Refusal to assist over ants—report

Press, 1 May 1981, Page 4

Refusal to assist over ants —report

An “ant report” on the programme run by the City Health Department to control the population of Darwin's ants was circulated at a Christchurch City Council health committee meeting yesterday. The ants first made headlines last September, when a group of Mount Pleasant residents complained of ant infestations to Lyttelton's member of Parliament, Mrs Ann Hercus.

It was found the ants had been accidentally introduced to Christchurch from Australia through the port of Lyttelton between 1973 and 1975. People living on properties infested with the ants complained about the ants getting into food, creating a foul smell, and being "filthy.”

In response to complaints. Mrs Hercus organised “Operation Ant”! to eradicate the ants.

It was at first thought only 35 properties, were infested, and an eradication team of eight students was employed. When the students began work in December, however,

they found 198 properties were infested. They estimated that 300 properties were likelv to be involved.

“Operation Ant” was revised so that students visited homes with a free pamphlet and bottles of chemical spray, which they offered to sell to the householders.

The report estimated that 50 per cent of the householders bought insecticide, 25 per cent of the group had used it when revisited two to three weeks later, and the application of insecticide caused a 30 per cent to 50 per cent reduction in ant population after a two to three week period. It was pessimistic about the chances of completely eradicating the ants, which it says had “obviously become more widespread than anybody realised." Cr A. J. Graham said that he was disappointed the report said a large number of householders refused to cooperate with “Operation Ant."

Unless we get' 100 per

cent support the council cannot be blamed when the next outbreak occurs,” he said.

“Operation Ant” cost $19,778. The Labour Department footed $15,362 of the bill because the students were employed under the department's student community service programme. The Lyttelton . Borough Council, the Lyttelton Harbour Board, Christchurch City Council, and Heathcote County Council paid the remaining $2137. The report concluded.— — Unless a pest poses a highly significant agricultural horticultural, or pub-lic-health problem and is not widespread, a policy of “public self-help rather than eradication is advocated." — The local authorities now have considerable data, and an excellent pamphlet detailing a recommended simple step-by-step control programme for the control of Darwin's ants. A policy for the future 'should be to advise and educate the public each year as the problem arises.