Barriers For

Air Borne Pests

Entomologist's Interesting Work in New Caledonia

THE danger of carrying harmful insect pests from one country to another by aeroplanes was recognised some years ago; and, when Pan American Air ways commenced its North Pacific ser vice in 1935, steps were taken to prevent pests being carried from the East, and from the American mainland, into the rich sugarcane fields of the Hawaiian Is lands. The flying-boats were sprayed with insecticide at each port of call; but the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association, with its staff of entomologists, decided to go one step further.

The regions around Hong Kong and Manila were comparatively well-known to entomologists; and Wake and Midway were small, barren islands with very little insect life. Guam, however, had not been well studied, so the HSPA sent two ento mologists to make a survey there. With all of this informa

tion in hand there was but one fur ther precaution to be taken; and a quarantine station was established at Midway Island, the last stopping place before Honolulu.

Here, the flying boats are examined and sprayed so that the chances of a dangerous beetle entering the Group have been reduced greatly.

On the South Pacific service, planes leave Honolulu, land on Canton Island, thence to New Caledonia and on to New Zealand. As the insect life of New Zea land had been investigated considerably, and Canton Island was little more than a coral reef, there was on the South Pacific service—as on the North Pacific run—only one stopping place whose in sect life required more study—New Cale donia. This great island, just within the tropics, has had visits from a number of scientists, including entomologists; but its insect life has never been studied ex haustively.

With the threat of dangerous insects lurking in New Caledonia, the HSPA sent one of their experts, Dr. Francis X.

Williams, associate entomologist, to New Caledonia, to make a study of the insect fauna, especially economic insects. Ac companied by Mrs, Williams, he arrived at Noumea early in July, and since has made several trips into the mountains and along the coasts of the island. He has studied fields of sugarcane, coffee plan tations, vegetable gardens and the streets of Noumea; and has found enough mat erial to justify his visit. Dr. Williams’s activities have been hampered by the prevailing cool weather, but the approach of summer is expected to bring out large numbers of insects.

Enemy Of Cockroaches

In addition to economic insects, such as those found in sugarcane and other crops, Dr. Williams has collected many other insects, and has sent several cases of these specimens to Hawaii by flying boat. He is attempting to introduce into Hawaii a brilliant, blue-green wasp that preys on large cockroaches. This wasp, known as Ampulex Compressa, partly paralyses the cockroach by stinging on important nerve centres. It then drags its victim to some hole or cranny, lays an

Dr. F. X. Williams.

egg under the cockroach’s armpit, and proceeds to close up the entrance to the hole with leaves and tiny stones. When the egg hatches, the young grub finds fresh food in the shape of the still partly-paralysed cockroach. Three weeks later, a new, glistening, blue-green wasp emerges from the cocoon it has spun around itself, and forces its way out of the hole.

Dr. Williams hopes to ship these wasps to Honolulu in the cocoon stage, which is considered the safest period.

Towards the end of October, Dr.

Williams visited the Isle of Pines, south of New Caledonia, to make his studv of the region more complete; and he expects to be in the Colony for several more weeks.

A quarantine station has been estab lished at Canton Island, and flying-boats returning to Hawaii from New Zealand and New Caledonia are dealt with in the same way as at Midway Island, on the North Pacific service.

Pilot-Officer Michael Burrows, formerly of Fiji, has been appointed an instructor at the RAAF training school at Camden.

NSW. He was Bth in proficiency of a list of 80 men training at Archerfield; and at the age of 20, is the youngest instructor in the Royal Australian Air Force.

Miss E. Safstrom, of the Melanesian Mission, is expected to arrive in Aus tralia from the Solomon Islands this month for furlough.

Mr. and Mrs. William Villiers Banting, together with their two children, are ex pected in Suva, Fiji, at the end of this month. Mr. Banting, who has been As sistant Treasurer at Tanganyika since 1930, has been appointed Accountant General and Deputy Treasurer of Fiji.