Who can we believe?

A little moth that many of us never heard of until recently has caused quite a flap in the Bay Area. Is the light brown apple moth a threat to agriculture that must be sprayed out of existence or is it a harmless insect that has lived in the area for many years? The S.F. Chronicle today has a well-balanced article explaining the opinions of scientists and citizen's groups on both sides of the argument. Many local residents are likely to feel unprepared to form an opinion as to which experts are closer to the truth, but the Chronicle not only presents the statements of scientists but also suggests some background reading and lists meetings at which the public can comment. It's good to know that environmental reporter Jane Kay is gathering this important information for us and that the Chronicle is making it available to everyone who reads the paper in print or online. Thank you!