Insect Pests

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 73, 27 March 1936, Page 3

Insect Pests

INTRODUCTION BY AIR PRECAUTIONS IN HAWAII HONOLULU, March 9. Tho inauguration, of a regularlyscheduled commercial aeroplane service from the Orient to tho United States may result in damage to agriculture in Hawaii and other American - communities unless effective methods of halting any influx of insect “stowaways” are developed. Tiny pests which might find passage from an Oriental country or island to tho fertile fields of this territory could easily cause grave damage to tho many crops and in time, might move on to attack the moro diverisfied agriculture of the continent occupied in part by tho United States. That such dangerous ‘ 1 stowaways’ ’ can be carried thousands of miles across the Pacific by commercial air-liners was demonstrated recently when a territorial plant inspector at Honolulu discovered a mosquito-like midge which had been carried by a Pan-American aerovlnne from California to Hawaii, more u. 4 2400 miles. Fortunately the midge was harmless, but tho fact that it reached these shores alive and healthy demonstrated that a dangerous insect might bo similarly transported. Hawiian agriculturists clearly recognise the the fact that insects harmful to sugar cane, pineapples and other crops could easily conic in by aeroplane and . they are, therefore, striving to devise anfl put into practical operation measures to meet the possibility. Scientific Expedition.

To clarify tho situation and prepare such lines of defence as may be required he Hawaiian Sugar Panters’ Association is sending a scientific expedition to Guam, northward from the Philippine Islands and East of the continent of Asia, to study the insects there and determine those which may be dangerous to growing crops. Knowing these insects and their habits it will be possible to take appropriate precautions against their introduction to Hawaii by way of the air route. While the protection of agriculture from insect pests is the avowed purpose of 'the expedition, protection of the people of Hawaii against disease will be the matter of first consideration. The malaria mosquito is one of many insects which might reach Hawaii by aeroplane. That mosquito docs not now exist here, but it does live in the Philippines and possibly in Guam. Mr Otto H. Swezey, consulting on tomologist with the planters’ experiment station, will leave Honolulu about March 15 for Guam. With him will go at least two trained assistants, one of them from the Bishop Museum. The group will spend from three to six months studying tho insects of Guam and upon the finding of Mr Swezey the protective programme of the future will be premised. Some Dangerous Insects.

Insects dangerous to agriculture which aro known to be indigenous to Guam include a leaf hopper (Perkinsiells thompsoni), which attacks sugar, a coconut tree scale (Aspidiotus destructor) and tho European corn borer (Pyrausta nubilalis). The bettle borer (Rhabdoencmis obscura) is found both in Guam and Hawaii, but is no longer a menaco since it has been eomtrolled by a parasite introduced here from New Guinea. It is expected that Mr Swezey will discover other dangerous insects in Guam, since he is under orders to make a complete study of the situation without regard to the tune involved.

Guam is an island about 30 miles lons and from three to seven miles wide. A portion is low and swampy, but there aro several low mountains, ono peak rising to 1200 feet. About two-thirds of the island is volcanic while the balance is overgrown coral reefs. The U.S. Navy maintains a station at Agra and Pan-American Airways has a base there for its transpacific service. The problem of insect quarantine presented by the operation of the transpacific air service will bo solved in a practical manner through the co-opera-tion of Pan-American Airways, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Hawaiin Board of Agriculture and Forestry and tho Sugar Planters’ Association. Every transpacific aeroplane now arriving in Hawaii is rigidly inspected by officers of the plant quarantine service.