ODA Partnership Working to Stem Tide of Invasive Pests

The Oregon Department of Agriculture is praising a partnership with a railroad tie company in The Dalles as helping fighting wood boring pests such as the Granular Ambrosia Beetle.

ODA Entomologist Josh Vlach said work began 20 years ago and while there have been spikes in these invasive and dangerous pests, it’s better than what it might have been.

“If we hadn’t detected it and if the tie plant hadn’t helped us with the Ambrosia beetles, I don’t know if we could have done it on our own. The beetle would’ve escaped. We know it could have established and it would have spread into the cherry orchards, maybe causing issues there and eventually spread throughout Oregon.”

The tie company, AmeriTies imports wood from other areas of the U.S. that might be dealing with an infestation which puts them at significant risk of threats.

Another ODA Entomologist Tom Valente said that means there will be ongoing concerns and work to deal with potential infestations.

“These exotic wood boring beetles, we have several new species in the country since 1997. There will be new ones and the distribution of the ones that we’ve got is expanding. The potential for one of these species to become established here is pretty good.”

That kind of cooperation helps reduce the odds of something bad getting established in Oregon.