The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
123 HUNTINGTON STREET BOX 1106 NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT 06504
Founded 1875 Putting science to work for society
CONNECTICUT
REPORT TO THE EASTERN PLANT BOARD - 2009
PORTLAND, MAINE
SUMMARY OF 2008 NURSERY INSPECTIONS, FOREST INSECT/PLANT PEST SURVEYS & APIARY INSPECTION ACTIVITIES
NURSERY INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION
Three-hundred and five nurseries were certified to conduct intra- and interstate business. There were 636 nursery inspections during the growing season. Eight-thousand, Four-hundred and sixty-one acres of nursery stock were examined as well as plants growing under 32,737,495-sq. ft. of greenhouse space. The majority of plants were grown in hoop houses (28,408,332 sq. ft.), followed by plastic greenhouses (2,627,263 sq. ft.) and glass greenhouses (1,701,900 sq. ft.).
NURSERY INSECTS
The most abundant pests found in nurseries were lacebug on Pieris, Rhododendron and Azalea, aphids on various trees and shrubs, mites on various trees and shrubs, black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) on Taxus, Arborvitae leafminer on Thuja and Hemlock eriophyid mites on Tsuga.
JAPANESE BEETLE CERTIFICATION
We observed treatments of 113,418 plants at one nursery and issued phytosanitary certificates to comply with states that quarantine nursery stock from Connecticut because of the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica. One nursery, which met the containerized nursery stock accreditation program requirements of the United States Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan, shipped 65 plants to other states in 2008. Five nurseries met other requirements of the United States Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan and shipped 4,070 plants to states that quarantine plants from Connecticut.
JAPANESE BEETLE CERTIFICATION TO CANADA
Fifteen Connecticut nurseries, which met the inspection requirements of the US/Canada Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan, shipped 149,963 plants to Canada in 2008.
NURSERY DEALER PERMITS
Nursery dealer permits were issued to 176 firms. One-hundred and fifty-four of these companies operate individual outlets. The remaining businesses have more than one outlet each. In total, there were 556 outlets.
PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATES
Four-hundred and fifty-one phytosanitary inspection certificates were issued covering the shipment of the following plant materials to destinations outside the United States:
Plants Number Apples (Cartons) 10,000 Bulbs & Tubers (Dahlia & Gladiolas)(Bags) 680 American Chestnut (scions) 33 (seeds) 151 Chinese tree peonies (plants) 2 Greenhouse plants 101,272 Nursery stock (containers - B & B) 27,175 (bare root plants) 16 (unrooted cuttings) 48 Lumber (pieces) 1,281 Orchids (plants & flasks) 4,322 Perennials (bare root plants) 4,072 (plants) 21,279 Seeds (cartons & bags) 216 Tobacco (bales, boxes, bundles & cartons) 206,529 Tobacco (Reconstituted) (Cartons) 48
SPECIAL INSPECTIONS
1. Eleven inspections were made for 89 individual plants and bulbs to assist homeowners moving out of state.
2. One-hundred and ninety-eight Inspections were made to assist nurseries moving the following plants interstate:
Plants Number
Perennials (plants) 113,404 Nursery stock (containers) 96 (bare root plants) 1,500 (B & B) 935 Corn seed (pounds) 210 Geraniums 1,917 Greenhouse plants 639 Hemlock logs (Board feet) 100,000 Seed (Bags) 69
3. One tobacco grower had 120 acres inspected for the aerial application of pesticides.
4. Nine post-entry inspections were carried out on 5,052 plants at 3 locations. At three sites, 5,052 plants were released from quarantine.
BIOTECHNOLOGY REGULATORY SERVICES INSPECTION ACTIVITY
In cooperation with officers from the Wallingford USDA-APHIS-PPQ office, three inspections were conducted in 2008 at facilities or laboratories working with recombinant or regulated organisms.
INSECT AND DISEASE SURVEYS
FOREST HEALTH SURVEY
During the summer of 2008 we examined 51 permanent, one-acre forest plots that were established to monitor forest health in Connecticut. These plots are located on state, Nature Conservancy, and municipal water company properties. We considered 25 pathogens for monitoring and determined which trees served as host plants. Within each plot, 20 to 30 trees were tagged for long-term studies. We evaluated signs of defoliation and disease, such as dead tree branches, limbs and crowns. Descriptions and determinations are designed to reflect increasing damage or tree decline. We measure the trees at Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) as an additional way to monitor their health. We will continue to use these plots to monitor the forests over several years to assess whether our state forests remain healthy or are declining. In general, our forests remain healthy.
DEFOLIATION IN CONNECTICUT - 2008
GYPSY MOTH
Our annual aerial survey for gypsy moth defoliation was conducted in July-August 2008 and covered 1.8 million acres of urban/suburban forest in all eight Connecticut counties. Gypsy moth defoliation of 13,625.4 acres was found in following counties:
COUNTY TOTAL ACRES HARTFORD 2786.3 MIDDLESEX 50.7 NEW LONDON 7469.5 TOLLAND 2901.5 WINDHAM 417.4
13,625.4
In November and December, a gypsy moth egg mass survey was conducted in 80-95% favorable host sites on a 7 -mile grid (102 sites) throughout Connecticut. At three sites egg masses were found in sufficient numbers to cause defoliation in 2009.
ORANGE-STRIPED OAKWORM
The Orange-striped oakworm, Anisota senatoria, is a native moth that ranges from eastern Canada southward to Georgia. It is a common pest of oak species in Connecticut. Occasionally, local infestations occur when oaks have been stressed by other factors such as drought or gypsy moths. Serious defoliation can occur when this happens. The moths lay up to 500 eggs on the undersides of an oak leaves in early summer and are attracted to artificial light. The caterpillars feed on the foliage, and then they burrow into the soil and build an earthen cell, where it pupates and passes the winter. On October 2, 3, &10, 2007, a statewide aerial survey was conducted for orange-striped oakworm defoliation. Defoliation was found in Windham County (3,259.5acres) and in New London County (2,433.4 acres). Total acres defoliated were 5,692.9.
FOREST TENT CATERPILLAR
The Forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria, is a native insect found throughout the range of hardwood forests in North America. It is more abundantly distributed in eastern North America, but is also common in western areas that have large stands of aspen. At times, this insect can be a damaging defoliator of trees. Trees that are defoliated often flush a new, smaller set of leaves in July. While forest tent caterpillar does not typically cause mortality to host trees, mortality can occur when populations interact with other disturbances, such as drought or insect outbreaks. Forest tent caterpillar larvae use silk to form trails and to create pads on host trees where they congregate and rest. During 2008, an outbreak of Forest tent caterpillar resulted in the defoliation of 2,373.5 acres in Windham County. A total of 2,373.5 acres were defoliated.
ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE
The Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, first discovered to be attacking trees in August of 1996 in New York, has spread to within 25 miles of Greenwich in southwestern Connecticut. There is risk for beetle entry in ports because of the transportation of solid wood packing material on ships coming from areas of the world where this beetle is found. We, therefore, concentrated additional survey efforts in Connecticut in the areas of Bridgeport, Groton, New Haven and New London as well as their surrounding parks that contain a high percentage of maple, a favorite food source of the Asian longhorned beetle.
Asian Longhorned Beetle Survey 2008
County # Inspections # Trees Inspected # Infested Trees Fairfield 8 810 0 Middlesex 1 28 0 New Haven 8 690 0 New London 20 2,357 0
Totals 37 3,875 0
We also participated in a United States Forest Service survey in Southwestern Connecticut. We examined 300 Asian longhorned beetle host species trees in 18 square miles in Greenwich and Stamford. All surveys and identifications, thus far, were negative. We also inspected five trees for 2 homeowners in 2008.
SEPTORIA LEAF SPOT OF MAPLE Rainy and cool weather throughout Connecticut during spring and summer created conditions ideal for the fungus known as Septoria aceris, which causes septoria leaf spot. A septoria infection is characterized by small brown spots rimmed with yellow when the leaves are still green. As the spots grow and merge, they perforate the leaves, resulting in premature leaf drop and defoliation. The long- term implications for the trees’ health are minimal. Damage due to Septoria Leaf Spot of maple was considerable enough to warrant mapping during aerial survey. Data are included on the defoliation map and are summarized below by county.
