12 Jan 2010

The Port of Tauranga is trialling a new lighting system at its Mt Maunganui site to deter flying insects from attacking sawn timber and logs destined for export. The system is intended to reduce pest contamination of forest products in an environmentally-friendly way.

Science project leader Dr Steve Pawson from Crown Research Institute Scion says the lights normally used by the port attract millions of insects every night, whereas certain wavelengths of light in the yellow spectrum are the opposite for some insects – completely unattractive.

“For a busy port like Tauranga, being able to operate at night is essential but, as most people know from their own homes, standard light bulbs are highly attractive to insects. Unfortunately, the bright lights are like a ‘smorgasboard open’ sign to insects such as the burnt pine longhorn beetle who could end up booking themselves a free trip on forest product exports,” he explains.

The trial, beginning in January and running for six weeks, aims to identify which type of yellow light is most effective in deterring insects, thereby reducing insect contamination and the need for fumigation. Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of sawn timber and logs are shipped from the Port of Tauranga each year.

Pest contamination can result in the loss of export markets so forest products are typically treated with methyl bromide to meet strict quarantine controls.

“If New Zealand is going to reduce methyl bromide and other chemical use, we have to start by reducing pest populations at processing sites, which involves taking completely new approaches to pest control,” Pawson says.

Source: Scion media release