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Numerous bark- and wood-infesting insects have been introduced to new countries by international trade where some have caused severe environmental and economic damage. Wood packaging material (WPM), such as pallets, is one of the high risk pathways for the introduction of wood pests. International recognition of this risk resulted in adoption of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM15) in 2002, which provides treatment standards for WPM used in international trade. ISPM15 was originally developed by members of the International Plant Protection Convention to “practically eliminate” the risk of international transport of most bark and wood pests via WPM. The United States (US) implemented ISPM15 in three phases during 2005–2006. We compared pest interception rates of WPM inspected at US ports before and after US implementation of ISPM15 using the US Department of Agriculture AQIM (Agriculture Quarantine Inspection Monitoring) database. Analyses of records from 2003–2009 indicated that WPM infestation rates declined 36–52% following ISPM15 implementation, with results varying in statistical significance depending on the selected starting parameters. Power analyses of the AQIM data indicated there was at least a 95% chance of detecting a statistically significant reduction in infestation rates if they dropped by 90% post-ISPM15, but the probability fell as the impact of ISPM15 lessened. We discuss several factors that could have reduced the apparent impact of ISPM15 on lowering WPM infestation levels, and suggest ways that ISPM15 could be improved. The paucity of international interception data impeded our ability to conduct more thorough analyses of the impact of ISPM15, and demonstrates the need for well-planned sampling programs before and after implementation of major phytosanitary policies so that their effectiveness can be assessed. We also present summary data for bark- and wood-boring insects intercepted on WPM at US ports during 1984–2008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is an agricultural and urban pest that has become widely established as an invasive species of major concern in the USA and throughout Europe. The insect forms large aggregations before entering diapause, and it is often these aggregations that are found by biosecurity officials conducting inspections of internationally shipped freight. Here, we aimed to gain insights into the potential volatile emissions, mobility, and mortality rates of the insects after undergoing a ship voyage across the equator (i.e. from northern hemisphere winter to southern hemisphere summer). Experiments were performed to simulate the effects on aggregations of diapausing H. halys of two variables associated with trans-Pacific voyages, i.e. ship and container movement and temperature changes within containers. Thus, H. halys aggregations were exposed to simulated shipping movement, using a 6-axis VS-6577G-B Denso robot arm, and emission of defence volatiles was measured repeatedly during the "voyage." We also simulated temperature changes as they occur during a 26-day voyage from Baltimore, northeast USA, to Auckland, New Zealand, and assessed the effects on the mortality and mobility of the bugs. Aggregations that experienced movement were not found to be any more likely to release volatiles than stationary aggregations and neither did the movement affect bug mobility. Temperature changes had a significant effect on mobility. However, towards the end of the temperature simulation, most H. halys had died, probably from a lack of food and moisture. These findings are highly relevant for border biosecurity risk assessment and pathway risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]