COUNTY TOTAL ACRES Fairfield 1,820.2 Hartford 363.9 Litchfield 107.9 Middlesex 1,004.8 New Haven 4,028.3 New London 3,333.0 Tolland 1,712.2 Windham 3,055.3 TOTAL 15,425.6
HEMLOCK WOOLLY ADELGID
The hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae, remains an important pest of hemlock in Connecticut, spreading northward since its coastal detection in 1985 and infesting all 169 towns in the state. During 2008, we required all hemlock nursery stock that was being shipped out of Connecticut to be treated for Hemlock woolly adelgid. Two nurseries shipped hemlock trees out of state. Our inspectors observed treatments and issued phytosanitary certificates to cover 940 plants in these shipments. We also certified 100,000 board feet of hemlock logs that were shipped to states with a quarantine.
LIGHT BROWN APPLE MOTH
In cooperation with the USDA-APHIS-PPQ office in Wallingford CT, twenty-five locations were selected for trapping for light brown apple moth (LBAM) in 2008. Trapping at ten nursery locations was conducted by USDA officers, and trapping at 15 orchard locations was conducted by CAES personnel. Traps were deployed for two-week intervals from July through September. Gypsy moth adults were caught in the traps in considerable numbers, but no light brown apple moths were captured.
RAMORUM LEAF BLIGHT
As part of the P. ramorum National Nursery Survey, we inspected 20 nurseries during 2008. During the survey, 148,379 plants were inspected and 207 samples were collected from symptomatic plants. All samples were cultured and tested by ELISA; DNA from ELISA-positive plants was sent to Beltsville for confirmation by PCR. One hundred one samples were ELISA positive; none were PCR-positive. One garden center that had a positive plant in 2006 was included in the survey as part of the Confirmed Nursery Protocol. Twenty-one samples were collected for the CNP; fifteen were ELISA-positive and none were PCR-positive. The garden center was released from CNP.
In conjunction with the US Forest Service, two streams were selected for baiting for P. ramorum. One was near a location were positive plants were found in 2004 and buried in 2005, and the second was not near any potential sources of P. ramorum. Streams were baited with rhododendron leaves for 2- week deployments April through September 2008, with a 6-week break during July and August, when water temperatures were too warm for Phytophthora species. Leaf baits were submitted for testing to labs at Mississippi State University and Cornell University. All baits were negative for P. ramorum.
In late June of 2008, we received orders for a trace back to be conducted at a CT nursery. P. ramorum- positive plants had been found at a garden center in North Carolina; this establishment also had received plant material from many other suppliers. Sixty-three samples were taken of symptomatic foliage, and irrigation water in 3 ponds was baited with rhododendron leaves. All samples were cultured and tested by ELISA; DNA from ELISA-positive samples was sent to Beltsville for confirmation by PCR. Forty-eight foliar samples were ELISA-positive, and none were PCR-positive. The six aquatic samples were negative.
In late December 2008, a second trace back was ordered in connection with plants sent from the North Carolina garden center to a garden center in South Carolina. Again, this establishment also had received plant material from many other suppliers. Samples were treated as outlined above. Fourteen samples of symptomatic foliage were collected, 5 were ELISA-positive, and none were PCR-positive. No aquatic samples were taken in the second trace back, as the irrigation ponds were frozen solid.
DAYLILY RUST
A rust fungus (Puccinia hemerocallidis) was found on daylilies in a southeastern U.S. nursery for the first time in the summer of 2000. It was found in Connecticut in 2001 and 2002 on daylilies owned by private citizens. It is now confirmed to occur in three counties. During 2008, we surveyed daylilies in nurseries and garden centers for signs of this rust. Eighty-four inspections were carried out on 86,473 plants. No signs of Puccinia hemerocallidis were found
CHRYSANTHEMUM WHITE RUST
On August 15, 2008, a homeowner in Norwalk, CT called the Plant Disease and Information Office to report that she had observed symptoms of chrysanthemum white rust (CWR) on eight chrysanthemums planted in front of her condo. The chrysanthemums had been purchased in 2007 and had overwintered in situ. The cultivar and source of the plants was unknown at the time of the report. In cooperation with USDA-APHIS-PPQ, CAES personnel visited the location and collected samples of symptomatic foliage. CWR was confirmed, and all eight plants were uprooted and disposed of in the municipal waste stream, which ultimately ends with incineration.
During 2008, we continued to survey for CWR, Puccinia horiana. We inspected 562,373 chrysanthemums raised by 34 growers and dealers for presence of CWR.
On August 25, 2008, CAES received a report from a plant broker that one of his customers suspected CWR on chrysanthemums obtained earlier in the summer. In cooperation with USDA-APHIS-PPQ personnel, we visited the location in Litchfield County, collected samples of symptomatic foliage, and confirmed presence of CWR. This grower had already sold plants to two retail locations, and had given chrysanthemums to a friend for her growing operation, so trace forward activities were initiated. Chrysanthemums at the friend’s location were CWR-positive and were destroyed by burial. On visiting the two retail locations, we found CWR-positive plants from two additional growers, one in Massachusetts and one in CT. All chrysanthemums at the Litchfield location were eventually destroyed by burial on site. All chrysanthemums at the two retail locations were destroyed by burial as well.
At the grower in CT, approximately 50 acres of chrysanthemums were inspected and CWR was confirmed on several varieties. The grower attempted to limit his losses by culling and spraying, but was unsuccessful. Eventually, over 61 tons of plant material and potting mix were destroyed by incineration.
In addition, a supermarket chain that had received chrysanthemums from the grower in MA was inspected and found to have CWR-positive mums. These plants were bagged, disposed of in the municipal waste stream, and eventually incinerated.
On September 17 and 18, 2008, a Strike Team (ST), consisting of two scientists from the Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST), visited CT and MA, to observe the locations of the outbreaks of CWR, discuss the situation with PPQ, CAES personnel, and the chrysanthemum producers involved. Eastern Region PPQ believed that these data would be instructive and would help to prevent or reduce future CWR outbreaks in the US. The ST visited all locations of the CWR occurrence in both CT and MA, but was unable to conclusively determine the source of the infestations or offer any concrete remedies for future use.
Litchfield Grower (1,500 plants; burial)
Retail 1 Retail 2 Friend (205 plants; burial) (439 plants; burial) (550 plants; burial)
Grower CT Grower MA (8,500 plants; incineration) (unknown)
Supermarket Chain (105 plants; dumpster)
APIARY CERTIFICATION
Five hundred and ten beekeepers registered 3,583 colonies in 2008. Our bee inspector opened and inspected 1,446 colonies in areas known to have foulbrood disease. American foulbrood was found in 7 colonies. These colonies were destroyed. Eleven cases of chalkbrood were reported. Small hive beetles were reported in 4 counties and seem to be a seasonal problem. Three complaints of Africanized bees were determined to be nasty European bees.
County Colonies Opened & Small Hive Beetle Inspected Windham 311 New London 215 New Haven 499 + Hartford 243 + Middlesex 13 + Litchfield 69 Fairfield 87 + Tolland 9
Totals 1,446
Varroa mites were present in all colonies, treated or untreated. The severity of the infestations is on the rise due to resistance to Fluvalinate and Coumaphos. Beekeepers are being advised to monitor mite levels more carefully. Queen failure is becoming a problem. One thousand honeybees from 4 apiaries in Somers, Deep River, East Haddam and Farmington were examined in the laboratory for tracheal mites, Acarapis woodi. There were no positives for tracheal mites.
REPORT TO THE EASTERN PLANT BOARD Portland, ME
2008 Activity Summary
Contents Page Apiary Inspection 2 Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey 3 Farming for Native Bees 5 Gypsy Moth Suppression 6 Noxious Weed Control 7 Nursery Inspection and Certification 8 Plant Regulatory Programs 9 Seed Certification and Grain Inspection 10
Submitted by:
Faith B. Kuehn, Ph.D. Plant Industries Administrator Apiary Inspection
Annually, honey bees are responsible pollinating $20 million of Delaware fruit and vegetable crops. This dollar amount is estimated at the “Farm Gate” level. It is not extrapolated to a wholesale or retail level. During 2008, 167 registered beekeepers maintained 2383 colonies of honeybees.
Brood Inspections To protect this industry from costly diseases and parasites, the State Apiarist performed brood nest inspections on 1664 colonies of honey bees located in 147 apiary locations. These inspections detected 66 colonies infected with the fungal brood disease Chalkbrood (Ascophaera apis) 21 colonies infected with the viral disease Sacbrood, 62 colonies infected with the bacterial infection American Foulbrood (Paenibacillus larvae) and 3 colonies infected with the bacterial infection European Foulbrood (Melissoccus pluton).
