WOOD-BORING BEETLE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7385, 11 February 1902, Page 2

WOOD-BORING BEETLE.

Judging from the prevalence of the pest in New Zealand, the following letter, which we (Mercantile Gazette) have received in reply to an inquiry addressed to the Department of Agriouiture, will be of interest not only to orchardists, but to farmers and others whose outbuildings have been damaged : -" The Secretary for Agriculture has referred to me your letter, bearing date 11th Jan., asking for suggestions as to checking the ravages of the small beetle, the larva of which causes such damage to furniture and outbuildings, partially or wholly constructed of white pine and other soft timbers. I have tried various experiments, and will give briefly the results:— When the backs of pieces of furniture, such an cupboards, were attaoked, I painted them with kerosene or corrosive sublimate, or any of the arsenic sprays. If the timber needing treatment is large, I take a common garden knapsack spray-pump, with cyclone nozzle, and spray the article or wall well with one of the arseriicfoprays, preferably the arsenic and soda (No. 15, on p. 8 of Gardeners Leaflet, No. 10.)

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This should be done in the early summer, before or during the emergence of the beetles. You will probably have noticed that, for some weeks' past, tbe beetles have been coming out of tbe small holes in the walls of affected buildings. These pair, and the female then lays on the wood selected: the young grub at once eats in, and continues to mine till it has passed all stages of development ; and comes out a full grown beetle to begin the cycle again. My first experiments were commenced years ago, and were conducted as follows : — Large glass jars were obtained, and a piece of wood containing numerous " grubs " placed in each ; to these were added two pieces of white pine of equal size, one of which had been treated with the specific mentioned, and the other perfectly fresh. The result was that in every case the untreated piece was badly attacked before two years were over, while the poisoned piece was sound. Either the female realised that the treated wood was not a suitable place for the depositing of eggs, or the tiny " grubs " were poisoned before they had eaten in the timber. I have for many years recommended this treatment to persons communicating with me. 1 recognise that in affected dwellings it means removing the paper and spraying the walls ' r thoroughly, possibly in some cases removing some portion of the lining. I have been hoping to get the use, for a couple of years, of some old building, so as to test the matter on a large scale, but at present have not been successful. However, the course above advocated has proved effectual in (1) laboratory experiment, (2) on packing cases and lurniture, (3) on a fowlhouse. I also treated with arsenic, four years ago, some white pine timber, of which I built a stable, and, so far, can find no trace of attack, although a piece of board, not sprayed, and loosely nailed in one corner for purposes of comparison, has numerous holes. Trusting the above may be of use, and that should there be anything I can do to assist, or should further details be necessary, you will let me know. — Yours, &c, T. W. Kirk, Biologist, Department of Agriculture." The solution referred to is prescribed in the leaflet. Arsenic and Soda : 21b washing soda, lib white arsenic, 1 bushel lime, 700 gallons water (or lesser quantities in proportion). Boil the soda in, say, 2 gallons' of water (in an iron pot) v when boiling add the arsenic and boil for two hours, or until thoroughly dissolved. Bottle and label carefully. When usipg slack the lime in water, add mixture from bottle, and spray or paint. We may remark that having doubts as to whether the arsenic would be a danger to health if used in a house, we have obtained expert advice, which is to the effect that the solution is not strong enough to be dangerous to health. There is often more arsenic in wall paper than is used in this solution. The lime should be used only on fruit trees or in outbuildings, and should be added at the moment of using, as it is incompatible with the other ingredients.