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LBAM eradication program not based on sound science, panel says
A panel of 10 scientists, economists and USDA employees released a report yesterday that said the USDA's characterization of light brown apple moth as an "invasive threat" was correct, but the federal agency didn't back up the assertion with sound science, according to an Associated Press story.
The panel, convened by the National Academy of Sciences, includes UC Berkeley entomologist Nicholas Mills. He acknowledged in the article that assessing the potential threat of an invasive species is a very difficult thing to do, and expressed concern about USDA's information gathering efforts.
"We found that people in the agency were sometimes using their best guesses, relying sometimes on published literature or unpublished information, and sometimes on no information," Mills was quoted.
Opponents of the USDA's eradication plan feel the agency has overblown the threat and put people and animals at risk by spraying pheromones meant to prevent LBAM mating over coastal communities.
The panel, convened by the National Academy of Sciences, includes UC Berkeley entomologist Nicholas Mills. He acknowledged in the article that assessing the potential threat of an invasive species is a very difficult thing to do, and expressed concern about USDA's information gathering efforts.
"We found that people in the agency were sometimes using their best guesses, relying sometimes on published literature or unpublished information, and sometimes on no information," Mills was quoted.
Opponents of the USDA's eradication plan feel the agency has overblown the threat and put people and animals at risk by spraying pheromones meant to prevent LBAM mating over coastal communities.
According to the article, officials currently are working on eradication by setting out sticky traps baited with moth pheromones and spraying only in inaccessible areas.
Light brown apple moth larva.
