The presence of invasive species means that the natural system is out of balance. So how do we manage it?
Instead of a one-shot approach, with IPM scientists and public workers employ a "pyramid" of IPM tactics. Starting with the simplest prevention techniques and moving up the scale to more complicated interventions. At the bottom of the pyramid are cultural tactics, such as changing the environment so that it is not suitable for the pest. Then come the physical-mechanical tactics-things like screens, barriers, traps, or plant removal. Next come the biological tactics-introducing predators, parasites, or other living organisms to combat the pests; get the good bugs to kill the gad ones and restore the balance. Finally, come the chemical tactics-using pesticides such as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or other chemical controls.
Asian longhorned beetle
Part of the cultural tactics for the Asian longhorned beetle were regulatory: the United States has placed an embargo on untreated wood shipping crates from China and has requested that other materials, such as plastic or cardboard, bu used instead. They have also requested using higher-quality wood, but this would be more expensive because the cheapest wood for building crates is not much good for anything else-since it is already been damaged by beetles.
The physical-mechanical tactics for Asian longhorned beetle damage is to identify affected trees, chop them down chip them up, and burn the chips so that the beetles can't spread farther. A death sentence is not a happy outcome, but it is the only way to save other trees that have not been invaded yet.
There are currently no known natural predators of parasites to serve as biological controls of Asian longhorned beetle in the United States. We have already heard that there are not any effective chemical controls for this pest. However, there are other cultural options for the future.
Entomologists and horticulturists are working to determine which species of trees are likely to resist the Asian longhorned beetle. We already know they like maples, but we do not know whether they like other valuable trees such as oaks or ash.
In New York and Chicago, arborists are trying to replace every tree removed with another species that will not serve as host for the Asian longhorned beetle. They also do not want to use all the same kind of tree as replacements. In case there is another disease or pest that targets a specific kind of tree, they want the population to be diverse so that all replacement trees do not get wiped out. Research from PennState and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture could help indicate which varieties of trees should be replanted.
