Posted: 02 August 2005
Yellow dust just pine tree pollen
Yellow, sulphurous looking dust that has been coating parked cars in Whangarei is nothing more sinister the pine tree pollen, the Northland Regional Council says.
Every year about this time Regional Council staff field calls from Northlanders concerned local industries might be responsible for the film of yellow sulphur-like dust often seen on parked cars and puddles.
However, Council Land Operations Manager Bob Cathcart says the dust is just pine pollen – a perfectly natural phenomenon.
“At this time of year, pine pollen is found all over Northland but it attracts more comment in Whangarei because people mistakenly assume it comes from industries based around the city.”
Mr Cathcart says unfortunately, the pollen season is also a bonus for possums.
“They attack the young growing tips and the male catkins at this time of year, causing damage from which the young trees may never recover.”
Mr Cathcart says over the next few weeks, it’s a good idea for landowners to concentrate pest control efforts around pine trees to target any possums gathering to feast on catkins.