BYGONE DAYS: Discovery of potato pest in province causes alarm

I can remember as a child during the summer months when I spent the last few weeks of the school holidays at my gran’s house near Draperstown counting ladybirds and assorted bugs. And I was always warned to keep an eye out for a bug called the Colorado potato beetle, also known as the ten-striped spearman, the ten-lined potato beetle or simply the potato bug which, as you can guess was a major potato bug.
Overall champion at the the fat lamb show and sale at Limavady Mart was William Young of Limavady, with his Continental entry. He is pictured receiving his award from Arnold Nicholl on behalf of Alex Gourley, auctioneer, sponsor. Included left is Samuel Ritchie, sales representative, Daleside Farm Feeds, sponsor, of the Continental section, and Paddy Rafferty of Dungiven, who was reserve champion, also with his Continental entry. Picture: Farming Life archivesOverall champion at the the fat lamb show and sale at Limavady Mart was William Young of Limavady, with his Continental entry. He is pictured receiving his award from Arnold Nicholl on behalf of Alex Gourley, auctioneer, sponsor. Included left is Samuel Ritchie, sales representative, Daleside Farm Feeds, sponsor, of the Continental section, and Paddy Rafferty of Dungiven, who was reserve champion, also with his Continental entry. Picture: Farming Life archives
Overall champion at the the fat lamb show and sale at Limavady Mart was William Young of Limavady, with his Continental entry. He is pictured receiving his award from Arnold Nicholl on behalf of Alex Gourley, auctioneer, sponsor. Included left is Samuel Ritchie, sales representative, Daleside Farm Feeds, sponsor, of the Continental section, and Paddy Rafferty of Dungiven, who was reserve champion, also with his Continental entry. Picture: Farming Life archives

Curiously, during the Cold War, some countries in the Warsaw Pact claimed that the beetles had been introduced by the CIA in an attempt to reduce food security by destroying the agriculture of the Soviet Union. A widespread campaign was launched against the beetles; posters were put up and school children were mobilized to gather the pests and kill them in benzene or spirit.

I personally can’t recall ever coming across any of these bugs, but still to this day the Colorado remains a much feared bug.

YOUNG LAD DISCOVERS BUG IN EMPTY FRUIT BOX

Samuel Ritchie, centre, sales representative, Daleside Farm Feeds, sponsors, presenting first prize to William Young, Limavady, winner, of the Continental section of the fat lamb show and sale at Limavady Mart. Runner-up was Paddy Rafferty, Dungiven. Picture: Farming Life archivesSamuel Ritchie, centre, sales representative, Daleside Farm Feeds, sponsors, presenting first prize to William Young, Limavady, winner, of the Continental section of the fat lamb show and sale at Limavady Mart. Runner-up was Paddy Rafferty, Dungiven. Picture: Farming Life archives
Samuel Ritchie, centre, sales representative, Daleside Farm Feeds, sponsors, presenting first prize to William Young, Limavady, winner, of the Continental section of the fat lamb show and sale at Limavady Mart. Runner-up was Paddy Rafferty, Dungiven. Picture: Farming Life archives

Indeed, while looking through the old newspaper’s from August 1950 I came across a series of references to the discovery of Colorado beetle in Northern Ireland.

The Londonderry Sentinel published on Thursday, August 10, 1950 reported: “Ten year-old Thomas Quinn, who resides with his widowed mother at Welsh Street, Belfast, on Tuesday last brought home an empty fruit box given to him by a fruit broker at St George’s Market. Tom’s elder brother sells firewood and the box was intended to augment his stocks. The box was marked ‘Melon, Valencia’.

“When the youngster opened the box he found in it a small beetle with black and yellow stripes running longitudinally from tail to head. Tommy is a bright youth so he showed the insect to his mother. He was more than amply rewarded, for his mother at once suspected the nature of the insect. She placed it in a matchbox and sent it to the RUC at Musgrave Street Barracks. The police got in touch with the Entomology Divison of the Ministry of Agriculture, who confirmed Mrs Quinn’s suspicion that the insect was a Colorado beetle, that dreaded pest of the potato crop in a dozen different countries and climates.

