Source: NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/30/nyregion/thousands-of-trees-will-fall-in-a-renewed-battle-to-stop-a-beetle.html
Date Published: September 29, 2014
Summary
The Asian long horned beetle supposedly arrived in America in the 1980's, transported on ships before a regulation that required wood objects traveling to be heat treated and fumigated. They lay their eggs under a tree's bark, and the larvae grows there throughout the winter, destroying the insides as it eventually burrows out. This has killed up to 80,00 trees in the United States and has costed the government $236 million to combat so far since 1997. These beetles were thought to have been eradicated after destroying trees near New Jersey, and the battle was near won on Long Island. However this was not the case, as they started popping up again, revealing that the area they were in was double the original estimate. One positive is that adult beetles are terrible fliers, tending to stay in one place their whole life, allowing the majority of the beetle population to be more easily deduced than if they could spread out better. The combat against these beetles is still raging on, and the battle will be costly to once and for all weed out this invasive species.
This is relevant to the ecology unit, as this involves the problem of invasive species damaging native ones. One problem with invasive species, is the damaging and destroying property, which can be seen here as at a local cemetery, 80 trees alone were destroyed by these pests. It also shows that containing and controlling these pests is very difficult, as the previously thought to be won battle lasted over a decade, and cost over 100 million dollars.
Once all of the beetles are hopefully gone, is there any way there could be a negative reaction once the species are wiped out?
ReplyDeleteGiven that the beetles there feed only on the trees, causing widespread destruction in the process, then very few organisms would be negatively impacted by the loss of the beetle. However, if organisms have begun to prey on the beetles there, then their eradication will deprive those organisms of their food source, effecting the ecosystem variably.
DeleteAlso the beetles, by killing the trees, have allowed more soil and nutrients into the ground. However the fact that they are killing thousands of healthy trees is definitely a gigantic negative factor, completely outweighing any good coming from this, trees being shelter, food source, and oxygen provider to many species.
DeleteWhen are the beetles expected to be fully eradicated? Will the USDA take measures to prevent another situation in which unexpectedly huge numbers of beetles stayed alive after thought to be dead?
ReplyDeletePredicted years have been largely varying, as the speed of complete eradication would proportionally varying with the amount of money used, which has been seen as the case in New Jersey. However, inadequate funding has pushed back eradication to a possible 2032 if no more funding is allotted. Nothing has been stated yet for measures the USDA may take to prevent unexpected recoveries.
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