Selwyn Times: September 05, 2017

16 Tuesday September 5 2017
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
SELWYN TIMES
Backyard Critters
Nine species of earwig call New Zealand home
Mike Bowie is
an ecologist
who specialises
in entomology
(insects
and other
invertebrates).
Each week he introduces
a new species found in his
backyard at Lincoln. His
column aims to raise public
awareness of biodiversity,
the variety of living things
around us
NEW ZEALAND has at least
nine earwig species – four native
species and five cosmopolitan
species – all with the
characteristic forceps at the rear.
The largest (up to 33mm long)
of these is the native littoral
earwig that is found at the high
tide mark under kelp, driftwood
or stones.
The most common of the
species is the European earwig
(forficula auricularia), which
was first recorded in New
Zealand in 1898.
This 20mm, flattened, reddishbrown
species is commonly
encountered in your garden,
including in flower heads, woody
crevices and stone fruits such as
apricots or nectarines.
In high densities the species
is considered a pest due to the
significant damage it can cause
to fruit, flowers and vegetable
crops.
However, this earwig can also
be a beneficial biocontrol species
of small insect pests including a
CONTRASTING CREATURE:
While the European earwig
can be considered a pest,
they can also be seen as
beneficial biocontrol species
of small insect pests. ​
number of aphid and scale insect
species.
In late autumn, both male and
female earwigs burrow in soil to
overwinter.
The female lays a clutch of
50-80 eggs that she cares for by
cleaning and rotating to avoid
fungal growth.
Once hatched, females will
guard their young for about one
month, when they have reached
maturity.
Work to begin on Southbridge courts
SPORTS
• By Gordon Findlater
THE resurfacing of Southbridge
Tennis Club’s four 30-year-old
asphalt courts will begin on
Thursday after six years of
lobbying the district council.
The courts, which are owned
by the club but open to the public,
will be closed from Thursday
and are expected to re-open in
three weeks.
Former club president Phil
Carter has been in charge of
the effort to get the courts
resurfaced and was delighted to
get the news from the district
council recently that it will make
a healthy contribution to the
resurfacing of the courts.
While Carter could not comment
on the district council’s
exact contribution, he said the
cost of the resurfacing the courts
could have crippled the club.
They were badly damaged and
in need of a resurfacing following
the earthquakes.
Until now, the club’s expenses
have been paid for by members
and fundraising.
“Now that we’ve got the go
ahead we can start focussing on
promoting tennis,” said Carter.
The club plans to host an
opening day once the work is
complete, which will double as a
chance for potential new members
to come and enjoy a sausage
sizzle.
It currently has just under 50
members and hosts mid-week
members’ nights and coaching,
COURT REPAIR:
Southbridge Tennis
Club life member
John Christey
shows off the
cracks and moss on
the courts, which
will get a much
needed resurfacing
with help from the
district Council.
as well as Saturday inter-club
competitions. Last summer,
Southbridge won the Ellesmere
division two title.
The club has been in existence
since 1882.
FLOORING
SALE
NOW ON
SHOWROOM 3/954 FeRRy ROad | CHRISTCHURCH | Tel. 03 943 2001 | WWW .gReenFlOORIng.CO .nz
QUICKSTEP – LOC – ELKA – PERGO – TORLYS
LET US HELP
YOU SAVE $$$
ON FLOORING
• TIMBER • TILE • CORK
• LAMINATE • LEATHER
laRge SeleCTIOn
FRee MeaSURe &
QUOTe
TRAdInG hOURS:
Tuesday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:30pm,
Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm, Saturday 10:00am
to 1:00pm, Sunday & Monday closed.