“Thanks to Mrs Quinn’s prompt and intelligent action the Entomology Division was enabled to start investigations right away to ascertain how the beetle reached this country and to trace any others that might have escaped unnoticed in the same fruit consignment. They discovered that the particular box was one of a consignment containing fruit from Ghent which was unloaded at York Dock, Belfast, from a ship which came direct from the Continent, but which by now had gone on to Glasgow. The Scottish Department of Agriculture was at once informed so that the ship and her cargo might be examined and all necessary precautions taken on the other side of the Channel.

Mary Curran, assistant manager, First Trust, Limavady, sponsors, presenting first prize to Uel Oliver, Ballyleighery, winner of the Suffolk section of the fat lamb show and sale at Limavady Mart. Hugh McCollam, Ballykelly, was second, and Alex McCracken, Magilligan, was third. Picture: Farming Life archivesMary Curran, assistant manager, First Trust, Limavady, sponsors, presenting first prize to Uel Oliver, Ballyleighery, winner of the Suffolk section of the fat lamb show and sale at Limavady Mart. Hugh McCollam, Ballykelly, was second, and Alex McCracken, Magilligan, was third. Picture: Farming Life archives
Mary Curran, assistant manager, First Trust, Limavady, sponsors, presenting first prize to Uel Oliver, Ballyleighery, winner of the Suffolk section of the fat lamb show and sale at Limavady Mart. Hugh McCollam, Ballykelly, was second, and Alex McCracken, Magilligan, was third. Picture: Farming Life archives

“No other beetles were found, and the Ministry of Agriculture has made the reassuring statement that there is no cause for alarm as the beetle was detected in an area where it was not likely to cause any real trouble.

“Tom Quinn is now the possessor of a letter from the Ministry of Agriculture thanking his mother and himself for the prompt action which prevented the unwelcome visitor from starting on the ravage of which it and its kind are so capable.

“The Ministry express the hope that any citizen finding a beetle or grub which arouses his suspicion will act with similar promptitude in notifying the discovery.”

THE ROAMER CALLS FOR VIGILANCE

Pictured in the 1990s is Tom McCracken, Craigantlet, Co Down, competing on his McCormack Deering International W in the expert trial class. Picture: Farming Life archivesPictured in the 1990s is Tom McCracken, Craigantlet, Co Down, competing on his McCormack Deering International W in the expert trial class. Picture: Farming Life archives
Pictured in the 1990s is Tom McCracken, Craigantlet, Co Down, competing on his McCormack Deering International W in the expert trial class. Picture: Farming Life archives

Commenting on the discovery of the Colorado potato beetle in the Around and about – gleanings from town and country published in the News Letter on Friday, August 11, 1950, The Roamer wrote: “The discovery of two Colorado beetles In Belfast need not cause alarm, but it emphasises the need for vigilance, especially at the docks when produce from the Continent arrives.

“Farmers should collect all strange and suspicious looking beetles and send them to the Ministry of Agriculture for Identification, for the Colorado, if it once got established in this country, would swiftly destroy the potato crop which is of such importance to our economy. Farmer and townsman would soon feel the pinch.

“Fortunately the Ministry of Agriculture possesses all the powers that it needs to deal promptly and effectively with this peril whenever it appears, and is constantly on the alert.

“In Eire, too, the authorities are equally vigilant.”

ANOTHER BEETLE IS FOUND AT THE DOCKS

Meanwhile a further beetle was discovered by dockers engaged in unloading a cargo of basic slag from SS Fair Head at Belfast docks.

The capture of the beetle was effected a foreman docker, and the find was promptly reported to the Entomology Division of the Ministry of Agriculture at Queen’s University, Belfast, by whom the identity of the beetle was confirmed.

The Fair Head had arrived from Rouen.

Her next port of call, it was reported, was Dublin, and the authorities there had been notified of the occurrence.

It was also noted by the News Letter that at this season the ship was usually engaged in traffic between the Continent and Belfast, Londonderry and southern Irish ports.

The News Letter commented: “This is the second live Colorado Beetle detected by members of the public within a week, and the Minister of Agriculture is very gratified that their intelligent cooperation has enabled prompt and belligerent action to be taken to prevent such a dangerous pest securing a footing In Northern Ireland.”

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