16 
C. F. H. Jenkins. 
F. PIERIDAE. 
Pieris rapae (Linn.) (Cabbage Butterfly) 
The cabbage butterfly was first recordecl in Western Australia in January, 
1943, and its rapid spread soon indicated it serious potentialities as a ^^egetable 
pest. 
In .December, 1943, twelve butterfly pupae jiarasitised by the wasp 
Pteromalus puparimi Lynn, were obtained from Dr. Evans of Tasmania, who 
had successfully introduced the insect from New Zealand. 14,000 of this Euro- 
pean wasp were reared and liberated the first season, colonies being sent to 
country and metropolitan districts. The wasp v'as successfully carried over the 
winter and a further 40,000 wasjis were liberated in the summer of 1944-45 and 
approximately a similar number in tlie 1945-40 season. 
Although it is somewhat early to make a definite pronouncement on the 
success of the introduction, the fact that parasitised material has been collected 
from localitias as far apart as Kalamunda and Albany shows that there is every 
prospect of Pteromalas becoming permanently established. 
Native parasites found to be attacking tliis butterfly are Clialcis ruskini ? 
Girault ; Tricholyga sorhillans ? (Wiedemann). 
LlTEilATURK. 
Jenkins, C. F. H. 1943, “The Cabbage Butterfly” Journ. Dept. Agric. 11’. Ausi. Vol. 
XX, 2ncl Ser. p. 35. 
THE INTRODUCTION OF VERTEBRATES FOR 
INSECT CONTROL. 
Attemjits to utilise various of the higher animals for insect control have 
been made from time to time and as early as 1897 Helms suggested the acclima- 
tisation of the Hole [Talpa europava). The Hedgehog (Erinaceus' enropaciis) ; 
the Shrew {Sorvx vulgaris) and the Toad (Bufo hufo). Fortunately his sugges- 
tions were not acted u})on and the only actual attempt to acclimatise any of 
the higiier nnimaJs for the purpose of pest contiol was made in 1933 when 
specimens of the Asiatic Cattle Egi-et (Butmlcus ibis coromandus) were imported 
(Anon. 1 933). 4\\*enty of these birds were obtained from London, 1 8 were libera- 
ted in tick iuft'.sted country and two were retained by the Perth Zoological 
Gardens. The site cfiosen for their release wa.s the Leonard River at Kimberley 
Downs Station, but the birds survi\'ed scarcely more than a week, falling an 
easy prey to hawks and other enemies. Another bird whose introduction into 
the North has been suggested to combat the cattle tick is the Starling (Sturnus 
vulgaris), but no definite action has been taken and the bird is at present on 
the prohibited list under the Vermin Act. 
ijtkr-\ti;r k. 
Anon, 1933 Journ. Coun. Sci. Ind. lies. (Aust.), \'ol. 6, p. 213. 
Helms, R. 1897, A Proposal for the Acclimatisation of a Few Insectivorous Animals ” 
Journ. Bur. Agric. If. Aust. AVI. IV. P. 1129. 
Jenkins. C. F. H. 1935 Journ. Dept. Agric. II'. 2nd Ser. AVI. XIL, p. 462. 
Jenkins, C. F. H. 1936 Ibid. 2nd Ser. \V1. XIL, pp. 195, 360, 520. 
