Introduction

An extensive literature now exists with regard to the part played by aircraft in accidentally transporting insects from one airport to another, and so making possible the extension of the ranges of noxious species. In an earlier paper (Laird, 1948), the ability of mosquitoes to survive long air journeys was discussed. The present account gives some idea of the wide variety of insects which actually reach New Zealand from overseas on board aircraft, or board aircraft in this country, and outlines the measures being taken to guard against accidental introductions of insects of health significance.¹