Dave said:

> I'm having a bit of trouble with the logic here.

Here's the logic, in a nutshell:

1) The patterns of SHB infestation are "spotty" at both
   the "national" and "state" levels.

2) The discovery of an "infested spot" prompts careful
   inspection of the surrounding areas, so the "spotty"
   nature of the map is not due to lack of looking.

3) Many infested spots are far, far away from any other
   infested spots.  This limits the possible primary
   mechanisms for the spread of SHB to a very small
   number of specific types of long-distance movement.

> On the other hand you casually dismiss the SC map which shows
> the area where migratories are, is the least infected area of
> the SC. coastal plain (for beetles).

Neither the map (nor your statements) were "dismissed".
In fact, a question was asked that remains unanswered:

    "In the South Carolina map
    http://www.ceris.purdue.edu/napis/pests/shb/imap/scshb.html
    we see three counties were SHB was 'not found' as of 11/40/2002,
    but all the counties that surround them are counties where
    SHB was listed as 'established'.

    How did that happen?

    There is no apparent natural protection for these counties
    that might block the 'natural' spread of SHB, so we are
    left with the conclusion that such a strange pattern could
    not be a result of 'natural' spread."

The question does not "dismiss" the SC map, the question accepts
the SC map as gospel truth, and asks "Why?"  "How'd that happen?"
"How could this be 'natural spread'?"  "What kind of spread might
this be?"

> You can't have it both ways, my friend. Are the maps reliable?
> Even when they show what you don't want to see?

Who wants something "both ways"?
I didn't question the reliability of the maps - you did.
I still think that the maps show exactly what they appear to show.

> There are numerous mechanism of spread.

I'm still waiting for someone to list just a few of these
"numerous mechanisms", and explain how each matches the unique
patterns of infestation shown on the maps at hand.  I've
offered one explanation that seems to fit the data very well,
and I've explained how, in my view, most other possible mechanisms
don't fit the data, but I'm open to any education or enlightenment
that directly addresses the facts, rather than arguing around them.


                jim

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