Invasive pest danger closer than you think

University Park, Pa. In Australia, when crossing from one state to another, travelers may encounter a quarantine stop and may be required to forfeit recently purchased fruits and vegetables as a hedge against invasive pests. But in the U.S., crossing state lines is freewheeling, according to researchers from the U.S. Australia and New Zealand, who evaluated the threat of invasive pests to states from within the country. "We concluded that the immediate threat from known invasive insect pests is greater from within the United States than without," the researchers reported in the current. "Our findings have significant implications for biosecurity policy and the need to consider security measures beyond established national borders," said Matthew Thomas, professor of entomology, Penn State. Alien invasive species cost the U.S. economy $120 billion annually. Determining the identity and potential entry paths for these species is important for farmers and policy makers, especially in light of the increases in global trade and transport of agricultural materials internationally.