14 



what are the economic consequences of this problem if this problem 

 continues? 



Mr. Caron. The problem of the veroa mite is one where there 

 was an attempt made to slow the invasion of this alien species, and 

 as you indicated, it was not successful. The consequence is that we 

 have this shortage of bee colonies to meet our current pollination 

 needs and a great hardship to many individuals within the commu- 

 nity who depend upon the products and the services of pollination 

 of the honeybee. 



A number of factors that could have perhaps reduced this very 

 rapid spread of the alien introduced veroa mites involved a better 

 coordinated effort of APHIS working with the State agencies to do 

 that, to try to come up with a program of cooperation of working 

 in terms of this particular introduced species. The very same points 

 that I was tr5dng to relate to in Africanized bees, of so many play- 

 ers on the scene that we do need some sort of coordination that will 

 be more effective to try to reduce the spread. 



Senator Akaka. The African honeybee is a public threat as well 

 as a threat to U.S. agriculture. APHIS is responsible for developing 

 a response to the agricultural threat, but does not address the 

 human health issues. Does this arbitrary division of responsibility 

 make sense given the fact that we are talking about a single pest 

 that represents a threat to humans and agriculture? 



Mr. Caron. Perhaps in some respects it does not make sense, but 

 is the reality of how agencies must work and deal with something 

 that does represent such a broad spectrum of potentisd threats, 

 both to agriculture, to our beekeeping industry, maintenance of 

 colonies for pollination services by our growers of those crops re- 

 quiring pollination, and, of course, then the general public. 



' V/e need to have bite-size portions of that particular — instead of 

 an agency tr5dng to deal across the spectrum, have bite-size por- 

 tions. So, in part, the fragmentation, yes, does make sense and 

 does make it better able for the various agencies to focus. 



Senator Akaka. Mr. Schmitz, some non-indigenous plant species 

 pose problems depending upon how the species is used. Purple 

 loosestrife, for example, is viewed by horticulturists as a desirable 

 plant because of its color and form. But to managers of natural 

 areas, it is highly damaging because it grows prolifically, displaces 

 indigenous plants, and provides lower quality habitat and food for 

 wild Euiimals. 



Do we have to take sides when a single species is a weed in some 

 instances and a desirable species in home gardens or other con- 

 trolled settings? Should we adopt a "better safe theui sorry" ap- 

 proach? 



Mr. Schmitz. Absolutely, and I will tell you the reason why. 

 There are hundreds of plant species that are available to home gar- 

 dens and for landscape ornamentals. But how m£uiy of our wet- 

 lands are remaining in our Nation? Many of them have already 

 been lost through development and agriculture, and we want to 

 preserve what is left. And an invader like purple loosestrife or 

 melaleuca in the Everglades is going to steal what remains of our 

 Nation's biological heritage. So I guess you could say I am biased, 

 but I feel very strongly that we have to make some choices. And 

 I do not think this is going to seriously impact gardeners or for 