Other Inspections Over the past five years, honey bee tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi) infestations have infected 100% of the colonies in the state. Varroa mite (Varroa jacobsoni) infestations remain at 100%. Small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) has been identified in apiary locations throughout the state.
Africanized Honey Bees Africanized honey bees (Apis meliffera scutellata) continue to threaten agriculture in the United States and Delaware. To facilitate early detection, a trap line has been established and maintained along the Delaware coast. Twenty two pheromone-baited artificial nesting cavities were deployed and monitored on a 14-21 day interval. Seven swarms were captured during the 2005 season. All were determined to be of European ancestry. An Africanized honey bee swarm has not yet been identified in the state of Delaware.
Education and Outreach The Apiary Inspection Unit maintains a working relationship with the statewide beekeepers association in order to more efficiently share technical information and provide training. Additionally, two apiaries are maintained at State Forest facilities providing observation colonies used for classroom demonstrations and promotional exhibits. The apiary is also part of the “classroom” for the annual beginner beekeeping course.
The Apiary Inspection Unit has partnered with the Sussex Technical School, helping the Environmental Science program incorporate an apiculture project. Additionally we are partnering with the Sussex Community Corrections Center with a beekeeping project to provide education opportunities for the staff and inmates at the facility as well as provide pollination for the vegetable production there. The State Apiarist also helped administer final lab exams to 32 apiology students at the University of Delaware.
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Research Component The Apiary Inspection Unit is actively involved with a regional research and extension effort, partnering with the Mid-Atlantic Research and Extension Consortium (MAAREC) The unit is currently collaborating on two separate research projects. Both projects have received multi-year Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant funding.
Table 1: Activities of the Apiary Inspection Unit 2004 – 2008 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Certification of Honeybee Colonies for Interstate Transport 329 478 869 1147 1370 Certification of Honeybee Queen and Package Suppliers 1 2 0 46 0 Honeybee Colonies Permitted for Entrance into Delaware 3557 3648 4219 2524 2302 Evaluations of Pesticide Damage to Honeybee Colonies 3 2 5 3 4
Stinging Insect Related Phone Calls 200+ 200+ 200++ 200++ 200++ Information Provided to Public on Beginning Beekeeping 36 22 36 42 Educational Presentations 9 14 17 8 6 Educational Displays & Exhibits Presented 3 2 5 6 4 Technical Workshops Presented 3 8 11 14 10 Basic Beekeeper Courses Presented 1 1 1 1 Information Provided at Beekeeping Industry Meetings 11 7 2 3 Successful Media Contacts 2 8 12 9
Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS)
The Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey program is an effort between the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA), University of Delaware and USDA-APHIS. Surveys are conducted for pests not known to occur in or recently introduced to Delaware.
Africanized Honey bee See survey description in Apiary section. Africanized honey bees, Apis meliffera scutellata , were not found by survey.
Soybean Pest Survey DDA conducted an extensive survey for Asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) in conjunction with University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and the Delaware Soybean Board. Seven sentinel plots in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties were surveyed from June through October. Fifty leaves were collected weekly from each site, incubated and examined with a microscope for soybean rust spores. Soybean rust was not found during survey.
We also surveyed for soybean pod borer (Maruca vitrata) and all 10 pests in the CAPS soybean commodity survey at 10 field sites. None of these target pests were detected.
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Red Imported Fire Ant Survey Surveyed 3 sites where Red imported fire ant ( Solenopsis invicta , RIFA) have been detected during previous years. Also inspected all palm trees brought into Delaware and nurseries that purchase plants from within the RIFA quarantine area.
All sites in Delaware showed no presence of RIFA. If RIFA is not found during 2009, Delaware’s previous infestations will be declared eradicated.
Sirex noctilio Woodwasp Survey Twenty traps were maintained throughout DE by DDA, USDA-PPQ, and DE Forest Service. Traps were hung from June 1-November 15. Sirex noctilio was not found in any trap samples.
Emerald Ash Borer Placed 40 purple EAB traps at 20 park and forest sites in high risk areas. EAB was not detected.
Exotic Cerambycidae / Scolytidae Warehouse Survey Trees surrounding 20 high and medium risk businesses were checked for insect damage. Four high priority business sites were monitored using Lindgren funnel traps containing general wood boring beetle lures. The traps ran from May – August and were serviced biweekly. The trap catches did not contain any National Exotic Woodborer / Bark Beetle Survey Plan targets.
Light Brown Apple Moth Placed 48 traps at 24 locations including nurseries, orchards, and plant retailers. LBAM was not detected.
Federal Noxious Weeds DDA surveyed all three counties for three federally listed noxious weeds – goatsrue ( Galega officinalis ), tropical soda apple ( Solanum viarum ), and giant hogweed ( Heracleum mantegazzianum ). No evidence of these three federal noxious weeds was found.
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Farming for Native Bees
“Farming for Native Bees” is a 4-year project (2007-2010) to survey native bees associated with cucurbit and organic crops in Delaware, and make recommendations for management practices that will enhance pollinator populations. The findings, however, will benefit all farmers producing pollinator-dependant crops. This project is funded in part by a grant from Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.
In January, a pollination workshop was put on during Delaware’s Agriculture Week. This workshop was designed to introduce some of the more common native bees found in Delaware, to assist growers in adapting native bee-friendly management practices and to encourage participation in native bee conservation planning. Over 115 individuals were in attendance.
The Delaware Dept. of Agriculture celebrated Pollinator Week, June 22-28, by hosting Open Garden Day. This event included a pollinator garden tour and dedication and lectures on “The ways of honey bees” by the Delaware Beekeepers Association and “Sunflowers” by Dr. Susan Yost of Delaware State University. There were displays on butterflies, bees, flowers, and mead. Laboratory tours of DDA’s Seed Inspection and Certification and DDA’s State Insect Survey Lab rounded out the afternoon.
In 2008, assessments began at seven grower locations. These assessments were time intensive and the final report included site overviews, native bee sampling results, native and invasive plant inventories, and specific crop and land use recommendations to encourage native bee populations.
During the 2008 field season, a total of 170 transects were sampled for bees at 29 farms and natural areas across Delaware. The number of native bee specimens collected totals nearly 3000. Species identifications are still being confirmed. To date a total of 90 species of bees have been identified. Included in this number are 14 state record bees, species that had not before been collected in Delaware.
During 2008, project team members gave a total of 10 presentations to state, regional and national audiences, and presented 10 displays. Delaware’s leading newspaper, the News Journal, published 2 articles on the project.
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Gypsy Moth Suppression
The survey and detection program continues for gypsy moth. A statewide aerial defoliation survey was conducted during late June and detected 791 acres with scattered light defoliation due to caterpillar feeding in a stand of loblolly pine, sweetgum, and red maple. Staff also conducted fall egg mass surveys from September 2008 to March 2009 on state-owned property, rural woodlots and residential developments. Surveys were conducted on privately-owned wooded properties only when requested by landowners. It has been eleven years since Delaware has experienced significant defoliation. Fall surveys detected egg masses at 2 locations this year in Delaware. The table below reflects the number of concerned wooded property owners requesting fall egg mass surveys by volunteering to act as coordinators for their areas. They have experienced varying percentages of defoliation in years’ past and do not wish to repeat those experiences.
Table 2: Fall 2008 Gypsy Moth Survey Results Areas Acres Forest Acr es Land Use Surveyed Surveyed Treated Coordinated Rural Woodlots 58 7,606 0 Coordinated Residential Developments 66 6,346 0 State Parks 14 2,790 0 State Wildlife Areas 19 8,620 0 State Forests 28 15,516 0 Other State Lands 0 0 0 TOTAL 185 40,878 0
Figure 1: History of the Delaware Gypsy Moth Program 1980-2008
70000
60000
50000 40000
30000 Acres 20000
10000
0 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Acres Defoliated Acres Treated
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Noxious Weeds
Delaware Noxious Weeds There are currently four weeds on Delaware’s noxious weed list. The weeds are: johnsongrass ( Sorghum halepense halepense ), Canada thistle ( Cirsium arvense ), burcucumber (Sicyos angulatus ), and giant ragweed ( Ambrosia trifida ). Delaware law requires that these weeds not be allowed to reach 24 inches in height or set seed. Compliance agreements are used to formulate a workable control program. The program’s success is directly proportional to the number of persons contacted: 95% of persons contacted adopt a weed control plan and 90% of requests for control assistance have been successful with the initial contact.
