When are the gorillas brought in?

In before the Gorrilas freeze to death

Kudzu.
Japanese Beetles.
That is all.

Why does every horrible invasive species seem to come from Asia? Japanese beetles, Chinese snakehead fish, Kudzu, Asian longhorn beetles, etc.?

Shazam999: When are the gorillas brought in?

Dammit...I fail again

I think *everyone* is here for frozen, dead gorillas.

But then again, who isn't?

Solved the erosion problem alright.

AngryJailhouseFistfark: I suspect we'll learn (the hard way) that these weevils are the catalyst to turn the snake head fish from an aggressive invasive species to a terrifying giant seaborne monster, swallowing cars and fishing boats, crawling ashore to devour beach-goers and boardwalks. It'll be the end of us.

Holy crap, I hope so. That would be awesome.

HailRobonia: Why does every horrible invasive species seem to come from Asia? Japanese beetles, Chinese snakehead fish, Kudzu, Asian longhorn beetles, etc.?

It's their proximity to Australia.

Ford Perfect: Kudzu.
Japanese Beetles.
That is all.

Some of our biggest problems:

Multiflora rose
Ash borer

Bullfrog, that a funny name. I'da called 'em Chazzwozza's.

/not as good as frozen gorillas

HailRobonia: Why does every horrible invasive species seem to come from Asia? Japanese beetles, Chinese snakehead fish, Kudzu, Asian longhorn beetles, etc.?

All the potentially invasive species from europe and Africa got here hundreds of years ago and have done all the damage they were going to.

This kind of reminds me of what happened in the town I grew up in.

When I was younger there were a lot of owls in the area. Then in the 90's it became popular with people in the town to own small dogs. Suddenly people's dogs started going missing, for some reason they didn't pay attention to what cat owners had done for years and keep them inside at night. So outrage started mounting and the town and others in the area decided to catch and relocate the owls. Small dogs stopped disappearing and people were happy for a while. Then it seemed like over night that the rabbit and field mouse population exploded, and it got to the point were it is now that they are all over the place.

So last year what did the town do to try to control the rabbit population? Well it was rumored that they started releasing coyotes at night to eat them. I don't know if they were being released on purpose, but last summer while visiting my parents, I had seen coyotes 4 different times and I'm not the only person to have seen them. And trust me, this isn't an area where you see coyotes or a coyote accessible area.

It's ok.




He'll deal with the weevil infestation.

HailRobonia: Why does every horrible invasive species seem to come from Asia? Japanese beetles, Chinese snakehead fish, Kudzu, Asian longhorn beetles, etc.?

Because it is a world away and none of 'our' species have had to adapt around 'their' species.

My question is, why don't we eat the frackin plant? Package it and throw it into the health food section of the grocery store and someone can make a fortune off the " Asian Leaves of Healing!!"...

The insect vs. plant method has worked quite well for purple loosestrife control. As long as the insects are picky about their noms, their preferred noms are the invasives, and other local animals won't be hurt when and if they use said insects as noms, you're probably not going to need the gorillas.

This isn't asinine. But carry on with the Simpsons references!

/And cane toads. Never forget the cane toads...

HailRobonia: Why does every horrible invasive species seem to come from Asia? Japanese beetles, Chinese snakehead fish, Kudzu, Asian longhorn beetles, etc.?

Koreans.

/I kid.

HailRobonia: Why does every horrible invasive species seem to come from Asia? Japanese beetles, Chinese snakehead fish, Kudzu, Asian longhorn beetles, etc.?

Don't forget these assholes.

Only Time Will Tell

HailRobonia: Why does every horrible invasive species seem to come from Asia? Japanese beetles, Chinese snakehead fish, Kudzu, Asian longhorn beetles, etc.?

I think Chief Sitting Bull would disagree with your statement when he was alive.

Been wondering what that crap was called. Heard it called Devil's Tailthumb. Grows quick and the thorns are a pain to deal with. Responds ok to Roundup or Weed-b-gone.

Here out west, it is the Salt Cedar that is the scourge of western rivers - been that way for a long time! They finally introduced a beetle that is specific to them and for the first time in my life I have seen an improvement in river riparian zones on the Green and Colorado rivers! Never thought I'd see the day that these rivers would look better again!.

I see that this plant is edible to humans as well... just like kudzu. While this 'weed' probably has too much oxalic acid to be used for livestock (unlike kudzu, which is healthy and very palatable to livestock), I've never really understood why these plants aren't controlled through commercial use. Heck, the fact that it's so high in oxalic acid gives it commercial value as well...

Seriously - when I first brought my horses to their current place, the pasture they were kept in was overgrown with kudzu. They got very fat and shiny on nothing but the plant and a few minerals sprinkled over a tiny amount of feed. I'm kinda sad the kudzu is all eaten back now - it's meant I've had to buy hay (and the kind I can get in my area isn't nearly as palatable nor as nutritious as the kudzu and a whole lot goes to waste).

I wonder how long before these weevils (that apparently eat ONLY this weed) move on to actual commercially utilized relatives, like buckwheat XD

BKITU: The imported species only feeds on the invasive plant, which is useful. It implies that the imported insect will naturally die off once their food supply is exhausted, rendering them... well, no longer inhabiting their non-native habitat.

Until that species decides another plant is suitable enough to eat so it can survive. Living things adapt to their environment, Rick Romero reporting.

No mention of frickin' zebra mussels?

Ninja Otter: No mention of frickin' zebra mussels?

