What do Japanese beetles and jet fuel have in common?

I’ll explain in this story how they’re surprisingly connected. But what I learned is we don’t often consider the consequences our seemingly innocuous actions might have.

At least I didn’t.

For example, when my husband and I were on our honeymoon in Rome a decade ago, we were fascinated by the citrus trees growing in the city. He even picked up a lime that had fallen with the intent to take it home. He ultimately left it when we learned you can’t bring citrus back into the States. (Partly because I’d be the world’s worst smuggler. If the agent asked if we had citrus, I would’ve sang like a canary.)

But really, what harm could one little lime do? After speaking to Ian Foley, pest management program manager for Montana state department of agriculture, I realize importing items (particularly agricultural items) can offer free entry for a myriad of pests like japanese beetles and the eastern heath snail.

Eastern Heath Snail

The main reason I called Ian was to discuss the Eastern Heath Snail that is found east of Great Falls. The only other place in the country it’s been located is Detroit. It makes you wonder how it found its way out here. One thought is it came west via the railroad from Detroit. Another option is it hitched a ride in the furnishings or gear from Air Force personnel who transferred to Malmstrom Air Force Base from Europe (where the snail is also found). Along those same lines they might’ve come over from a local who visited Europe or had something shipped in from there.

But the most intriguing explanation is the snails might have been on imported Italian tile or marble. Ian said they are naturally drawn to the calcium carbonate in the tile or marble. They very likely will crawl up on it. If someone ordered it for their home a couple of decades ago (when they first made an appearance), it was the perfect opportunity for the Eastern Heath Snail to come here.

Who would think of snails on tile when you’re building your home?

Japanese Beetles

What really blew me away in our discussion was how Japanese beetles arrived in Billings, MT a decade ago.

Ian told me there is research demonstrating Japanese beetles are attracted to the jet fuel because it smells like their pheromones. They must have come in on a plane, and ended up in the rimrocks near the city, a perfect microclimate for them to survive despite attempts by the city and Montana State University to eradicate them.

If they stay there, that’s just dandy. But if they hop a plane and end up on the west side of the mountains with its lush valleys and temperate climate, it would be disastrous.

Emerald Ash Borer

The final pest we discussed was the emerald ash borer. They’ve killed millions of trees in the East and Midwest, and are as far west as Minneapolis.

The most likely way they’re going to find their way out here is by firewood. Tourism is huge in many western states. It just takes one visitor with borer infected firewood to bring it out. There are firewood restrictions in some states, including Oregon, which began restrictions of uncertified firewood (except from WA and ID) on Jan. 1, 2013. But, please, if you’re coming out to visit we have plenty of firewood.

Talking to Ian really opened my eyes on how adaptable and opportunistic many pests are when it comes to relocation. True, they’re not plotting world domination (or maybe they are), but they’re always up to setting up house on new territory.

The photo of the Japanese beetles is copyright abaker64 from istockphoto.com because thankfully we don’t have them in Great Falls… yet.