Other Weeds Mechanical and herbicide control was applied on selected sites containing kudzu ( Pueraria lobata ), Japanese knotweed ( Polygonum cuspidatum ), and mile-a-minute ( Polygonum perfoliatum ), bamboo, Phragmites sp., and other invasive species. We continue to implement an equipment loan program to assist the public in the control of noxious weeds.
Cooperative Efforts The Noxious Weed Supervisor is an active participants in the Northeastern Weed Science Society (NEWSS) and the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA). All Noxious Weed Control Specialists are licensed by the American Society of Agronomy as Certified Crop Advisors. They work closely with the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Service, Maryland Noxious Weed Unit, USDA, DE State University, and DE Dept of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
Table 3: Noxious Weed Control Program Activities 2004 - 2008 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Landowners Contacted 830 963 1,145 1385 1092 Compliance Agreements 207 83 67 70 64 Acres Under Compliance Agreements New Castle County 17,200 21,840 18,765 22084 19110 Kent County 36,000 45,700 57,250 48980 56825 Sussex County 40,550 50,300 45,080 39880 42312 Equipment Days 1,833 1,473 2,547 2514 2409 Right-of-ways Sprayed 1,061 1,745 2,823 2148 2407 Violation Letters 5 5 3 4 5 Court Cases 0 0 0 0 0 Bamboo Phone Calls 82 160 134 Noxious Weed Phone Calls 186 163 136 120 95 Other Weed Related Calls 255 261 138 182 122
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Compliance Agreements There has been a significant decrease in the number of compliance agreements and violations letters reported during the last four years, while the number of acres treated or covered has remained the same or increased slightly. In the past, the compliance form listed each farm separately but was recently modified to include all the land that each farmer tilled or all the land under each landowner’s control. This reduced the paperwork substantially while keeping the same amount of acreage under compliance agreements. Also, the increased use of Roundup Ready® soybeans and corn has reduced the number of violations. Finally, the conversion of farmland to housing and commercial development has reduced the number of infested acres under tillage.
Weed Related Calls Other weed related calls have increased dramatically in the past couple of years due to increased public awareness of invasive species and the desire to protect native plants. The noxious weed unit assists the public in identification and proper control procedures for invasive species. Upon request, a noxious weed specialist will visit the infested site and develop a control plan to eradicate the weeds while maintaining the desirable and/or native plants.
Nursery Inspection and Certification
Delaware's green industry is currently ranked as the state’s third largest agricultural commodity, with almost $30 million in gross receipts annually.
Licensing In 2008, 1,067 acres of production nursery stock were licensed and inspected. Field production acreage decreased by 100 acres this year. We issued 718 nursery industry licenses including 46 greenhouse operations, 2 plant brokers, 1 wholesale florist, 1 drop-shipper, and 3 mail-order businesses. A total of 74 new nursery industry licenses were issued, 2 to new growers, 4 to new greenhouse growers, and 68 to new retail businesses.
Table 4: Nursery Inspections 2001 – 2008 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Nursery Growers Inspected 69 25 151 132 122 120 124 140 Nursery Retail Inspections 365 301 420 275 145 103 301 72 Christmas Tree Inspections 107 89 99 124 122 93 149 102 Greenhouses Inspected 14 18 43 40 48 50 51 50
Decreased retail nursery inspections were the result of reduced inspection staff. A hiring freeze, implemented during the spring of 2008 prevented Plant Industries from hiring seasonal inspectors for the nursery program. It also prevented the section from replacing the retiring Entomology/Plant Pathology Supervisor. Given the staffing shortage, the Nursery
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Unit concentrated on maintaining with nursery licensing and certification requirements and inspecting growers that needed certificates of inspection for interstate sales.
Additional Inspections Delaware’s Nursery Program also conducted inspections for APHIS-PPQ, CAPS programs, including 102 pine shoot beetle inspections and 33 chrysanthemum white rust inspections.
Chrysanthemum white rust (Puccinia horiana) was detected at two retail locations this year. Store managers voluntarily isolated infected plant material and all host plants within one meter upon request until a control order was issued by the Plant Industries Administrator. Weekly inspections were conducted even after the removal of the host material. No additional chrysanthemum white rust was detected. Pine shoot beetle (Tomicus piniperda) quarantine violations: Six out-of-state nurseries shipped regulated material to Delaware from the PSB quarantine area without a Federal certificate or limited permit. A “Warning of Violation Notice” was sent to both the consignee and the consignor. State Plant Industries regulatory officials were also notified. Three greenhouse businesses were issued Japanese beetle screenhouse certificates.
Plant Regulatory Programs
The DDA Plant Industries Section, in cooperation with the USDA-APHIS-PPQ, seeks to control the establishment and spread of economically injurious plant pests and diseases. The intercontinental and interstate movement of infected plants and plant products is the major pathway for introduction of nonresident pest species. To regulate the movement of plants, DDA processed the permits in the table below.
Table 5: USDA Permits Processed 2004 - 2008 Permit Type and Description 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 USDA-APHIS-PPQ-525 1 Soil Permit USDA-APHIS-PPQ-526 79 77 81 63 89 Move Live Plant Pests USDA-APHIS-PPQ-546 1 0 0 0 0 Agreement - Post Entry Quarantine USDA-APHIS-PPQ-588 7 Plants for Experimental Purposes USDA-APHIS-PPQ-597 1 2 2 1 0 Import Permit - Plants & Plant products USDA-APHIS-BRS 40 22 34 18 13 Biotechnology Permit State Phytosanitary Certificate 1 1 0 1
State Issued Japanese Beetle Greenhouse Certificates 5 4 4 4 3
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Changes to Biotechnology Permitting in Delaware For several years, Plant Industries administration and staff have been questioning their roll in the USDA-APHIS-BRS biotechnology permitting process. Staff voiced concern about their ability to provide meaningful evaluation and input during the permit application review and that making these technical decisions without sufficient technical knowledge might expose them to legal liability. Plant Industries personnel met with the Deputy Attorney General and it was decided that they should continue to review these documents (to remain aware of instate biotechnology activities) but to neither “concur” nor “not concur” with the USDA- APHIS-BRS decision. This policy was instituted in the fall of 2006 and remains in effect until further notice.
Pine Shoot Beetle Twenty pine shoot beetle (Tomicus piniperda) traps were placed in Delaware pine stands between November 2007 and May 2008. Pine shoot beetle was not detected.
Seed Certification and Grain Inspection
The DDA Seed Lab is a member of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA). The lab is responsible for seed certification, grain inspection, and enforcement of the seed law. In 2008, the Seed Lab tested 15 soybean samples for Roundup Ready® tolerance.
Seed Certification Program The Delaware Seed Certification Program ensures the production of quality seed for planting. The program works to improve field crop varieties, increase the supply and speed the distribution of certified seed. The steps of the certification process are: field inspection and sampling of the mature seed crop, laboratory analysis of seed and proper labeling of certified seed tags.
Table 6: Certified Seed Program Activities 2004-2008 Activity 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Certified Seed Samples Tested 302 339 378 294 363 Certified Acres Inspected 11,059 9,043 8,448 7,501 9680 Certified Seed Tags Issued 187,700 189,691 153,447 171,254 174,482
Grain Inspection Program The DDA Grain Inspection Unit inspects and certifies every grain mill during the harvest season, and establishes and checks standard operating procedures. During 2008, inspectors made 341 granary inspections at 20 certified granaries. Grain Inspectors were trained according to USDA Grain Inspection Standards. Forty-four official grain samples were processed. The inspection unit also conducts quality tests and resolves grain analysis disputes between growers and the grain mill operator. Most of the grain harvested is used by the poultry industry.
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Table 7: Standards Established for the Grading of Grain in DE Wheat Corn Sorghum Barley Soybeans Damage √ √ √ Defects √ Dockage √ √ √ Foreign Material √ √ Garlicky √ √ Insect Infested √ √ √ √ √ Shrunken & Broken Kernels √ Test Weight √ √ √ √ √ Thins √ Moisture √ √ √ √ √ Other Standards √ √ √ √ √
Seed Law Enforcement Each year seed lab inspectors conduct sell-by-date inspections at retail and wholesale outlets offering seed for sale to the public. Additionally, seed is purchased from these outlets for germination testing. If the seed does not meet the standards, a stop-sale is issued and the seed is removed from the shelf. If the violation is corrected then the seed is allowed for sale. In 2008, seed lab personnel made 405 retail store inspections, tested 1225 official seed samples and 260 service seed samples, and issued six stop-sale orders.
