Article: Stink Beetles and Science Reporting

Haddon, Heather. 2012. "Out of Odor: Offensive-Smelling Bugs Put U.S. Farmers on the Defensive." The Wall Street Journal. January 9.


The Wall Street Journal often runs amusing or unusual stories at the bottom of the front page. This story is unusual in the olfactory sense. It describes an invasive species to the US, the stink bug. 


The articles describes how these bugs have been eating crops out East, devouring different crops and causing ... a big stink.  The Halyomorpha halys came to the states via cargo ships, as did the Emerald Ash Borer. But this bug has been here for about 15 years. 


Haddon cites some facts. The damage to 2010's apple crops cost $37 million. The potential risk to all crops is $21 billion (however, this isn't stated as annually or just for 2012). The USDA marked $5.7 million to researchers developing the bug's pheromones. But other entrepreneurs are in on the action, making and marketing their own traps, which people eagerly want, because the bugs sneak into houses during the winter. 


The article provided a quick summary of the problem and why it is important to agriculture businesses. It provides a humorous take, mentioning the farmer who trained his dog to eat them. She says that "thousands" of the bug scurry across his floor—an exaggeration? 


Haddon informs the reader of the solutions being worked on, the pheromones and the introduction of native prey in the Eastern states. The USDA is working on similar solutions for the Emerald Ash Borer as well.


This article might be a little off topic, but it interested me as research. The writing was a bit more entertaining, but it still illustrates the problem, lists potential solutions, and ends with a question of what will happen next. This outline could be followed for a similar article on EAB. But also, this shows a second case where the USDA is favoring natural biological solutions over chemical solutions. I'm sure this is a common type of solution in the 21st Century, a marked difference from Rachel Carson's 1960s.

Government Doc: Natural Resources Defense Council Sues USDA

Natural Resource Defense v. US Dept. of Agric., 613 F. 3d 76 - Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit 2010 Argued: April 6, 2010. Decided: July 8, 2010. http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=836394702275181896&q=emerald+ash+borer&hl=en&as_sdt=3,24


This legal document summarizes an argument between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and some states joined together by a giant environmental non-profit organization. I'll summarize the action.


After the emerald ash borer began spreading through the country, a branch of the USDA, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), looked into the regulations regarding wooden packing material. That's because the emerald ash borer arrived in crating material originating from eastern Asia. Of course, it isn't the first time insects have jumped the ocean by hitching a ride on some crates of Samsung TVs or large boxes of plastic bobbleheads. So it isn't surprising that APHIS would look into tightening restrictions on packing material.


The process began and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) were written to evaluate the problem. The conclusion was to adopt new guidelines for incoming Solid Wood Packing Material (SWPM—I know, it doesn't seem like this needs an acronym, right?) 


It turns out there are some international guidelines for such material, and they are set by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), which is somehow related to the United Nations. So the IPPC's latest guidelines are to have all wooden pallets treated with a gas or treated with a high level of heat.


This provides a good, multinational guideline. Everyone knows it isn't full proof, but it provided one more step for protection against the invasive species. 


But some states and the large non-profit National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) disagreed. They sued the USDA because they felt APHIS didn't meet the high standards of the National Environment Protection Act (NEPA) and the Plant Protection Act (PPA).


Basically, the argument was that APHIS could eliminate the risk completely—but they didn't because of outside pressures. They didn't need to pass laws saying packaging should be treated with a chemical harmful to the ozone, instead they should have passed a law requiring the US to ban SWPM completely! 


I imagine this would be extremely difficult to accomplish, and it would take a long time. However, it would eliminate this problematic profusion of invasive species. Why not just use prefabricated wood, which wouldn't be infested? 


Well, the USDA won the case. The court decided that APHIS took all these considerations to heart, evidenced by the final EIS, in which several other options for SWPM were mentioned. 


I learned a few things from this article: 1) These acronyms are out of control. 2) APHIS seems to have a near impossible task: restricting tiny insects or their larvae from entering our borders. 3) Our nation doesn't take this threat so seriously as to harm shipping patterns and trade relations. Is that good or bad? I guess we'll see in time.


I never did see final date of implementation for APHIS's recommendations, however.

Article: Government's Plan

USDA–APHIS. 2008. New Pest Response Guidelines for the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis (Fairmaire) USDA–APHIS–PPQ–Emergency and Domestic Programs–Emergency Planning, Riverdale, Maryland. 

This government document is slightly old, but outlines an intrepid response for communities who have found EAB in their borders. This plan covers several areas of information, as many government documents tend to do. However, it maintains a basic English style, and communicates effectively.

It provides information on the following areas:

• Pest information
• Identification
• Response Procedures
• Survey Procedures
• Regulatory Procedures
• Management Procedures
• Environmental Compliance
• Public Outreach

Since I was interested in the communication aspect of it, I paid special attention to the section on public outreach. The document states that it "is never too early to begin the education and outreach process." Also, they show the chain of command, directing others to report to the EAB's Legislative and Public Affairs specialist for materials. It appears the USDA is attempting to have everyone on the same page by issuing public-related documents through the LPA. They also cover the following communications topics:

• General Outreach Objectives  (consistent message by creating a core communication group with people from several different areas of government)
• General Outreach Activities and Initiatives  (maintain websites, hotlines, media reps, civil reps)
• Outreach Material (available through the EAB Legislative and Public Affairs specialist)