AUSTRALIAN BORER.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 107, 7 May 1924, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN BORER.

IN IMPORTED POLES. POWER BOARD'S PRECAUTIONS. {From Onr Oirn Correspondent.) TE AROHA, this day. At the meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board, held here yesterday, a letter was received from the j biology section of the Department of I Agriculture, Wellington, regarding a sample of hardwood which had been sent for analysis. The letter was as follows: "'The specimen is most interesting. In the first place the wood Las been attacked by beetle grubs when the bark was on. The grubs are no doubt of the Australian longhorn beetle (Pharocantha recurva). When the grubs are fully developed they move through the sap into the heart wood, causing the large oval tunnels. There the grubs become transformed into chrysalides and the beetles on emerging work their way through the tunnels to the surface. This LeetJe is one of the commonest introduced with Australian hardwoods, and is likely to become destructive to living hardwoods in New Zealand. I shall be glad to receive insect infected material from you at any time, not only Australian woods, but also New Zealand." The chairman said that it was imperative that all poles should be stripped of bark before they reach New Zealand. Mr. Wilby said that there was a pole BO affected near Ngatea. The engineer said that so far the heart wood of the poles affected was nof; seriously damaged by the grubs. Only the sap was aU'ccted. It was decided to have all poles carefully inspected before erection, and that the Australian Forestry Department be written to requesting a careful examination of all poles before shipment to New Zealand. It was also decided that steps be taken to have all vermin exterminated in the holds of vessels carrying poles. A special committee was set up to go thoroughly into the matter and submit a report to the board.