Abstract
CONSIDERABLE attention has been given in recent years to the risk of spreading disease-carrying insects by the agency of air transport. Almost no consideration has been given to the possible introduction of new agricultural pests by the same means, although the developement of new routes and the short time taken to traverse great distances are unquestionably adding greatly to the risk of such invasions. The Commonwealth Institute of Entomology has recently published a small pamphlet (pp. 12, price Is. 6d.) on this subject by Dr. W. A. L. David. Up to the present time, although many disastrous introductions have occurred both in Europe and in the United States within the past fifty years, there has been no authenticated case of air transport having been responsible. But insects of many kinds are found surviving in aircraft, and the danger will increase. Tolerably efficient methods of freeing aircraft of flies and mosquitoes are being worked out ; but these are certainly not lethal to more resistant insects–even when they are properly applied. Perhaps the deposition of a lasting film of insecticide is the most promising line of development. Some modifications in the planning of the interior of aircraft could reduce the number of lurking places for insects and thereby make disinfestation easier.
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Air Transport and Insects of Agricultural Importance. Nature 164, 1077 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/1641077c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1641077c0