TIMBER INSECTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1924, Page 1

TIMBER INSECTS.

ALLEGED IMPORTATION FROM AUSTRALIA. WELLINGTON, February 5. Messrs J. W. Wallace and Co..' Wellington, take exception to reports that have been in circulation that boring inserts have been introduced into New Zealand through the l ' medium of Australian hardwoods. They enclose a report from Mr AYalter AY. Froggurt. Fotesfc Entomologist, New South Wales Government, stating as follows; Regarding Australian timber boring insects reported to be' introduced into Now Zealand: the so-called firewood beetles mention by the correspondent of it New Zealand newspaper a.s having 1-een imported in hardwood timbers it te that country from Australia are chiefly found in waste wood used for firewood, and do very little damage to building timber or properly selected Poles. Tiie .statement that they cause millions of pounds worth of damage to our forests, fences, houses and railway •sleepers is absurd. All these lotigicorn beetles-(belonging to the genus pltorneantha and allied groups) have the same life cycle. Beetles lay eggs on flic bark of freshly fallen trees (they ne'ver infest healthy growing trees) end the larvae hatching from these e ,g« bore through the bark and feed tor lhe first- six months of their lives between the bark and the sap-wood, D en. wlien full-sized, they bore for a eoii|)le of inches or less into the wood am! pupate. There is little of no danger of importing such beetles even in logs and poles of hardwood if they are barked before shipment, and superficial damage would be easily seen at the port of entry by the most unobservant timber inspector. Under ordinary supervision there should be no danger of importing white ants (termites) from Australia. Their infection is always noth cable. The species mentioned in the letter (ealotermcs insulator) is a a- native, of New Zealand and unknown in Australia. The same applies to external damage- caused by shorthole and auger beetles. These types of beetles do little serious damage in our orchards or forests. Now Zealand lias very little to fear from Australian borers being introduced from Australia if the inspectors take the usual methods adopted in inspecting timber at port of entry. Ti o remarkable gall-produeing was]) (rbiiiclinopeltella leuealpti) which is doing so much damage in blucgum pl.-oitntioiis in New Zealand hy aborting hranelilets and twigs into gall-like excrescences, and finally kill the branches is unknown in Tasmania and Australia.