Be afraid, be very afraid

This was the tag line used on movie posters to promote the 1986 horror film “The Fly” starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis. Listening to University of Florida entomologist Lance Osborne discuss managing the risk of invasive species at this year’s 24th Society of American Florists’ Pest Management Conference, it could have easily been the tag line for his talk too.

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Another poster for the movie used the line...Half man, half insect .... total terror. Talk to any of the growers who have had their operations quarantined by recent state and/or federal inspections and identification of invasive insects and disease pathogens, and they will likely tell you that they felt some sense of terror not knowing how much of their plant material was going to be destroyed, how long their facilities would be quarantined and how much money they would lose due to the invasive discovery.

Osborne said a study done on invasive species showed that between 1986-2000 150 exotic arthropod species became established in Florida--that’s about one a month. During that same time about 75 species became established in California and Hawaii.

The losses to the ornamentals industry from these invasive species can be devastating, but there is even greater concern for the potential losses to other agricultural crops should these invaders migrate from ornamentals. Center for Invasive Species Research at University of California estimates that the state’s agricultural losses to exotic pests exceed $3 billion annually. Estimated economic burden on the United States caused by invasive species is $137 billion annually.

Osborne is particularly concerned about the impact to the ornamentals industry if an invasive species caused serious economic damage to an important agricultural commodity or to plants in the natural environment and it was traced back to an introduction on ornamental plants. He said the results could lead to severe economic losses and regulatory restrictions on the ornamentals industry.

Taking a proactive approach

As the ornamentals industry becomes increasingly globalized, Osborne said it is vital that the industry be able to “accurately assess the risks of invasive species and develop a management plan to minimize any risks.” Another area of worry is the increased threat of resistant pest populations and strains.

One of the major concerns with the ornamentals industry, said Osborne, is that each grower is reacting to a new invasive or resistant pest problem on a case-by-case basis. Osborne calls upon all segments of the industry--propagators, growers, pest control manufacturers, regulatory agencies, university and government researchers and the trade press--to work together to manage these problems.

Osborne said the ornamentals industry needs to be proactive and unified in its efforts to understand and manage the risks associated with invasive species and resistant pests. The failure to do so will only lead to further government intervention to which the ornamentals industry may have minimal or restricted input in the creation of additional regulations and little leeway in their implementation. Osborne said by being proactive and developing a plan for self-regulation, the ornamentals industry could go a long way in demonstrating to members of other agricultural commodities, environmental groups and government regulators, that it is serious about dealing with the increasing threat of invasive species and resistant pests.

For more: Proceedings (book and CD ROM, Item No. 3039) for the 2008 Pest Management Conference are available from Society of American Florists, (800) 336-4743; www.safnow.org.

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- David Kuack

July 2008