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STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD & RURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY SETH H. BRADSTREET, III 28 STATE HOUSE STATION COMMISSIONER AUGUSTA, MAINE 04333‐0028 JOHN ELIAS BALDACCI ROBERT I. BATTEESE, JR. GOVERNOR DIRECTOR
MAINE REPORT TO THE EASTERN PLANT BOARD April 2009 – PORTLAND, MAINE
SUMMARY OF THE 2008 ACTIVITIES
Nursery and Phytosanitary Inspection - In 2008, 1158 inspections were made at nurseries, greenhouses and plant dealers. 746 lots of plant materials were inspected and certified for shipment using phytosanitary certificate forms. 259 federal certificates were for seed and other nursery / forest materials and 487 were for potatoes, feed barley and wheat.
CAPS Surveys - The Maine Department of Agriculture (MDA) participated in the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program, a cooperative effort between the USDA APHIS PPQ, state departments of agriculture and state universities throughout the U.S.A. The Maine CAPS Program consisted of the following in 2008: Exotic Woodborer and Bark Beetle Survey - The MDA and the Maine Forest Service (MFS) cooperated on a trapping survey for exotic woodborer and bark beetles around industrial sites and hot zones of imported goods. This was the fifth year Maine has conducted this survey. Following CAPS protocol, 60 traps were deployed at 20 sites in eight counties between late- March and mid-October. Over 12,000 specimens were identified by staff of MDA and MFS, which yielded seven new state records. None of the target specimens were found. Family Genus Species Author Location Nearest found known record Curculionidae Xyleborus seriatus Blandford 2 sawmills MA exotic Buprestidae Agrilus cyanescens (Ratzenburg) airport NH exotic Buprestidae Anthaxia fisheri Obenberger airport PA in plum Cerambycidae Encyclops caerulea (Say) bark CT, NY in hardwood processor Cerambycidae Strangalia luteicornis (Fabricius) bark NH processor Cerambycidae Leptura obliterata (LeConte) sawmill NH Cerambycidae Oberea ocellata Haldeman sawmill NY, PA sumac stem borer
Nursery Commodity Survey - Surveys were conducted by MDA for six exotic tree pests as part of the Nursery Commodity Survey. Eleven nurseries in nine counties were inspected between June 11 and August 27 for emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis), Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) (Anoplophora glabripennis), hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) (Adelges tsugae), light brown apple moth (LBAM) (Epiphyas postvittana), summer fruit tortrix moth (SFTM) (Adoxophyes orana ), and Asian gypsy moth (AGM) (Lymantria dispar Asian strain).
PHONE: (207) 287‐3891 FAX: (207) 287‐7548 Pheromone traps were used for LBAM, SFTM, and AGM, while EAB, ALB, and HWA were surveyed by visually inspecting host material. Additionally, MDA agreed to deploy purple prism traps in ash trees at the nurseries to enhance survey efforts for EAB. None of the target species were recovered, although two out of 228 GM samples analyzed, contained the Asian allele, which John Molongoski of the Otis Pest Survey Detection and Exclusion Lab in Buzzards Bay, MA says is typical of the North American population.
Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden Oak Death (SOD)) Confirmed Nursery Protocol - Due to a positive P. ramorum nursery find in 2006, the MDA surveyed the infected nursery according to the 2008 Confirmed Nursery Protocol. Twenty-one samples were collected and shipped overnight to the Pest Management Office where they were processed the next day. One Syringa sp. sample tested positive for Phytophthora, but DNA testing at Beltsville confirmed it was negative for P. ramorum. This satisfies Maine’s requirement to conduct any further surveys at this nursery.
National Globodera spp (PCN) Trace Forward and Field Survey - The MDA’s Seed Potato Certification Program was required to participate in the Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) National Survey. No seed potatoes could be shipped out of Maine unless they came from fields that had been sampled and tested for PCN (Globodera pallida) and Golden nematode (GN) (Globodera rostochiensis). In accordance with USDA APHIS PPQ’s 2008 Potato Cyst Nematode National Survey, MDA staff surveyed all seed potato fields in Aroostook County where seed was grown for export. Each acre was sampled according to protocol to collect a five-pound sample, resulting in 3674 samples. In addition, MDA staff conducted a trace forward survey on a 32- acre field that had been planted with seed potato grown in a Canadian field found to be positive for GN. Three five-pound soil samples were taken per acre. All soil samples were shipped to the USDA APHIS Nematode Laboratory in Avoca, NY, and no PCN or GN was found.
Light Brown Apple Moth Survey - The University of Maine Pest Management Office was granted USDA APHIS PPQ funds to survey for light brown apple moth (LBAM) (Epiphyas postvittana) in Maine apple orchards. Jackson traps with LBAM pheromone were hung two per site in 21 towns and ten counties from mid-June to late-August. Traps were checked every one to two weeks and screened in-house according to Passoa, S, et al. Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) Screening and Identification Aid. No suspect LBAM were found.
Apiary Inspection – In 2008, 463 Maine beekeepers registered 6,796 hives. These numbers reflect an increase in hobby beekeepers due to increased awareness and interest for beekeeping by the public due to the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) phenomena reported by the media.
During spring, a record 67,698 hives managed by 40 commercial migratory beekeeping operations based in 16 states entered Maine for blueberry and apple pollination. When Maine’s non-migratory sideline operations are included, approximately 69,298 hives were used to pollinate the blueberry crop in 2008. Hives were also used to pollinate canola, cranberry, small fruits, squash and buckwheat.
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In 2008, 14,346 hives were issued Maine health certificates for interstate movement to MA, RI, NY, FL, SD and GA for apple and cranberry pollination, honey production and wintering purposes. After blueberry pollination, the majority of migratory hives leave Maine and move to crop pollination (cucumber, cranberry) or to honey production regions in IN, KS, OH, MI, NJ, NY, ND, SD, VT and WI under AR, FL, NC, SC and TX certification.
Throughout the year 5,931 colonies were surveyed at random with 2,287 opened and inspected for disease, parasites and Africanization. American foulbrood (Paenibacillus larvae) was found in 20 (0.87%) of inspected hives, which is the lowest level of AFB detected in 25 years. European foulbrood (Melissococcus pluton) was found in 28 hives (1.22%) and Sacbrood virus was detected in 20 colonies (0.87 %). Chalkbrood disease (Ascosphaera apis) is widespread and many colonies were found with severe infections.
In 2008, a major focus of colony inspections concerned detection and verification of the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) syndrome. CCD was not identified in Maine during 2008 hive inspections, as was the case the previous two years. However, beekeeping operations know to be affected with CCD did pollinate blueberries in 2006 prior to collapse during the fall of 2006.
The spread of Varroa mites with resistance to pesticides and the mite associated viral complex (strains of acute paralysis, Kashmir Bee virus, sacbrood virus and wingless bee virus, etc.) has had a huge impact on the commercial beekeeper’s ability to maintain hive numbers. In 2008, 225 colonies were randomly surveyed for Varroa via the ether roll and alcohol wash techniques. 154 (68%) of these samples were found positive. Hundreds of additional hives were found positive with Varroa infestations via drone brood removal, examination of adult bees and use of bottom board traps. February through April 2008 inspections of wintered hives revealed 24.7% (56/226) had succumbed to Varroa and associated viral colony collapse, Nosema infection and associated dysentery. Starvation was also a common cause for winter mortality due to the non- existent honey flow during the fall of 2007.
Throughout the year, 189 hives were randomly sampled from 18 migratory beekeeping operations and from one highly defensive colony managed by a resident hobby beekeeper (190 hives total). The samples were tested for Africanization via the first step of the FABIS technique (Fast Africanized Bee Identification System). Test results from 9 colonies managed by five different commercial operations based in Florida, Arkansas, Texas and Maine-Florida had a probability of Africanization that ranged from p= .752 to p= .956. The defensive hobby hive had .923 probability for Africanization and was requeened. Africanized honey bee survey results for 2008 detected more suspect Africanized colonies than in 2007.
