WOOD-DESTROYING INSECTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1923, Page 4

WOOD-DESTROYING INSECTS.

.MENAGE TO TIMBER IN DEE-TRY

Tite dangei of import ing wood-de-stroying insects into New Zealand was a >u I peel whh li wax g.iveu some con--im ration hy Hie toiifet'om-e of the Farmers’ Enion at Wellington. Tite - abject was introduced by the f. Mowing remit. trout Paintersloli Noi- l |i: --'I hat t.l'.e importation of tintb r infested with wooil-ilestroying inbeing a .r.n .- menace to the till) l.i-r industry of the Dominion, the Guv- ( ; nnif-nt h,.- requested to control 111 • importation of timber.” The cenleieuee wtis iiddivs.-ed up'oi the subjeel by Air D. Miller. Govern mint Entomologist, who -aid that the prob Vin ie the inf rotluetion ot inseels likelv to he destructive to timbers in M-w -il,and was it very serious one, falling lor urgent attention, owing to i ihe nnresi rieied importation ol timber frequently infested with some of the destructive type.-, of in-eels, fl sninrthing were not done to rest riel such pi-t- entering New Zealand, the elforts to afforest the country would he in vain, and a ninteh might a- well he i to many valuable plant,atoms nl-i-aadv laitl out. There was suflieionl [ evidence to hack up this attitude. Any ! examination of practically any sliipI meat of timber in the rough would I i m eal nol only iiiimei'ous heelle grubs I in |he hark and sap wood, lull nl-o t lie j egg masses of these and other insects, t A very good illustration of the dange l ' l was the infestation ol the gum tree scale, which was now doing such extensive damage to the eucalyptus plan tations of the Nort.il Island. This inIs, ct readied New Zealand from Au--j tralia on the hark ol imported eticalypj ills, and was now one of our most ex- | teii.-ivo pests, alllmugh good results i u err. being obtain d by Hie liberation I ~i the ladybird I.cello, which destroyed | tile scale, li irtqs infesting dried tint- | li-kIi-k entered New Zealand in the wood cl' packing eases and in finished products. such as wheel spokes, furniture, etc. The chances o! insects being introduced in the sap of imported poles would lie lessened if the sap wood were removed before shipment to this country. if this was not praetievMe, im-mer-ing the timber it. sea water for a period would effectually kill iideal mg la rvae.

.dr .Miller was thanked for his information, and the remit was carried.