This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: Terrestial flatworms, was To double dig,

In reference to Loren and Henry's flatworm problems in the northeastern
U.S., Barb Dorsett added several reference URL's and said,

>Also, please inform APHIS <http://www.aphis.usda.gov> about your terrestial
>flatworm infestations.  They are a potentially serious problem and there are
>ongoing efforts to squash all colonies of alien pests before they have a
>good chance to get established in the United States.

Thanks, Barb.  This is absolutely correct.  I work for APHIS as an editor at
headquarters in Riverdale, MD, and can confirm that this problem needs to be
brought to the agency's attention.  The web-requests e-mail capability is
built into our Website, too, so visitors can noodle around and send us mail
right from the Web.

>APHIS's email address is web-requests@email.aphis.usda.gov

I'm one of the 5 people who see all incoming Web requests, too, though not
the individual who forwards them to the correct staff for answers.

Another poster, Moira I think, mentioned how important it is to keep soil as
a non-enterable item, to help assure that pests like the NZ flatworm don't
slither into one's country unnoticed.

I agree completely.  Until very recently, APHIS prohibited the entry of ANY
plant item potted in soil, and soil itself is still forbidden.  But NAFTA
and GATT are forcing us to liberalize certain trade "barriers" and the
agency promulgated a proposed rule last month on the subject of allowing
Rhododendron spp. plants to come into the country if potted in soil.  This
is a first, to my knowledge.  I *think* I remember that the rhodies could
come in from Germany, but I'm wondering if the rule was that restrictive.
Bad memory--need new chips!

I suggest to Barb, who posted the several useful URL's re flatworms, that
she send all this info directly to APHIS in a Web-request mailing of her
own.  Worms are not our veterinarians' specialty, and I'm sure the info will
be viewed as helpful.

Until Loren posted his original saying that a flatworm was in New Jersey, I
thought the United States had managed to keep this horrendous threat out of
the country.

--Janet 

--
To unsubscribe, send a message to: majordomo@lists.umsl.edu
with the single body line: unsubscribe sqft
Contact owner-sqft@lists.umsl.edu with any admin questions.
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index