Embankment bitten by black bugs

MOVING BACK IN: Dying grass above the edge of the boundary of the Tasman Tanning No1 pitch at Victoria Park, believed to have been caused by the African black beetle.PHOTOS/BEVAN CONLEY

WHILE dozens of secondary school cricketers will from today make Victoria Park their base for the next few weeks, some unwanted guests have also parked themselves back up on the embankment.

Signs of the African black beetle are believed to have been found in a couple of the ten samples taken at the park ahead of the start of the annual January Festival of Cricket.

Damage from the pest was first noticed in the outfield of the Tasman Tanning cricket wickets in 2010 and since then has been difficult for the Wanganui District Council to eradicate.

It hatches its grubs underground and there they feed on grass roots, causing the shoots to brown and die.

Wanganui Cricket development officer Dilan Raj said yesterday that spraying would be done today, while they would continue their watering programme at the park.

"We're trying to be proactive because either you have it or you don't. The signs look like we've got it again.

"If there's beetles, you're stuffed, but it keeps it moist for a while, with the grass long as the beetles nip at the bottom."

The priority will be keeping the latest infestation away from the outfield and wicket area.

WDC parks officer Lindsay Hyde had said back in April that council may not get completely on top of the infestation, but it was about managing it.

"There are sprays we could use, but these are public reserves and we don't want to use chemicals that could be toxic to animals."

It was initially thought the black beetle had just one life cycle, but staff then found it can have two and, as a result, missed any effective summer control last season.

"We did the spring one, and I thought we had been effective. After Christmas [2013] I thought the field was a bit dry but looking closer saw grub in the ground and beetles emerging.

"This year we've got a plan in place and will be altering our grass seed mix - we'll mix in different grass types so if one gets hit the other shouldn't be affected."

In any case, play is all set to start this afternoon for the opening of the festival with the National Girls Under 15 tournament.

Today's matches will played on Tasman Tanning pitches 1-3, with the No4 pitch being used in the second round.

The 2014 champions Central Districts begin the defence of their title against Otago on the No2 pitch. Auckland will meet Wellington on the No1 pitch, while Christchurch Metro play Northern Districts on No3.