Selwyn Times: October 17, 2017

32 Tuesday October 17 2017
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Backyard Critters
CREEPY: The
burnt pine
longhorn
beetle was
accidentally
introduced
into New
Zealand in
the 1950s. ​
Beetle fancies burnt pine
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
THE BURNT pine longhorn
beetle (arhopalus tristis) is a
25-30mm-long species native
to Europe, Northern Asia and
Africa.
Accidentally introduced into
New Zealand in the 1950s, it has
spread throughout both islands
where it attacks dead or dying
pine trees.
Larvae of this species are
similar-looking to huhu grubs
and feed on the inner bark of
dead pine, particularly the trees
killed by fire.
The larvae leave trails of redbrown
dust called frass, where
they bore lengthwise with the
wood grain.
Beetles also devalue the wood
by vectoring a fungi that causes
sapstain.
Females lay between five to 50
opaque, white, cigar-shaped eggs
(0.5 x 1.8mm) on bark of dead or
fire-damaged trees as soon as 24
hours after being scorched.
High densities of this species
causes significant economic
problems.
The larvae of the click beetle
(thoramus wakefieldi) is the only
known predator recorded in
New Zealand.
AN EVENT will be held to
celebrate Selwyn businesses’
commitment to environmental
sustainability and community
involvement.
The Lincoln Envirotown Trust
will host the event to present
awards for the New Responsible
Business Awards project on
Friday, November 3.
Lincoln Envirotown trustee
Sue Jarvis said the businesses
taking part this year will be
thanked for their efforts in completing
a new assessment process,
and for their commitment
to sustainability and community
involvement.
The awards are supported by
the district council and will be
presented by district councillor
Craig Watson.
Guest speakers James McDonald
of Yealands Winery Ltd and
The Laboratory owner Martin
Bennett will talk about their
sustainability experiences.
Dr Jarvis said the awards’ assessors,
who have been visiting
businesses throughout Selwyn,
have been impressed with the
huge number of initiatives businesses
are under taking to lessen
their impact on the environment.
Changes have included cafes
encouraging re-usable carry
away mugs, Weedons School’s
Local
News
Now
SELWYN TIMES
Fire rages, homes at risk
Businesses to celebrate
initiatives with awards
GREEN WORK: Businesses
have provided schools in
Selwyn, including Springston
School, fruit trees to plant.
building of a greenhouse out of
discarded plastic bottles, and
enterprises encouraging employees
to get out to the Port Hills to
replant natives. Businesses have
also begun to adopt the use of
electric vehicles.
•The public are
invited to come to the
presentation evening to
meet the businesses. For
more information, email
projectmanagerlet@gmail.
com or call 423 0445.
OPENING 21 OCT
Pop-up
Showhome
Saturday & Sunday
11am - 4pm
Or by private viewing
27 Tiny Hill Dr, Rolleston
(off Lowes Rd)
Watch for more details
on opening date.
NATIONAL “HOY” WINNER plus GOLD RESERVE 2016
Canterbury
Phone Jesse 021 701 265
or visit www.jdhomes.co.nz