A bug has been found in Boise Idaho, could cause problems for homeowners. Normally found in South-Central Europe, the elm seed bug can be a nuisance. During the summer these bugs have been known to invade peoples homes to escape the heat and then stay in homes even during the winter. The bugs are a quarter-inch long and look like mini cockroaches. They are not a health risk but do smell unpleasant. It is not yet known how the bugs got into the U.S, or how they will spread but authorities are looking into the issue. State officials in Idaho are asking people who come across the bugs to collect them and send them into the Idaho Department of Agriculture so they can track them.
I am concerned about the possible impact of the bug on our environment in the U.S. Sherri discussed in her lecture how Kentucky Blue Grass was brought to the U.S. from Europe and has done well here. Hopefully these pests won't have the same success.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48232915/ns/us_news/#.UA6CurRtqmg
What I am wondering now is if these bugs do stay, what will the impact be on other bugs and the rest of the food chain surrounding them. If they cause the extinction of certain other bugs in the area it might cause problems for the bird populations and more bug problems as well. And what if they are toxic to the birds? These bugs are a serious problem. I just hope they don't make it down to Texas!
ReplyDeleteI'm really curious about how this bug could have gotten to the U.S. I wonder if it came accidentally on a ship with other imports. However it got here, we do not need more disgusting bugs that look like cockroaches. I also wonder about the effects it will have with other species or if they will intermix with other cockroaches and if then, it will be impossible to eliminate.
ReplyDeleteBugs like this can be a real menace. It seems that once an infestation begins there is virtually no way to stop them. The southeast part of the US, primarily Georgia, had a real problem with pine beatles. Millions of trees eventually died. The beatles were finally stopped because they ran out of food. The damage was already done, however, in terms of lost lumber and lack of any ability to prevent water runoff. Good article.
ReplyDeleteWhat is puzzling to me is not only how they got to the U.S., but why were they spotted first in SW Idaho. Even though the state is in the NW corner of the U.S. and close to the Pacific Ocean, it doesn't have any large port cities. The largest port in Idaho is the Port of Lewiston which is in the NW corner of the state. It seems to me if they were to have been accidentally brought in by imports, they would have been spotted in cities with more access to international shipments.
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