In 2008, 384 hives were sampled (33 bees/sample) from 28 beekeeping operations and microscopically examined for honey bee tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi) in order to determine if this parasite was a factor for CCD. 155 (40.36%) of the samples were positive for tracheal mite with infestation levels ranging from 3%-84%. Tracheal mite infestations were at damaging levels in several samples collected from 4 different beekeeping operations.
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Forest Insect and Disease Conditions (Courtesy of the Maine Forest Service, Insect and Disease Management Division, Maine Department of Conservation).
Balsam Gall Midge Paradiplosis tumifex - Galls formed by the larvae were visible on the foliage of fir trees this year and the population is on the rise. The midge adults are active in the spring; laying eggs on newly expanding needles. The larvae feed on the needles causing premature needle drop that can result in unmarketable trees for 2-4 years until the damage can be corrected with shearing. Tips are unusable for wreaths due to the needle loss as well. This is an insect to watch for in 2009 if you grow balsam or Fraser fir for Christmas trees or wreath tips.
Hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) – Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) was first detected in native hemlocks in Maine in 2003. It has been found scattered over approximately 15,000 acres in five towns in the southernmost tip of the state (Kittery, Wells, York, Eliot and South Berwick). Populations continue to thrive within the previously infested area. Two new spot infestations have been found outside the core infested area in the towns of Kennebunkport and Saco (at Ferry Beach State Park). Intensive delimiting surveys are underway and are planned for 2009. Known forest infestations are still all within York County.
The Maine Forest Service cooperated with the Bureau of Parks and Lands to implement a multifaceted management approach for the Ferry Beach State Park infestation. Physical controls, including branch pruning and tree removal were conducted in areas with high levels of human use including trails, picnic and parking areas and the access road. These efforts were both reactive (removal of infested material) and proactive (removal of material likely to come in contact with HWA). Chemical control was used at two targeted spots along the access road. In addition, 500 individuals of the biological control agent Laricobius nigrinus were released at an infested site in the park interior.
The Maine Forest Service cooperates with the Maine Department of Agriculture to eradicate HWA outside of the core infested area. Because of the proximity of a South Portland infestation to the northern edge of the known forest distribution of HWA, it was decided that chemical treatment for eradication would be offered as an option for control. At sites further removed from the infested area, this would not be an option. The landowner opted for chemical treatment, and a contractor applied a combination of an imidacloprid soil drench and horticultural oil hydraulic spray to the infested trees. Imidacloprid was chosen because its long-lasting control of HWA. Horticultural oil was used for quick population reduction because imidacloprid can take more than a year for full effects to be realized. The infested site and hemlocks within the neighborhood will be monitored for 5 years, or until HWA is found in South Portland forests, for signs of re-infestation.
Biological control establishment efforts continue in Maine. In 2008, 3000 Sasajiscymnus tsugae (St) and 1818 Laricobius nigrinus (Ln) beetles were released in York County: 3000 St and 1221 Ln beetles in York, 500 Ln in Saco and 100 Ln in Kittery. For the first time, a St adult was recovered from a previous release site in York. Additionally, St adults and larvae continue to be recovered at a release site on Gerrish Island in Kittery
Pine shoot beetle (Tomicus piniperda) – Pine shoot beetle and its hosts are under State and Federal quarantines in all Maine counties except Aroostook and Washington. The Maine Forest
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Service and USDA APHIS PPQ trap to monitor for the spread of pine shoot beetle in unregulated counties. Neither organization caught pine shoot beetle in Aroostook or Washington Counties in 2008.
To monitor the known population trends and spread, the Maine Forest Service re-trapped several sites that had yielded pine shoot beetle in previous years, as well as some sites in surrounding towns. Traps were hung in Carrabasset Valley, Eustis, Freeman, Rangeley, Adamstown and Byron on March 18, 2008. Thirty-one pine shoot beetles were trapped at three sites: six at Eustis, 21 at Rangeley, and five at Adamstown. All beetles were caught between April 9th and July 14th (the date traps were pulled). The peak catch, 13 beetles, was in the batches from Eustis and Rangeley with trap dates of April 9th to April 22nd. Visual surveys for damage were conducted in the last week of August at the three positive sites. No evidence of pine shoot beetle damage was found. Where it is established, populations of pine shoot beetle remain low and below damage thresholds.
Browntail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) – The browntail moth population in Maine retreated to a hold-out population at the tip of Merrymeeting Bay in Cumberland and Sagadahoc counties. There were 643 acres of heavy defoliation in Bath, Brunswick, Topsham and West Bath with a slightly wider area having enough larvae to cause discomfort for residents. It is surprising how quickly the population drops off outside the core infestation. Some ground spraying was undertaken by individuals with more planned for 2009. Other isolated locations in the mid-coast area had just a few trees with light feeding.
Winter web surveys are currently underway but preliminary checks indicate that populations in the outbreak area remain extremely high and webs are beginning to show up around Casco Bay in other locations. Portland, Yarmouth, Falmouth and Bowdoinham all have at least some browntail webs. This indicates that browntail moth maybe on the rise again.
Emerald Ash Borer Agrilus planipennis - Emerald ash borer (EAB) is a serious invasive pest of ash trees. This insect is native to Asia and attacks all species of ash in North America. Ash trees on this continent have no defenses against the emerald ash borer and trees die within a few years of attack by EAB. Emerald ash borer was first found in Michigan in 2002, and since then has spread rapidly throughout the Midwest, Atlantic states and Ontario and just south of Montreal, Quebec – less than 200 miles from the Maine Border! EAB has killed over 40 million trees in the last six years, and has the potential to destroy ash in North America in the same way that Dutch elm disease decimated the elm.
Over 75% of new infestations of EAB are caused by people moving infested firewood. People can help slow the spread of EAB and protect the forests they care about by leaving their firewood at home when they travel. The Maine Forest Service has an active “Leave Your Firewood At Home” campaign that is in its second year.
Maine is monitoring for EAB by using purple traps attractive to the adults. The Maine Forest Service also investigates reports of possible EAB infestations. In addition, we are piloting a ‘biosurveillance’ project, using a native wasp that hunts EAB, to monitor for its presence.
Purple prism trap survey
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In the summer of 2008, the MFS participated in a national trapping trial for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Traps were placed at sixteen sites (mainly parks and campgrounds) throughout the southern part of the state. Thirty-two large purple sticky prism traps were hung in the canopies of ash trees at a height of 30-90 feet. Two traps were hung at each site, one baited with phoebe oil, and the other with manuca oil. Traps were set between June 13 -30, were replaced between July 22-30, and were removed the first week of September.
No EAB were captured on any trap, and it appears that in Maine these traps are less successful at capturing buprestid beetles than they are in states further south.
Biosurveillance The Maine Forest Service also initiated a new project: biosurveillance for EAB. Biosurveillance is the use of a living organism to survey for a pest. Cerceris fumipennis is a native, non-stinging wasp which nests in the ground and hunts buprestid beetles, including EAB when present. It is much more efficient at finding EAB than humans are, and has the potential to find a new infestation earlier.
Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) – No defoliation of hardwoods resulting from gypsy moth larval feeding was recorded in 2008. Due to staff cuts between leaf off and snowfall the full set of egg mass survey plots were not completed in the fall of 2008. Approximately half of the plots in the southern third of the state were completed; all plots in northern and eastern Maine were done. Results from completed plots indicate continued endemic levels of the gypsy moth.
Two hundred eighty-two (282) pheromone traps were set in towns adjacent to the gypsy moth quarantine zone. Traps captured approximately 3500 male moths. Seventy-two (72) percent of the traps in the transition zone had fewer than 20 male moths. At sites that were trapped before, with the exception of a few towns, catches were down compared to the previous year. Egg mass scouting was conducted in towns with high male moth catches. Egg masses were found in the towns of T6 R10 WELS in Piscataquis County and Mount Chase in Penobscot County.
European Larch Canker (caused by Lachnellula willkommii) – In 2007, larch canker in Maine was found outside the current State and Federal quarantine boundaries, which have been in place since 1982. The new location for larch canker is the town of Brunswick (Cumberland County). An intensive survey of approximately 700 acres surrounding the newly found infestation was conducted, with 222 larch trees located. Maine Forest Service personnel, with the assistance of personnel from the USDA Forest Service, Durham, N.H., completed individual tree inspections of the larch found. Thirty-two of the 222 larch were found to be infected with the larch canker pathogen. Of these, twenty-six were destroyed on-site this winter. An additional six trees, each with a single branch canker, will be intensively pruned to remove the infection, and monitored in future years. No stem cankers were found. All the infected trees are located on the fairways of a golf course, and all are European larch or European larch hybrids. It is hypothesized that the pathogen may have been introduced on ornamental nursery stock, rather than being spread from existing infested areas.
