While breeding imported French moths one day in the 1860s, a young zoologist accidentally let a few escape in the bustling city of Boston, Massachusetts. Little did he know, those insects whose products were originally intended to solve a silk shortage would have disastrous effects on agriculture and the economy in New England into the 21st century. Today, we call those escapees “Gypsy Moths”. 

Adult spotted lanternfly (2019) Credit: Mark Nakahara

Invasive species, particularly pests like the gypsy moth, have wreaked havoc on the American Northeast for hundreds of years. One of the latest invasive species is the spotted lanternfly. The spotted lanternfly, which was first sighted in Pennsylvania in 2014, is native to China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. It has now taken up residence on the east coast from Virginia to Connecticut. Spotted lanternflies will, unfortunately, impact hundreds of thousands of jobs for those in the grape, apple, hops, and hardwood industries because of their ability to quickly decimate these crops. How is it that after all of the experience we’ve gained and the technological advancements we’ve made in the United States, invasive species can still bring American agriculture to its knees?

Technology has actually exacerbated the problem. When invasive species find themselves on new shores, they lack the natural predators of their homeland, allowing them to multiply and spread without interference. Technology is at the core of this introduction and spread. Advances in transportation have made a streamlined process to move people and goods, but unwanted species have also found it all too easy to hitch a ride. 

Growth in global travel and trade over the past century has worsened the impact of invasive species. With economic losses estimated at $137 billion per year by the USDA, it is clearly a significant issue. Farmers take the largest hit in these losses; invasive species cause them to lose significant portions of their harvest yields and drive up spending on pest prevention. 

While improved methods of communication allow us to quickly identify and locate invasive species, methods for the control and regulation of these species are still being developed. Policies like quarantine zones that limit the transportation of certain resources outside of the infested area are helpful but are not as effective as more controversial solutions, such as predator species introductions. Introducing predator species requires an abundance of testing to ensure that it’s population doesn’t spread too quickly or endanger unexpected prey. In the past, predator species have included animals, pests, and fungi. Scientists have also been working to make other existing solutions more environmentally friendly. For example, they have been working to improve the effectiveness of pesticides to reduce the number of chemicals being used and limit the chances of those pesticides showing up in drinking water.

My beat will explain the ins and outs of the science behind invasive species and the impact that they’ve had on the environment, economy, and health of the Northeast.