CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 June 1923, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

“A DANGEROUS INTRODUCTION.” (To the Editor.) Sir, —May I be permitted to reply briefly to the letter headed ae abovo, and signed “Bystander,” published In Tuesday’s Issue of the News. For years I have been permitted by the Harbor Board’s officers bo examine and collect all species of insects, or other' animals, occurring in the bark and wood of newly-arrived shipments of Australian hardwood piles and wharf planking, including the two last consignments. In both of the latter, and in former lots, I found the boring larvae, in varying stages of growth, of an Australian langlcorn beetle. I forwarded a number of them to Dr. Tillyard, of the Cathron Institute, and have kept a number myself, in the hope of rearing them to the winged stage. Hitherto I tried to rear them under as natural conditions as possible, but failed. Whilst collecting these larvae I observed that they only consume the surface of the moist and . softer outer woody pith under the bark, and do not penetrate the solid wood. In. places the surface of the outer pith Is honey-combed with channels not exceeding a %-in. in depth. There are 25 native Australian species of beetles, all more ,or less naturalised in New Zealand, none of which approach in their na* tural habits to the one mentioned by "Bystander." The latter also mentions that "the bark of the ironbavk contains the fleadllest borer known that will eat through the wood in 18 months.” Such a borer is certainly not naturalised in New Zealand, otherwise I would have heard of, or met with it during a long experience in gum-tree plantations, including ironbark. Excepting several species of introduced scale insects and weevils that attack the foliage of these valuable trees, there is no call for Intending planters to fear any gum-tree borers. There are too few of the best species of gum-trees planted in New Zea-land-I am, etc..