Other fruit trees, and the important bean

Serious Pest

Increasing

On Norfolk Is.

A PEST called locally “passion-fruit fly” has increased alarmingly on Norfolk Island in late years, and it is estimated that three-quarters of the island now is so badly affected that agricultural production may be reduced.

The pest was known in the Mount Pitt area for a long time. Then it began to spread to other areas. Its attack upon passionfruit vines causes the fruit to fall while still immature. It has heavily re duced the quantity of passionfruit avail able for Messrs. Cottee’s cannery and this in turn has affected the island’s exports.

The pest has spread from passionfruit to corn, figtrees, wild tobacco plants and lantana, and is now reported to be attack ing the orange and lemon trees, in places.

Other fruit trees, and the important bean crops, are immune, so far.

The pest first appears as a hopper, and presently it turns into a fly, with irides cent wings, and is about half the size of the common house-fly. It is found in enormous numbers in some of the gulleys.

It now has such a hold upon the island's vegetation that it does not seem possible to control it by spraying. The situation apparently demands an urgent inquiry by scientists, who might be able to discover a biological control; and it is surprising to learn that neither the Administration nor the owners of the canning factory have done anything about it.