Megacopta cribraria ( F.) 319
that were protected from M. cribraria had 32.8% more biomass over one growing season than did plots
that were not protected. Thus, this bug can have a significant impact on this weed and can suppress its
growth. The cumulative effect of this bug over multiple growing seasons has not been evaluated, but
anecdotal observations suggest that coverage of native vegetation by the kudzu plant has been reduced
since the arrival of M. cribraria.
5.6.4 International Trade
Once Megacopta cribraria was recognized as a significant pest of soybeans in its expanded range in the
United States, scientists and pest management practitioners focused on developing strategies and tactics
for managing pest populations in crops and in urban habitats. At that time, there was little to no aware-
ness of the potential impact that this small invasive insect might have on international trade. Yet, vigilant
Honduran inspectors with the Servico de Proteccion Agropecuaria (SEPA) discovered two adult bugs
in a shipment of fertile poultry eggs originating from a northeastern Georgia facility in December 2011.
Inspectors subsequently discovered seven dead adults in a shipping container of frozen poultry meat
originating from the same facility on 11 February 2012. Citing the latter interception, Honduran phy-
tosanitary officials halted all agricultural imports originating from Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina,
and North Carolina on 27 February 2012. Several days later, Honduran officials eased those restrictions
to begin inspecting and unloading individual sea containers with cotton products to support local textile
industry operations. Eventually, those self-imposed guidelines of inspecting each individual container
were eased so that a smaller percentage (10%) of containers was actually inspected (Wayne A. Gardner,
personal observation).
The Honduran interceptions and trade interruption raised concerns among other Central American
trading partners that this invasive bug might be introduced accidentally from the southeastern United
States and become established in their countries. Once established, agricultural scientists and other
officials feared that it might become a significant pest of various bean crops grown by the region’s sub-
sistence farmers. Any trade restrictions likely would have dire consequences for those industries export-
ing goods and commodities to Central American partners as well as impacting various aspects of the
economic health of the importing countries. Excluding Mexico, the United States exports annually an
average of US $6.4 billion in goods and private services trade to each trading partner in Central America
(United States Trade Representative 2014). An estimated average of US $624 million is in agricultural
exports to each country, and the United States annually receives imports from that region averaging US
$5.7 billion per country.
Devorshak (2007) explained that under provisions of the International Plant Protection Convention
(IPPC), trading partners are encouraged to cooperate in minimizing the potential negative impacts of
introducing new pests through trade. For example, the exporting partner should implement standards
certifying that their exports will not introduce invasive pests. On the other hand, the importing partner
should work to implement inspection and other phytosanitation measures that are scientifically and tech-
nically justified.
Additional interceptions of live and dead adult bugs occurred at Honduran and Guatemalan ports of
entry in container shipments and in passenger jetliners originating from areas of the southeastern United
States infested with the pest. Representatives of the Organismo Internacional Regional de Sanidad
Agropecuaria (OIRSA) and scientists from the University of Georgia, in concert with trade special-
ists with the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,
Plant Protection Quarantine (USDA-APHIS-PPQ), officials with the United States Department of State,
and representatives of the National Cotton Council of America, worked to remediate issues involving
Megacopta cribraria and its impact on international trade between the United States and its Central
American trading partners (Wayne A. Gardner, personal observation).
Initially, 16 officials from the OIRSA member nations participated in a 3-day educational event on the
University of Georgia Griffin Campus 27–29 March 2012, including an on-site visit to a yarn spinning
facility that supplies cotton products to the Latin American region, a day of scientific presentations on
Megacopta cribraria, and round-table discussions. From these discussions, USDA-APHIS-PPQ and the
National Cotton Council of America developed a Standard Operating Protocol for Loading of Containers