the Government pomologist, Air A. Boucher, that the colony is at present in all probability quite free from the pest ■will be hailed with feelings of the greatest relief by orcliardists throughout both Islands. This little insect is about the size of an ordinary hoii-.e fly, but is infinitely more mischievous. Once in ail orchard it darts from tree to tree and, plunging a needle-like appendage into th e fruit, deposits an egg in the interior. The egg ultimately develops into a larva, meantime completely rotting the fruit. As with most insects, the fruit fly lays sufficient eggs to reproduce at a marvellous rate, and, if unchecked, its progeny can very soon l uin an orchard. With that other enemy of tli e orcliardist, the codlin moth, persistent spraying has been' very effective, but this method is quite useless with the fruit fly, which so cunningly places its egg out of ha-in’s way. In several of the Aust-alian States the parasite in question Ins gained such a hold that many largo orchards have been almost completely destroyed, and fruitgrowers have despaired of their ability, to get ri i of the pest. So serious did the matter become, that Air. George Compere, the AVest Australian entomolog’st recently visited China and India with a view to obtaining there ail i sect which it had been stated was a natisr al enemy of the fruit fly. Unfortunately these infiuitesimal-lookii.g creatures, around whose existence so much hope was centred, were placed in me care of the ship’s butcher, who failed to understand properly the craving o’ the insects’ stomachs, and they expired without catching a glimpse of “the most beautiful harbor in the world.” At present Air. Compero ’■ making another journey to India to secure a fresh consignment of the parasites that are to do battle with the fruit fly, and thus save the orchards of the Commonwealth. Another and much simpler remedy that has met with astonishing success is the hanging of small tins filled with kerosene on the boughs of'trees uhich have been receiving attention from the pest. Tho kerosene, strangely on ough, seems to possess a fascination for the troulileome insect, and hundreds have been thus drowned in a short period. So encouraging have been the results that Air. French, the Victorian Government entomologist, has arranged to distribute tins and printed directions to orcliardist, throughout that-Stato for. use during the present season.

Under these circumstances it is not hard to understand the objection of New Zealand fruitgrowers to a visit from this interesting yet fiendish insect, and it will certainly he wise to recollect the circumstances under which it first effected a landing on these shores. Some years ago the Government instituted regulations whereby the discovery of disease amongst imported fruit rendered the destruction of the entire consignment compulsory. Subsequently Auckland importers, finding the regulations irksome, asked for permission to pick over condemned shipments, destroying only what appeared to be infected. Sufficient pressure was brought to bear upon the Government, and the point was conceded. Here was the chance (for the fruit fly. The egg, being safe and snug ill the interior of various fruits, absolutely defied detection, and thus it happened that through a consignment of oranges the dreaded pest made an entry into New Zealand. Shortly after the fly was discovered in Hastings orchards, and the “fruit fly scare” of last season was the result. With commemlablo promptitude the Agricultural Department took the matter in hand, and it is to the lasting credit of Mr. Boucher and his assistants that by the exercise of extraordinary preeautions they succeeded in restricting, the operations of the pest to the w-

chnrds where it was discovered. What their success meant to the fruit-grow-ing industry in New Zealand can scarcely be estimated, and it is sincerely to be hoped that no Government in the future will relax its import regulations sufficiently to allow a fruit lly invasion to he again possible.