We could import lions. They love to eat zebra muscles.

it's cute how humans are concerned that species from other continents will upset the ecosystem.

funk_soul_bubby: HailRobonia: Why does every horrible invasive species seem to come from Asia? Japanese beetles, Chinese snakehead fish, Kudzu, Asian longhorn beetles, etc.?

Don't forget these assholes.

Yes. Everyone in who represents the areas around the great lakes have been warning about these frkkk***z for a long time. It will kill the billion dollar fishing industry as these things will devour all that our walleye and perch feed on. Our government has done nothing to prevent their migration north to the MANMADE (never meant to be there) canals that connect the Mississippi to the greaT Lakes for shipping.

Now they still drag their feet knowing that things are worse than originally feared.
Carp on Youtubes
Local news article

If there was only a certain high-up elected official from the chicago area who could enact the policies that could fix this, the future might have nice beaches and great fishing in it.

BKITU: The imported species only feeds on the invasive plant, which is useful. It implies that the imported insect will naturally die off once their food supply is exhausted, rendering them... well, no longer inhabiting their non-native habitat.

Do you really think an imported species will just die off when their "native" food supply is exhausted? Life adapts, evolves. Odds are they'll find new sources of food rather than conveniently expire. I thought this quote from the article was rather telling:

"When they get going, you run out of food and you have to release them or they'll eat you out of house and home," said Mary Jo Klovensky, the agriculture inspector who is head weevil wrangler and packs them for travel to their new homes.

KarmicDisaster: ongbok: This kind of reminds me of what happened in the town I grew up in.

When I was younger there were a lot of owls in the area. Then in the 90's it became popular with people in the town to own small dogs. Suddenly people's dogs started going missing, for some reason they didn't pay attention to what cat owners had done for years and keep them inside at night. So outrage started mounting and the town and others in the area decided to catch and relocate the owls. Small dogs stopped disappearing and people were happy for a while. Then it seemed like over night that the rabbit and field mouse population exploded, and it got to the point were it is now that they are all over the place.

So last year what did the town do to try to control the rabbit population? Well it was rumored that they started releasing coyotes at night to eat them. I don't know if they were being released on purpose, but last summer while visiting my parents, I had seen coyotes 4 different times and I'm not the only person to have seen them. And trust me, this isn't an area where you see coyotes or a coyote accessible area.

Coyotes probably just moved to where the food is. They are smart.

I doubt it. Like I said, it isn't a coyote accessible area. It is a very urban area. And it isn't like the coyotes started showing up when the rabbit population started growing, or there had been other sightings over the years, they just showed up out of nowhere one week. Then after people started talking, they disappeared also.

No amount of spraying seems to get rid of kudzu or Virginia Creeper permanently and after looking up the mile-a-minute vine I now know I have that too. Lovely. Also, found out that in traditional Chinese medicine mile-a-minute weed (Persicaria perfoliata) is known as gangbangui.

Gangbangui weed, how did Subby miss that one???
That would have sold a few t-shirts.

I'll see your bugs and raise you Love Bugs



Hawt, like the cars that hit them.

BKITU: The imported species only feeds on the invasive plant, which is useful. It implies that the imported insect will naturally die off once their food supply is exhausted, rendering them... well, no longer inhabiting their non-native habitat.

I also understand that a different similar species was considered for the task, but it breeds more slowly so gathering enough to be effective would be cost-prohibitive. It appears that, in regard to expense, the scientists tasked with making the decision went with the lesser of two weevils.

I read about a year ago that entomologists discovered a June Bug that has a particular hankering for Kudzuu. They've since been selectively breeding these little bugs to eat and survive only on that plant and their hope is to start releasing them in Georgia.

Ninja Otter: No mention of frickin' zebra mussels?

I can't tell you my hatred for those things. I used to sail all summer on Lk. St. Clair and I've cut my feet on those things so many farking times. Yes the water looks cleaner (less nutrients) but they are the dictionary definition of invasive species.

Spanky McStupid: I'll see your bugs and raise you Love Bugs

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Hawt, like the cars that hit them.

Lovebugs are native to Florida and the South. Them being an "invasive species" is just an inside joke among Entomologists, because it has never been true.

ongbok: When I was younger there were a lot of owls in the area. Then in the 90's it became popular with people in the town to own small dogs. Suddenly people's dogs started going missing, for some reason they didn't pay attention to what cat owners had done for years and keep them inside at night. So outrage started mounting and the town and others in the area decided to catch and relocate the owls.

Suburbanite dipshiats are the ultimate invasive species.

BKITU: The imported species only feeds on the invasive plant, which is useful.

In Asia. Did someone take the time to give these little guys a taste test of every single plant species in North America? Somehow I doubt it.

URAPNIS: Solved the erosion problem alright.

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It's hard for me to imagine a Georgia without kudzu. The stuff is so surreal. After reading this headline, I'll admit I'm relieved that a different pest has been targeted.

Supes: BKITU: The imported species only feeds on the invasive plant, which is useful. It implies that the imported insect will naturally die off once their food supply is exhausted, rendering them... well, no longer inhabiting their non-native habitat.

Do you really think an imported species will just die off when their "native" food supply is exhausted? Life adapts, evolves. Odds are they'll find new sources of food rather than conveniently expire.



Uh, duh?

KarmicDisaster: Coyotes probably just moved to where the food is. They are smart.

They can't be that smart... they keep buying Acme stuff.