SIREX WOOD WASP
Pest Found In
Australia
(N.Z Preu Aun.—Copyright) MELBOURNE, January 5.
An urgent conference was called today in an attempt to smash the outbreak of the deadly sirex wood wasp near Melbourne. It will be attended by senior forestry and quarantine officials. The Minister of Forests (Mr Thompson) announced this after a talk with the Federal Minister for Health (Senator Wade).
The sirex wood wasp, never before found in Australian mainland softwoods, was discovered late yesterday among 30 or 40 pine trees on a farm four miles from Woori Yallock. 38 miles east of Melbourne.
Commonwealth Health Department quarantine officers immediately decided to impose a quarantine on all softwood trees and timber in three counties.
Sirex wood wasps deposit a wood-rotting fungus which can kill a healthy softwood tree in two months and make it useless for any commercial purpose.
Mr Thompson said the Forests Commission was treating the outbreak very seriously. “We regard the wasp as a very serious threat to Australia’s softwood industry.” he said.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CI, Issue 29714, 6 January 1962, Page 11
Word Count
169SIREX WOOD WASP Press, Volume CI, Issue 29714, 6 January 1962, Page 11
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