Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-09-22

4 Inc report OF W. N. 6lu1Iu 10 the
Board Of Agriculture and Forestry,
covering the distribution Of Horn and
Fruit fly parasites during the past
three months is as follows:
Herewith enclosed beg to hand
you statements of certain fistribu-
tons OF horn ny and fruit fly para
sites during the past three months.
In view Of the fact that the introduc-
tons of the original colonies Of these
parasites were comparatively small
consider that the board should feel
gratified at the success attained in
their multiplication in our insectaries.
Much time and labor has been con-
sumed by both Messrs. Fullaway and
BridweIl to bring about continued sue.
cess of the breeding experiments so
satisfactorily inaugurated by Prof F..
Silvestri. The latter entomologist,
as you are aware, left for his home in
Portici, Italy, in the middle OF June
and since that time the breeding has
been in charge of Mr.. d. T. Fulla-
way, the entomologist loaned the
board by the Hawaii Experiment Sta
ton. The necessity of securing addi-
tional chronological assistance was
at once made very apparent upon
Prof Silvestri's arrival here with the
parasites he had discovered in Africa
and for that reason the services of
Mr.. Fullaway were requisitioned by
the board as above stated.
Owing to an unexpected reduction
In the appropriations from which the
chronological expenditures of the
board are drawn. it was at first con-
templated that we could not continue
the breeding and distribution of these
parasites beyond. September 30, but
having interviewed Governor Frear
relative to this matter, he strongly
urged that 1.-THE board, If at all pos
sible, continue this special work for
another three months. AS deem 1t
of the utmost Importance that the
multiplication and distribution OF
these Silyestri parasites should not
at this stage of the experiments be
stopped | earnestly recommend con-
tinuation of the insectary work until
December 81 and continued II neces-
sary longer than that period If funds
are available.
In the meantime ! am notified by
Mr.. Fullaway that he has been order
ed by his station to go to the Philip
pines on special chronological work
Tor the federal authorities and so he
will leave for these islands about the
middle of next month have therefore
made arrangements to have Mr.. Bird
well, one of the boards entomolo-
gists, take charge Of the work for the
time being. i have no doubt but that
the breeding Of the parasites will
continue satisfactorily under his i'm
mediate charge.
+ also desire to say that although
the enclosed lists of distribution Of
both horn fly and fruit fly parasites
show that apparently large numbers
have been distributed to the various
Islands II does not necesaRtilg I1ean
that these will all become establish
ed. We are already aware of the es-
tablishment of one or more of these
parasites in localities near Honolulu
where we have been able to give
close attention to the conditions of
host material before liberation, but
this in no manner means, as yet, that
the establishment Is considered quite
satisfactory nor that 1t is in any way
general wherever alterations have
been made. To ensure success at all
(if success is at all probable) many
more thousands of each of the para
sites will have to be bred and lib
Grated, and If not liberated under the
most ideal conditions as to the pres
ence of the host pest in its proper
stage Of growth there is always a
grave chance that the colonies lib
Grated viii produce negative results.
Neither must 1t be supposed that a
perceptible diminution of the numer.
ical strength Of the pest is to be look
ed forward to In the very near fu-
ture. 1t takes many millions of para
sites established generally over all
areas TO begin to do what may be.
called effective work, and it takes a
year and more often longer to bring
about such condition even If our
climatic conditions and general en-
vironment are suitable for the multiple
cation of parasites liberated under ma
tural conditions. The leaf hopper pest
was not in any way controlled by par.
asites until the second year after their
liberation and the same can be said
of the cane borer parasite which al.
though established and doing good
work. has not yet multiplied to the
extent that Is required to make 1t alb
solutely effective in all sections where
ii was liberated couple of years ago.
AS / have repeatedly informed the
board and the press. parasitic
b 9th in the field and
in the insectary is altogether prob
lematical To be successful the ma
tural conditions similar to those
which the parasite has been accus-
toned to in its native habitat must
be as near perfect as possible, and
even then the percentage of efficiency
of any one parasite may be quite
small, in which case it would neces-
state the introduction of other spec
les, so that all of these combined
could bring the parasitation of the
pest up to satisfactory percentage