Border Patrol Also Guards Against Foreign Bugs
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AP, September 1, 2008
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Invasive species can quickly become ecological and economical disasters. The emerald ash borer beetle has killed over 30 million ash trees since it was detected in North America in 2002. European gypsy moths defoliate millions of acres of forest every year from North Carolina to Wisconsin to Maine.
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Beckham [Alishia Beckham, a Customs and Border Protection agricultural specialist] carries a backpack full of tools: cards illustrating the moth’s life stages, binoculars to inspect areas of the ship she can’t reach, a paint scraper to pry off egg masses, and a plastic container with a dead adult male and an egg mass to show crew members what she’s looking for. Most crews are very cooperative and want to know what to look for, Beckham says.
The Asian gypsy moth, like its European cousin, is a rapacious leaf-eater, but it feeds on a wider variety of trees. Unlike the flightless European female, the Asian female can fly up to 25 miles before laying its eggs, meaning it could quickly spread across the country.
In early August, Beckham stepped aboard a ship in Seattle and found more than 100 Asian gypsy moth egg masses, each containing up to 1,000 eggs.
She ordered the ship immediately escorted out of U.S. territorial water by the Coast Guard before the eggs started hatching.
After hatching, the gypsy mother caterpillars let out a silken thread to catch the wind—a mode of travel called “ballooning” that can carrying them up to five miles.
“Once the larvae start ballooning, we’re in trouble,” said Eric Johnson, the Customs Service’s agriculture chief for the Seattle area. He estimates if gypsy moths hatched at a Washington port, they could infest the forests of the Cascade Range—about 30 miles away—within five years.
The federal government spends over $1.3 billion every year to detect, eradicate and control invasive species, according to the Department of the Interior.
Cornell University researchers estimated in 2004 that invasive species cost the U.S. economy almost $120 billion each year.
The rise in international trade has increased the opportunities for invasive species to hitchhike into the U.S.
“A continued influx of invasive species is going to be in our future,” said Jim Marra, an entomologist for Washington state’s Department of Agriculture.
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Even groceries for crews of incoming vessels can harbor pests, such as fruit flies, and they come from multiple sources, said Beckham. A ship’s food is often a testament to its worldwide voyages. Inspecting one ship recently, she found zucchini from Hong Kong, lemons from Argentina, U.S. melons, apples from New Zealand, Spanish beef and Dutch poultry.
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Once inside the U.S., invasive species can spread by riding on firewood, cars, plants, motor boats, even on mud-caked shoes.
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(Posted on September 3, 2008)
Comments
I beg everyones forgiveness ahead of time, but as many, many, people have said and written, “We get the kind of country we deserve.” It has got to be clear by most Americans by now, that whether they write as a professional, are just a part time blogger, do neither but are constantly burned up with the issue of illegals and illegal immigration, NOTHING, NOTHING AT ALL IS EVER GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT IT IF PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL ONE DAY WAKE UP AND SAY, “YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE DAY I REALLY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS FOREIGN INVASION. Only a massive, huge, larger than what happened in the nineteen sixties demonstrations will effect change. Nothing less is going to do it. Considering the state of so many Americans, things like being one paycheck away from ruin, hooked on pharma drugs, and “illicit” drugs, fascinated by a never ending display of reality shows, video games—-we really should know what the future holds. Sorry to be so negative, but in my opinion, right.
Posted by Bobby at 6:36 PM on September 3
It’s not merely bad enough we have to have those human cockroaches, but they also carry along with them devastating bugs!!!
Ship them, and the bugs, back where they belong NOW!
Posted by lydia at 7:40 PM on September 3
At least it’s possible to discuss the damage caused by “invasive species” — as long as they are non-human.
Posted by voter at 8:08 PM on September 3
“detect, eradicate and control invasive species” - I LOVE that term (g).
Posted by nokangaroos at 8:36 PM on September 3
“Invasive species can quickly become ecological and economical disasters.”
The most invasive species coming across our southern border is that of little brown Mestizos. They certainly are ecological and economical disasters.
Posted by at 11:27 PM on September 3
A few years ago I viewed a news story about a New England town whose citizens developed a method of bug control. They would wrap dog excrement in a burrito shell, place it on the doorstep of the infested property and light the burrito on fire. It seemed to work.
Posted by Flamethrower at 11:58 PM on September 3
I just watched the “debate” between Mr. Taylor and that person from Air America. I suggest you guys post this as a news story so more people will notice it along with allowing us to make comments on it. As usual, Mr. Taylor did an excellent job. The contrast between the two “debaters” was enormous. On the one hand you had Mr. Taylor who spoke eloquently and used facts to back up his arguments. On the other side you had a man who couldn’t do anything besides call people names. If Amren doesn’t post this as a news item, I hope those who read this will take the time to watch it. The link is at the top right hand corner of the screen, and is labeled: “Jared Taylor VS. Air America lefty.” Check it out..
Posted by debate watcher at 4:55 PM on September 4