Bug Fight Club
Summary
Host Ben Bradford explores the escalating threat of invasive insects, featuring entomologist Andrew Leopold and the story of Tracy Samuelson’s battle with lantern flies in New York. The episode details the devastating impacts of species like the emerald ash borer and citrus greening, while discussing solutions ranging from stricter border inspections to biological control methods. It highlights the successful eradication of the murder hornet in Washington State through a unique combination of public surveillance and radio tracking, emphasizing the critical need for collective awareness to p…
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Con Edison
Kamala Harris campaign and the lantern fly incident
Introduction to the invasive species crisis
The spread of the lantern fly in the US
Tracy's experience with lantern flies in NYC
Why the lantern fly is not the worst invasive bug
The collapse of Florida's citrus industry
The emerald ash borer and the death of ash trees
How invasive insects arrive via global trade
Sponsors: Wealthfront, Wait Wait, Swing State
The Washington DC cherry tree inspection story
Solve 1: Preventing entry through inspection and fire
Limitations of entry prevention and historical introductions
Solve 2: Biological control and 'bug fight club'
Sponsor: Imperfect Paradise podcast
The discovery of the murder hornet in Washington
The hunt: Traps, surveillance, and public reporting
Tracking the hornet with radio transmitters
Eradication of the murder hornet in North America
The importance of public awareness and vigilance
Show credits, support, and sponsor: Midi Health
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