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Summary

The searching of 246 aircraft of seven military and civilian types on their arrival in New Zealand revealed that 88 (36 per cent.) had insect stowaways on board. A total of 548 insects collected included representatives of 56 Families and 10 of the 24 existing Orders, and nine spiders were also discovered. Houseflies comprised more than a third of the total catch, 190 of these being collected on 46 separate occasions. Other insects of health significance included 29 blowflies (in 19 aircraft), 28 mosquitoes (in 16 aircraft), 14 cockroaches (in 7 aircraft), and 2 fleas (in 1 aircraft). Actual or potential economic pests included numerous beetles, wasps, flies, and moths. Among these were species already established in, and native to, New Zealand, a fact underlining the danger that airborne insect introductions might be made from, as well as into, this country. Records are given of the carriage of insect eggs, larvae, and adults on the exterior of aircraft fuselages. Aircraft and airport insect control are discussed, with particular reference to measures enforced at Whenuapai Airport by the Medical Branch of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, on behalf of the New Zealand Health Department.