Farm Forestry New Zealand
PESTS AND DISEASES OF FORESTRY IN NEW ZEALAND
Subterranean termites: elimination on target
From Biosecurity Issue 32, December 2001.
No Australian subterranean termites were found in the latest survey of residential properties in Otorohanga.
Conducted by representatives of MAF, VIGIL and the Australian pest control company, Pestforce, the delimiting survey took place in mid October. Some 28 residential properties and surrounds were inspected, along with wooden monitoring stakes and bait stations located on properties.
Recognition of termite presence requires highly specialist skills, and all the surveyors involved have been trained by Australian termite experts to recognise symptoms of termite presence, such as mud tunnels and blistered wood surfaces.
Overseas observations show that over 50 percent of termite damage is invisible to the human eye.
“Termites are difficult to detect as they start munching deep inside the wood and chew their way outwards”, says National Adviser Forest Pest Surveillance and Response, Mark Ross. “They are blind, and they build mud tunnels in the ground or over surfaces, like termite highways, out of a mixture of dirt, chewed wood and their own droppings.”
Results from the survey were comparable to the last survey in October 2000, with no new signs of termites found at any of the inspected properties.
With no activity in the Otorohanga area since February 2000, it appears that MAF’s recent response actions, using bait stations, has been successful in eliminating the main colony of termites.
Trapping programme
Over the summer, MAF contractors will be placing insect traps in the Otorohanga area to help determine whether the Australian subterranean termite remains in the vicinity.
Subterranean termites fly in swarms from their colonies each year in a mating ritual designed to establish new colonies. Fortunately, none of the infestations found here have been due to termites mating from swarms, with all finds able to be traced back to an original entry source. The termites are known to have entered New Zealand on timber imported from Australia, namely on utility poles, railway sleepers and posts.
As termites naturally swarm towards a light source, traps will be attached to well lit structures, such as utility poles. Traps will then be checked daily, from 3 December to 31 January 2002.
Trapping results will provide MAF with additional information on the presence of any residual termite population in Otorohanga.
Mark Ross, National Adviser, Forest Pest Surveillance and Response, MAF Forest Biosecurity
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