PESTS IN HARDWOOD

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LII, Issue 8474, 20 December 1923, Page 8

PESTS IN HARDWOOD

WARNING BY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. The following circular Ruin Mr F. W. .Furkert, Engineer-in-Chief of the Public, Works Department, has been received by the Tauranga. County Council: “Seme specimens taken in this country from imported Australian hardwood have been identified as belonging to the genus Rhino tenues (the worker caste cf one of the larger white ants of Australia). Other specimens taken from imported hardwood have been identified as that very injurious type of insect firewood beetles, or Longicorns (belonging to the genus Phcracantha), the larvae of which, as white grubs, tunnel between the bark and wood cf Australian trees. Although it has, in some cases, been found that these insect's have been attacked and killed by New Zealand beetles (Pterostichns meritus and Pterostichns insidiosus— family carabidae), as it dees not necessarily follow that such encounters will always occur, & therefore, it is necessary that every precaution .should be taken to exterminate the Australian ants. Phoracantha egg-deposits are traceable, in the summer following 1 their placing, by fairly large holes in the pole, and these should be carefully looked for where the opportunity presents!. These insects cause very great) damage to timber, both in the growing state and after it has been felled, being responsible in Australia for damage to forest?, fences, houses, railway sleepers, etc, estimated! at millions of pounds. In order to minimize the risk of these insects establishing themselves in New Zealand, engineers will please issue definite and stringent instructions to all their staff who may be concerned with the handling of hardwood timber, that all loose pieces of bark are to be removed from such timber at the first opportunity after delivery. ‘ The presence cf the white ants may always be detected by the covered galleries which they make, and which are typically roofed over by finely chewed wood. Unless these are carefully sought, the prepence of the insects themselves may not be noticed. It may be mentioned, as an indication of the necessity for careful examination, that in one case there were discovered a number of “nymphs,” or immature sexual forms', which, in the course of a week or two, would have developed wings and spread over the countryside and commenced their work of destruction. This matter is on© the importance of which it is almost impossible to overstate, and it is hoped that all officers will do everything possible to prevent the spread of such a plague.” A later circular from Mr Furkert stated: “The attention of engineers is directed to the absolute necessity of ensuring that all bark removed from hardwood timber, and showing signs of having been affected by pests, is burned as soon as possible thereafter. Further specimens of insect larvae found in hardwood timber delivered in the Dominion have proved to belong to the family XylorytidaC. These lavae bore in the trunks & branches of trees and bushes, and do a great deal of harm, quite a number causing damage to hardwood, while several species have become serious orchard pests in parts of Australia.”