INSECTS IMPORTATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 May 1938, Page 3

INSECTS IMPORTATION

MINISTERS INTIMATION [PER press association.] WELLINGTON, May IS. •'My attention has been drawn to Press reports dealing with the introduction or liberation in New Zealand of insects of an allegedly harmless nature by well-known persons who seek to add what appears to them to be attractive types to our local fauna,” said the Minister for Industries and Commerce (lion. D. G. Sullivan) to-day. "1 wish to make it clear that the Government views such, action with much apprehension, and probably it is not generally known that the importation of insects is prohibited, save with the consent of the Minister lor Internal Affairs.

“In view of the very extensive damage which the Dominion already suffers each year through the ravages of insects which have been introduced for the most part inadvertently, there | should be no need for anyone to em-j phasise the need for such restriction. At times some species of alleged bene- ) iicial insects are introduced specially to parasitise either noxious weeds or | noxious insects, but these are brought j in only under the strictest quarantine control, and have to be subjected to drastic tests and prove that they are not likely to become harmful under New Zealand conditions before consent is given to I heir liberation. These tests are' very exbuftistive and require to be conducted by fully qualified entomologists. . “It is recognised by entomologists that insect species which may be considered as of no moment in overseas countries, may prove serious pests in a. new environment, such as in New Zealand, and that every precaution should be taken against random introductions and liberations. At present all consignments of insects known to be beneficial and received from overseas are bred through one life cycle in order to eliminate any harmful species which may be hyperparasites introduced in the actual insects themselves. The entomological world is too full of surprises to permit of any undue risks being taken by random liberation's.”