Pine Tip Blight Diplodia pinea (Sphaeropsis pinea) - The disease continues to cause significant damage throughout Maine. The continued wet spring and summer seasons during the past
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several years have allowed the development of high inoculum levels, especially in plantations and roadside plantings. Pine tip blight has been a long-standing problem in southern and coastal areas of the state. Recently however, the disease has become much more noticeable, and appears to be causing accelerated damage to pine plantings in the northern and central regions, as well. Significant damage is now commonly seen in northern Piscataquis County, northern Penobscot County, and in Aroostook County, areas where the disease historically has not been a particular concern.
Sudden Oak Death (caused by Phytophthora ramorum) – Based on surveys of four watersheds in 2007 (Gardiner, Brunswick, Wells, and Fryeburg), and three watersheds in 2008 (Clinton, West Paris, and Standish) Phytophthora ramorum has not yet been found in natural forest areas in Maine. The survey of 2008 has included six sample periods, one each in April, May, June, and September, and two in October. All sampling was negative for pathogen presence.
Formal surveys for this pathogen will not likely be continued in Maine in 2009, as there has been no evidence, either from nursery inspections or from forest monitoring, that the disease has been introduced or established here during the past three years. However, there will always be the some risk of introduction of the pathogen, as occurred in 2006, and this requires a constant awareness of the threat and a reasonable vigilance.
White Grubs (Scarabidae) - This year lawns across Maine were ravaged by an onslaught of white grubs. White grubs are the immature stage of scarab beetles including native June beetles and rose chafers and exotic Japanese beetles, oriental beetles, Asiatic garden beetles and European chafers. There are many more scarabs that live in Maine but this list covers those that are found in large numbers destroying the root systems of lawns. Depending on where and when the problem was checked, the culprits were Japanese beetles, oriental beetles and/or European chafers. In many locations all three were present and fed on the roots of the grass in succession. They also will feed on crop and woody ornamental roots. Biological and chemical controls are available for these insects if applied at the correct time of year.
Pesticide Use and Applicator Licensing - The Board of Pesticides Control (BPC) licenses applicators (Private and Commercial) and dealers (limited/restricted and general use products). As of March 2009, there are 1117 active private licensees, 1509 active commercial licensees, 220 spray contracting firm (business) licenses, 63 limited/restricted use dealers, and 830 general use dealers. During 2008, the Board adopted changes to its drift and notification regulations which must be approved by the Legislature before becoming law. They also adopted revisions to their Best management Practices for Turf Pesticide and Fertilizer application http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pesticides/turf_bmps/index.htm
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MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Plant Protection and Weed Management Section REPORT TO THE EASTERN PLANT BOARD - 2008 ACTIVITIES
Table of Contents
2008 HIGHLIGHTS ...... 1 APIARY INSPECTION...... 1 NURSERY INSPECTION AND PLANT QUARANTINE...... 2 PEST SURVEY...... 3 DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES ...... 4 PLANT CERTIFICATION ...... 5 INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT & BIOLOGICAL CONTROL...... 6 OTHER SECTION ACTIVITIES ...... 9 Table 1. Summary of 2008 Activity ...... 10
2008 HIGHLIGHTS
• Sirex woodwasp survey - The Sirex woodwasp (Sirex noctilio), is an exotic pest of pine trees that was first detected in New York in 2004 and is currently known to occur in limited areas of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Vermont. Concern has been raised because this native of Europe, Asia and northern Africa has the potential to cause significant mortality of pines, including loblolly. This insect has a novel life cycle that includes inserting a fungus along with its egg into a healthy tree so that the young can feed on the wood fiber digested by the fungus. The fungus quickly kills the tree. Plant Protection and Weed Management staff surveyed Maryland’s eight northern tier counties bordering Pennsylvania and 16 other high risk locations. Each of the counties had 10 traps which were serviced from June into October. No target species were collected.
• Interdiction of interstate plant and animal commerce - In May 2008, a multi-agency exercise was conducted to test capabilities to detect and intercept animal and plant pests accompanying interstate agricultural commerce. Plans called for the use of the Incident Command System as the model for the field response. Active participants included MDA, USDA, the Maryland State Police, the Maryland Department of the Environment, and the Office of the Comptroller. Working under the authority of the State Police, commercial vehicles traveling northbound on Route 301 in Queen Anne’s County were detained and the contents of the vehicle determined. Any vehicle that contained plants, plant products, or livestock was segregated and an agricultural inspection team determined compliance with quarantines. Vehicles in compliance were allowed to proceed, while those with violations of plant and animal quarantines were detained and cited. An after-action report cited many strengths of the event including proper inspection techniques and protocols, a satisfactory knowledge of the applicable quarantines and regulations, proper use of the WebEOC network, and a multi-agency approach to driver interviews and commodity inspections. Areas for improvement included lack of suitable communication equipment and prolonged inspections due to inability to visually inspect portions of tightly packed commodities.
APIARY INSPECTION The primary purpose of this program is to control honey bee diseases, mites, and pests in order to maintain healthy bees for the essential pollination of more than $40 million of Maryland crops. Maryland growers of fruit and vegetable crops annually rent approximately 5,000 colonies to improve pollination. Beekeepers’ colonies are essential to Maryland because two parasitic mites have nearly eliminated feral colonies. American foul brood disease is the most serious brood disease of honey bees and can destroy a colony in one year. The 45 colonies that inspectors found to have American foul brood were destroyed to control the spread of this bacterial disease to healthy colonies. The incidence of disease remains relatively low - less than two percent of colonies inspected. Varroa and tracheal mite populations were very low in Maryland in 2008, but brood problems were attributed to Varroa mite in the season. The Varroa mite often has been found to be resistant to Apistan8, the primary product used to control this parasite. Four additional products are now available to control Varroa. Africanized honey bees arrive occasionally on cargo ships coming from South or Central America. Swarm traps for collecting and monitoring bees were placed at 35 sites at marine terminals and other shipping locations. Only two swarms were collected in 2008 and were determined to be local bees, not Africanized. MDA is working with two groups – the Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium (MAAREC) to provide information to the general public about emergency incidents and the Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA) for information on the control of movement, other than through natural spread. The small hive beetle was detected in packaged bees and reported or detected in 19 counties this past year. Each apiary was treated and monitored to ensure successful control of the beetles. There have been no reports of larvae or damage to established colonies. The small hive beetle is a pest mainly in stored equipment and in honey houses, although it can render stored honey in the hive unmarketable. Permits were issued for 3,975 honey bee colonies to move out of Maryland and 550 colonies to move into Maryland for pollination services. For the third year, Maryland beekeepers sent colonies to California for almond pollination. In December, 2,432 colonies were transported to California for this purpose, to return to Maryland in March of 2009.
NURSERY INSPECTION AND PLANT QUARANTINE The nursery and greenhouse industry continues to be a leading part of Maryland’s agricultural economy, currently ranking second among commodities with a total of approximately $360 million in farm income. Other horticultural products and services sold boosted the total gross receipts to nearly $1.04 billion. A primary goal of state plant protection and quarantine efforts is to facilitate the production, sale, and distribution of Maryland nursery stock. This is accomplished in large part by inspection and certification activities conducted on-site by MDA staff. Maryland law and reciprocal agreements with other states require that plant material at each producing nursery be inspected annually for freedom from dangerously injurious plant pests prior to its subsequent sale to other states. State phytosanitary certificates that assure specific compliance with established domestic quarantines were issued to 12 states. Federal phytosanitary certificates required to export Maryland nursery stock were issued to 12 foreign countries including Australia, Morocco, and Taiwan. A total of 58 federal and 190 state certificates were issued in 2008. Although this reflects a 25 per cent reduction in total certificates issued from certificates issued in 2007, MDA staff continued to pursue further cooperative agreement opportunities and followed revised protocols that have streamlined and improved the preparation of Maryland nursery stock for sale and distribution to both foreign and domestic markets. Maryland Department of Agriculture staff inspected plant material at 604 Maryland locations to intercept dangerously injurious or exotic pests. The general health of Maryland-produced nursery stock was found to be excellent.
