THE WHITE PINE BORER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1016, 4 January 1911, Page 4

THE WHITE PINE BORER.

A PROBABLE NATURAL ENEMY. (By Toleerar.li.-Special Corresnondent.) Christchurch, January 3. It is reported that an interesting discovery has been made at Akaroa. Mr. J. Buckland, who was formerly a member of the House of Representatives, in conversation with Mr. J. Bruce, of Aylmer's Valley, 'stated that he had seen a small, insect destroying the borer, which attacks white pine and'other timbers, and which by its' operations has brought about a marked depreciation in the value of many properties. Later on, Mrs. Bruce saw the same insect in a part of her house, where the borer carries on its baneful work. She noticed that as the newcomer increased in numbers the borer decreased. Closer observations convinced her that tho borer had 'been brought faco to face- with its natural enemy. She now believes (says a local journal) that a means may be discovered of setting one insect against the other, and of checking in some measure the destruction that is wrought.,

Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.P.,.t'o whom she related her experience, has a cottage at Akaroa, and he finds that owing to tho insect, or some other cause,' tho borer has disappeared from places in tho timber where formerly, judging by tho little dust heaps it piled up, it was very plentiful. The cottage,at present, in fact, seems to bo Almost clear of the nuisance. Ho brought specimens of tho insect to Christchurch yesterday.' It is a small, active, little creature, with stronr; wings, which enable it to fly well, and it has besides two antennae, a thin needle-shaped caudal appendage louger than its body, and this, according to Mr. Bruce's observations, it inserts into the burrow made by tho borer. Mr. Taylor feels that the insect's habits aro worth inquiring into, in order to. ascertain if it really does the good work it is credited, wito* • •