Strawberry Root Borer Discovered in Local Fields
A dangerous pest has been identified in Kennewick and Richland, and authorities warn that immediate destruction of infested plants is the only way to save the industry.
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During the past week my attention has been called to the presence of a small white grub that is working in some of the strawberry fields. I immediately sent some of the specimens to J. C. DeVise, the association entomologist, who identified them as the strawberry root borer (Sesia rutilans). As to the remedial measures, so far there is nothing except to dig up the plants and burn them. This pest is a very serious one. It has cost strawberry growers of the United States many thousands of dollars and this association should use every precaution and work fast to eliminate the pest, because if it is once established in the Kennewick-Richland district it will ruin the entire strawberry industry. They are present at both Kennewick and Richland. Every grower should examine his patch and if sickly plants are found, pull them up and examine the roots and crown. If the little white grub is found, kindly report to me.
“This pest is a very serious one. It has cost strawberry growers of the United States many thousands of dollars... it is up to them to watch for them and eliminate them.”
The Kennewick-Richland area has shifted from a massive agricultural hub to a burgeoning urban center, but the vulnerability of our local economy to invasive species remains a perennial anxiety for regional farmers.
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