Reduce Risks from Invasive Species Coalition » Insects

Asian Gypsy Moth

admin — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 04:42:16 +0000

Asian Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar asiatica and L. dispar japonica) are foreign pests native to Russia, China, Japan and other Far East countries. The Asian variety differs from the European gypsy moth – which is widespread in eastern North America – in two ways: the female can fly up to 20 miles, and it feeds on a wider variety of trees and shrubs, including pines, spruce, and other conifers. If moths reappear in one area for a few seasons in a row, trees will often die, and forests have the potential to be wiped out. A Cornell University study noted that caterpillars feed on over 500 types of foliage. Additionally, in their caterpillar stage, Gypsy Moth droppings and “silk strands” are difficult to clean and can be troubling for residential areas and businesses.

First reported North American sightings are believed to be in 1991, after an infested Russian ship came to the US. Gypsy Moth eggs are often attached to stable, solid objects, such as under rocks, furniture, and gutters. The unique visual feature of these eggs is their yellow colored fuzz. In springtime, caterpillars hatch from the eggs and feed voraciously until full adult moths complete their transformation 10-14 days later.

In addition to damage, the Asian Gypsy Moth has the power to move very easily. Because their egg masses attach firmly onto most hard surfaces, they are being found on ship superstructures and shipping containers coming to the US. Since the 1990s, the U.S. and Canada have required that ships leaving Russian ports inspect and clean off all gypsy moth eggs before reaching North America. In 2012, this requirement was extended to ships from Korea, Japan, and parts of China. However, infested ships have continued to arrive at North American Pacific (and some Atlantic) ports – especially ships from Japan and Russia. The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and its Canadian counterpart require that these ships leave North American waters and clean of the egg masses. This requirement has resulted in considerable delays. And even after thorough inspection, some make it past customs. U.S. and Canadian officials are working with counterparts from Asia to improve compliance with the requirements with the goal of limiting the number of moths coming to North America.

For further reading on the Asian Gypsy Moth, consult the link below.

http://www.nappo.org/en/data/files/download/PDF/RSPM33-10-08-09-e.pdf

Redbay Ambrosia Beetle

admin — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 03:06:09 +0000

The Red Bay Ambrosia Beetle (Xyleborus glabratus) originates from Asia and the South Pacific. Officials believe the beetles entered the United States in untreated wood packing material, such as crates or pallets. These small, cylindrical bugs are typically no more than 2 mm long, making them hard to detect or identify, and which shows how easily they can lodge themselves into any lumber. When tunneling into trees, this beetle introduces deadly Laurel Fungus spores into the tree’s tissues. The fungus is found in the “teeth” or mandibles of the beetle, which is then transmitted to the tree and eventually kills it.

These beetles can infect and kill a wide variety of trees, thereby posing a significant threat to our economy and ecosystems. In the Everglades region of Florida, the beetle has already infested 300,000 acres of wetland forests, threatening the multi-billion dollar ecosystem restoration effort that had been going on for decades. Although first seen on east coast locations in the US, the national distribution of wood packing material, firewood, and lumber has caused the beetle to spread all over the country, especially in California, where avocado harvests are in severe danger of being diminished because of the Laurel Fungus this beetle carries.

Glassy-Winged Sharp Shooter

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 16:30:00 +0000

The glassy-winged sharpshooter (Scientific name: Homalodisca vitripennis) is an insect native to north-east Mexico and the southeastern United States. The sharpshooter is invasive in California, Hawaii, and the agriculturally productive areas of the southwestern United States. Though the sharpshooter is an agricultural pest in its own right, it also acts as a vector for a serious agricultural threat, Pierce’s disease, which could seriously damage the West Coast wine industry. As the primary vector of Pierce’s disease, control of the glassy-winged sharpshooter is critical to protect West Coast agriculture.

Glassy-winged sharpshooters eat a large variety of plants, but they prefer economically significant grape vines, citrus, and almond trees. Sharpshooters lay their eggs on the underside of leaves, and when the eggs hatch, the nymphs feed on the host plant’s vascular system.

Extremely localized application of pesticides may be used to control pockets of infestation. Controlled release of a specific wasp species has been shown to eliminate infestation of egg clutches. Bacteria and viruses that are natural enemies of the glassy-winged sharpshooter may be cultivated and applied to colonies.

Asian Longhorned beetle

rriscmockup — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 16:39:31 +0000

The Asian Longhorned beetle (scientific name: Anoplophora glabripennis) entered the United States in 1996 in New York City in contaminated packaging material from China. It has now spread beyond New York State to New Jersey, Massachusetts and Ohio, often through transportation of infected firewood. It attacks maple trees and other hardwood trees, and is a serious threat to northeastern forest ecosystems, as well as the timber and maple sugar/syrup industry. The vicinity of Worcester, Massachusetts is the hardest hit area in the northeast, with 34,000 trees having to be cut down to combat the beetle.

**For further reading on invasive beetles, please see this article…

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/30/nyregion/thousands-of-trees-will-fall-in-a-renewed-battle-to-stop-a-beetle.html?_r=0

Emerald Ash Borer

rriscmockup — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 17:00:28 +0000

The Emerald Ash Borer (scientific name: Agrilus planipenni) was introduced accidentally into Michigan in packing material from Asia in 2002. It has infested forests in the Midwest, New England, and Southeastern states, and is moving into the Great Plains. It is a serious threat to forests in general, and is particularly damaging to ash trees.

The USDA estimates the beetle has already killed tens of millions of ash trees, especially in the Midwest, including Illinois; Chicago may have to remove as many as 10,000 trees in a a fight against the Emerald Ash Borer.

“Ninety-nine percent of the ashes in North America are probably going to die,” said Andrew M. Liebhold, a research entomologist with the United States Forest Service. To tackle the emerald ash borers, scientists have experimented with chemical traps. More recently, scientists in New Hampshire have experimented with bringing Oobius agrili, a type of parasitic wasp, into the borer’s habitat. The wasps burrow into trees and eat borers and their eggs.

The emerald ash borers’ effect may not be as dire as Dr. Liebhold predicts. Dr. McCullough, the entomologist at Michigan State, noted that the bugs’ conquest varied by tree species and location. Of the four major species, black ash and green ash are probably lost, but the beetles kill only 60 percent to 70 percent of blue ash. White ash falls somewhere in between.

West Nile Virus

rriscmockup — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 12:54:49 +0000

Primarily an avian disease, West Nile Virus is native to Africa. It entered the United States in 1999, most likely through an infected international traveler. The virus subsequently was transmitted by birds that had been bitten by mosquitos infected with the virus, including the aggressive and invasive Asian Tiger Mosquito. After doing severe damage to some North American bird populations, the virus also spread from infected birds to humans and other domestic and wild mammals across the country. By 2012, more than 1,500 Americans had been killed by West Nile virus, and more than 37,000 had been diagnosed with the disease.