INSECTS IMPORTED

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1938, Page 6

INSECTS IMPORTED

Danger to N.Z. MINISTERIAL WARNING. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 18. “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 appear to them to be attractive types to our local fauna,” said the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, to-day. “I 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 of 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 emphasise the need for such restriction. “At times, some species of allegedly beneficial insects are introduced specially to parasitise either noxious weeds or noxious insects, but these . are brought 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 their liberation. These tests are very exhaustive, 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 received from overseas are bred through one fife cycle in order to eliminate any harmful species, which may be hyperparasites and may be introduced in the actual insects themselves. The entomological world is too full of surprises to permit of any undue risks being taken by random liberations."