Invasive Insects and Their Threat to Vermont

“Like the arrow in Greek mythology that ultimately killed Achilles, these exotic invasive insects kill trees by attacking their most vulnerable parts.”

Invasive insects have become one of the most threatening forces behind rapid ecological change in not only Vermont but the whole northeast United States as a whole as well. Many of them have been introduced to the northeast U.S due to human actions such as importing and trading of foreign products without proper precautions. Nothing can express the severity of the situation as well as solutions better than the article. Invasive Insects: Achilles heel of the northern forest by Allaire Diamond.

            The article focuses on three invasive species that are beginning to move into Vermont borders attacking many native trees such as the abundant hemlock and ash. The three insects include the hemlock wooly adelgid, the emerald ash borer and the Asian longhorned beetle. Among them, the hemlock wooly agdelgid is the most dangerous for the region due not only to the abundance of hemlock in the area but also due to the fact that it’s full impacts are still unknown. The insect has been known to turn lush, dense forests of hemlock into empty plains as has been seen in many southern Appalachian forest plots. The emerald ash borer and Asian longhorn beetles tap into the cambium layer of the bark of its victims and feed on the wood. This causes the flow of nutrients and water through vascular tissue to become disconnected resulting in death of the tree. The emerald ash borer has been noted as the reason behind the extinction of the ash tree in the southern Michigan area. Out of the three insects, the hemlock wooly adelgid is the only one currently present in Vermont but the other two have been spotted as close as 30 miles from Vermont borders.


                                                          
                                                          (Hemlock Wooly Agelid)

            If any of these insects were to establish significant populations within Vermont forests, it could mean very big problems for the state of Vermont. Hemlock hardwoods are a majority species in Vermont taking the 7^th most common spot in the state. They are essential to the ecological stability of many Vermont streams and rivers because they play a crucial role in the shading of the rivers which in turn cools them allowing diverse fish and bacteria to thrive. If prominent in Vermont, the hemlock wooly agelid would not only destroy the entire population of the hemlock but would critically alter many other ecological systems. On the other hand, with the entrance of the emerald ash borer, Vermont could also begin to see some damaging economic blows. The harvesting of ash trees for the timber industry is one of Vermont’s largest incomes. With the rapid depletion of the ash, Vermont’s economy could begin to slip leaving hundreds, possibly even thousands of people out of work.


                                                      
                                                              (Emerald Ash Borer)

            The effects of any of these invasive insects can be devastating to local ecosystems but the chances of them entering and staying can be slowed down and even prevented completely. The most effective way to slow down the movement of these insects is by education of the general public. Diamond explains that most insects are spread by human purchases of firewood and nursery stock and that by buying wood locally and educating the buyers about what to look for in the wood the spread can be greatly reduced. It is suggested that one buys firewood no more than 50 miles from the home. Also by education of distinct characteristics of the three species they will be more easily recognized and hotlines are available for contact to help with the cause.


                                                          
                                                           (Asian Longhorn Beetle)

            I think that simply by reading Allaire Diamond’s article on invasive species has educated me more than I was previously. The hemlock wooly adelgid, emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle are three species that can rapidly change Vermont’s beautiful, forested landscape. Without the proper education and motivation by the public to stop these pests, we could see extreme changes to the natural ecosystems of the state. Some government agencies have begun setting 2,200 traps in hopes of trapping some of the predators but this will only help to an extent. The exile of these insects can only be stopped as a group effort. 

By: Matt Hollingsworth

Allaire, Diamond. "Invasive Insects: Achilles Heels of the Northern Forest." Vermont Land Trust. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. <http://www.vlt.org/news-publications/invasive-insects>