Hole in the Ace: Update

The beetles discovered in the wooden trunks of artificial Christmas trees last week (see previous ISW post) have been named: the brown fir longhorn beetle (Callidiellum villosulum) and the Japanese cedar longhorn beetle (Callidiellum rufipenne). I'm not sure if they actually found both species or are just unable to confirm ID beyond the genus - read the USDA APHIS note here. Also, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has published an informative article about the unpublicized recall of trees, including an interview with the woman in Michigan who first discovered the beetles.

Closer but no Cigar

The Northwest Indiana Times is reporting that a silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) was found last week in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, a mere two miles south of the temporary electrical barrier set up to prevent carp from entering Lake Michigan. Though the carp was dead when it was discovered, officials are still very concerned about finding the fish so close to the Great Lakes system. You can view the specimen record here.

Prison Time

Here's a potentially untapped volunteer resource: ScienceBlog has a story about prisoners in Florida becoming certified to rear insects for biological control. One of the candidate species is Gratiana boliviana, a beetle that feasts upon the leaves of the tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum).

Thanks to a member of the ALIENS-L listserver for posting this story.

Bass Line

There is a story today at asahi.com about black bass (Micropterus sp.) causing a decline in native bird populations in Japan. The bass are eating up all the smaller fish, the chief food source of wetland bird species. Researchers are also concerned that the popularity of sport fishing has lead to increased disturbance of the nesting sites of wetland birds.

Tip of the virtual hat to stercus for posting about this story.

Carp-A-Thon!

If you're near Lake Forbes, New South Wales, this weekend, be sure to check out the carp-a-thon. As reported by the Forbes Advocate, the goal of this Aussie event is to reduce the number of the non-native fish in the lake. Lucky fishermen and fisherwomen will receive prizes for the best catches. If the program is successful, there are plans to turn the lake into a breeding area for rare native species.

Boa Knows Cozumel

Are introduced boa constrictors (Boa constrictor) responsible for the near extinction of the Cozumel thrasher (Toxostoma guttatum)? Scientists may never have known, had one of them not discovered one of the endemic island birds, after almost a decade of wondering whether the species had perished. The Times Leader is reporting that Dr. Robert L. Curry hopes to study nesting sites of the thrasher to determine whether boa predation is a threat. Thrasher populations tanked around 1988, after Hurricane Gilbert passed over the island.

Thanks to Val C. for sending in the link.

Rustin' Out All Over

Last week the ISW posted about the arrival of soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi, P. meibomiae) in the US. Now Reuters is reporting that the fungus has been found in three states: Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. Other southeastern states are sure to follow. Thanks, Ivan.