PESTS IN TIMBER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18468, 3 August 1923, Page 11

PESTS IN TIMBER.

DANGER OF INTRODUCTION.

ENTOMOLOGIST'S WARNING.

[BY . TELEGRAPH. -CTOI COBKESPOJfDE3!T.]

- '■; "; • , WELLINGTON.; Thursday. ; Some interesting remarks wore :.' made. at the conference of the Farmers' Union during ; the i discussion of, a remit 1 ; referring to timber borers. " . ' . , "Sir. David Miller, .Government entomologist, 1 said that the problem, of the introdu'ctiori' of ; insects '■ , likely to *be • ; destructive to timbers in New Zealand was a very serious one, calling for urgent attention, owing to the unrestricted importation of timber, frequently infested with some -of the destructive types of insects. If something were not done to restrict such'pests entering Now Zealand their'efforts in afforestation would be in vain, and a. match might as well be set to many valuable plantations already laid :.6nfi,./, '■■-::■.. ' ■■;'. ■•■■•'. ;" '':'} '■'■]. '■■■■■ • There was • sufficient evidence 'to support this attitude. Any examination of practically any shipment of ; timber in the rough would reveal not only ' num-' eious grubs in the bark and sap wood, but also the egg masses ;of these and • other insects.. A ' very t good illustration of the danger was the infestation of the gum tree scale, which was. now doing .such extensive damaee to the eucalyptus plantations of the North Island. This insect ; reached New Zealand from .Australia on the bark of imported eucalyptus, and was now one of the most ex-tensive-pests in New Zealnad, although Rood results'were being obtained by the liberation of the lady bird .beetle which destroys the scale. ; / Borers, infesting dried . timbers, entered New Zealand in the wood of packing cases and -in finished products, such as wheel spokes, .furniture, cte. .The chances of insects beine introduced m ttie sap of imported poles would be lessened,- said Mr. Miller, if the sap wood were removed before shipment to this country. If this was not practicable ,'immersin? the timber in sea water for a period would effectually kill infesting larvae. . , -- ; ■•■• '•'•'••.