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Insects Collected from Aircraft Arriving in New Zealand from Abroad

Species of Forestry Significance

Species of Forestry Significance

The only insect of definite forestry significance found in aircraft at Whenuapai during the period under review was the European Wood Wasp, Sirex noctilio, a serious pest in exotic pine forests in New Zealand. Rawlings (1948) considered that S. noctilio probably became established in this country prior to 190, having been imported with timber from Europe, and thought it likely that later introductions probably followed the initial one. During February, 1951, a dead female of page 24 S. noctilio was found on the floor of the passenger compartment of a DC3 engaged on the Norfolk Island run. This occurrence raises the possibility that wood wasps entering aircraft at Whenuapai—having originated in the exotic pine shelter-belts on farmlands bordering the airport—might be transported to adjacent countries at present free from this important species. In Australia in particular, careful precautions are being taken in an endeavour to prevent the introduction of Sirex, and a recent newspaper report detailed costly fumigation and heat treatment ordered by the Commonwealth authorities for cargoes of Sirex-infested timber which had arrived by sea from Europe.