2 of 10 PEST SURVEY Current information on pest distribution and abundance is needed for regulatory actions by the Department and for pest control actions by Maryland farmers. Maryland Department of Agriculture Plant Protection & Weed Management Section’s pest survey program fulfills this mission. The Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) is a joint project between MDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ). USDA recommends pests of quarantine export significance as survey priorities and provides funding for these surveys. MDA adapts the appropriate survey methods and conducts the actual survey. This cooperative program has provided necessary data used to certify Maryland products for export to many countries. CAPS surveys document the presence or absence of exotic pests in Maryland, support PPQ exotic pest survey activities, and provide state-specific data for exotic pests in the United States. If any of these species were to become established, it would pose a significant threat to our agricultural production and have a significant impact on Maryland's ability to export agricultural commodities. Early detection of exotic pests before they become established will aid in any eradication or control efforts undertaken and protect Maryland agriculture and the environment from potentially devastating losses. A total of 3,663 insect traps was deployed and monitored in 2008. Through the various types of surveys conducted, 11,099 samples were collected and more than 13,668 insects identified. Trapping techniques involved a wide range of devices including blacklight and pheromone traps. Visual surveys accounted for new detections of giant hogweed in past years although no new sites were detected in 2008. The blacklight and pheromone traps were instrumental in alerting growers on the Eastern Shore of potential outbreaks of black cutworm. The black cutworm can cause severe losses to corn and vegetable crops. The surveys target pests that are both exotic and endemic to Maryland. Sixteen extensive surveys for exotic wood borers, stored product pests, and field, fruit and vegetable crop pests including diseases such as soybean rust were conducted. The majority of the pests targeted were either not present or did not reach significant levels of concern. A few pests, such as the emerald ash borer and imported fire ant, caused responses. It is interesting to note that the euonymus leaf notcher, an exotic moth that can completely strip a euonymus bush of its leaves, has expanded its known range around Glen Burnie to the vicinity of Annapolis/Hillsmere.
The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, a South American stinging insect, is occasionally shipped out of the southern United States, in spite of a federal domestic quarantine that prohibits movement of a variety of commodities unless treated and/or certified free of fire ants. The insect's ability to quickly colonize in a variety of habitats, and its aggressive foraging behavior, pose additional dangers if established in Maryland. Thirty-two isolated infestations have been eradicated in the State since 1989. New imported fire ant detections in Maryland were down from three in 2007 to two in 2008. The reduction is largely due to MDA’s efforts in the spring to inspect trucks transporting tropical foliage plants from the quarantined areas in the southern United States and to work closely with officials in those states. Four positive sites of the 94 surveyed in 2008 were associated with areas under eradication and were likely not new infestations.
The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), is an exotic, devastating pest of ash trees was first detected in the Detroit, Michigan/Windsor, Ontario area in 2002. Because of the emerald ash borer, more than 20 million ash trees have died in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. In 2003, a Michigan nurseryman shipped infested trees, in violation of a quarantine in that state, to a Prince George’s County, Maryland nursery. Eradication activities continued in 2008. Because of an emerald ash borer detection in Charles County in August of 2008, the Maryland Secretary of Agriculture issued a revised Quarantine Order (#08-01) that prohibits anyone from moving ash trees, wood, or any hardwood firewood out of Prince George’s or Charles counties until further notice. The MDA, with federal 3 of 10 funding support and in cooperation with federal, state, and local government partners, has undertaken a massive eradication effort continuing into 2008. In the winter of 2007/2008 nearly 12,000 ash trees were removed from the approximately 16,000 acre project area. For more information on the Maryland Emerald Ash Borer Project, please visit www.mda.state.md.us/go/eab/
See the Plant Protection and Weed Management Highlights earlier in this section for information about the Sirex woodwasp survey.
DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES The Plant Protection and Weed Management diagnostic laboratories provide testing and analyses that support departmental programs and provide answers to inquiries from outside the department and from the general public. During 2008, samples submitted to the laboratory were received from Section survey and inspection programs, other MDA sections, University of Maryland Cooperative Extension, nursery and landscape businesses, and the general public.
Entomology Laboratory In 2008, some unusual samples were submitted for identification. An imported, three or four- year old bottle of balsamic vinegar grew a large lump of “mother-of-vinegar,” with the consistency and appearance of a chicken liver. A few people were stung by, or saw, puss caterpillars (Megalopyge opercularis). Television and newspaper accounts erroneously reported these insects as a new invasive from the south. It is a Maryland native which was judged the most toxic caterpillar in the United States. Other specimens of note included foliar nematodes in hosta leaves, tropical rat mites on two hamsters, and a pyramid of horse fly eggs deposited on a leaf. A beautiful caterpillar killer beetle (Calosoma sycophanta) was collected in Prince George’s County. This species was briefly studied in Maryland as a bio-control agent for gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar). Also in Prince George’s County, specimens of a striking metallic blue and red stink bug (Euthyrhynchus floridanus) were collected on an apple tree. This predatory bug is not common here because Maryland is the northern edge of its range. Several cicada killer (Sphecius spheciosus) and brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) invasions were reported this year and the number of bedbug (Cimex spp) submittals continued to increase, with seven in 2008.
Plant Pathology Laboratory The mission of the Plant Pathology Laboratory at the Maryland Department of Agriculture is to evaluate plant samples for plant pathogens and diseases. General activities include: evaluating plant samples in support of the Nursery Inspection Program to ensure that all plant material in Maryland intended for distribution or sale is disease free; diagnosing plant diseases submitted by other sections of MDA, other Maryland agencies, home gardeners, homeowners, consultants, and industry representatives; providing technical and diagnostic support for virus-free certification programs; supporting the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Program through laboratory assays for specific diseases; and supporting USDA APHIS and MDA regulatory functions through diagnostic assays for pathogens of regulatory importance. The Plant Pathology Laboratory was impacted in 2008 by the departure of our Plant Pathologist in March. Surveys continued and the Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic was run by the Plant Pathology Laboratory Technician until her departure in September of 2008. Interviews were conducted and we hope to have a new pathologist on staff soon. A survey in the watersheds of Maryland to look for Phytophthora ramorum, which began in 2006, continued into 2008. The pathogen, P. ramorum, is a fungus-like microorganism which can affect economically important nursery plants (Camellia, Pieris, Rhododendron, Viburnum). The 4 of 10 survey used rhododendron leaf baits that were floated in streams for two weeks in each month from June through August at five sites in Frederick, Harford, and Montgomery counties. In addition to culture analysis conducted at the MDA plant pathology lab, samples were tested independently at Mississippi State University by real-time PCR. No samples tested positive for Phytophthora ramorum during the 2008 watershed survey.
Soybean rust, caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, remains a threat to Maryland soybeans as it has the potential to severely limit soybean production. Soybean rust over-winters on kudzu and other legume hosts in the southern states and has the potential to move north every year, depending on weather conditions. MDA established two sentinel soybean plots in St. Mary’s County in Southern Maryland in 2007 and 2008, in addition to those established by the University of Maryland. These plots were sampled for both healthy and diseased tissue and all samples were negative for P. pachyrhizi. Late in the growing season, Maryland’s first positive detection of soybean rust was made in a soybean sentinel plot in Wicomico County by the University of Delaware. Because of the lateness of the detection there was no impact on the soybean crop in 2008. The survey will continue in 2009. The MDA Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic was established primarily to assist MDA nursery inspection staff with routine diagnostics of plant diseases. The clinic received 187 samples during the 2008 growing season. Samples were submitted by MDA nursery inspectors and pesticide investigators, Maryland nurseries, landscapers, IPM scouts, private consultants, and homeowners. Samples received this year included common cankers, leaf spots, root rots, and several virus samples. Samples that tested positive for Phytophthora by ELISA tests were then cultured and screened for Phytophthora ramorum. Only typical Phytophthora species (not ramorim) were found associated with dying plants in Maryland in 2008.
Greenhouse Laboratory Plants were produced for integrated pest management and biological control programs that require food for insect colonies and plant material for research. A collection of herbaceous perennials used for teaching and testing purposes by the Certified Professional Horticulturist Program, in conjunction with the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association, was increased.
PLANT CERTIFICATION The Maryland Ginseng Management Program protects American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, from over-harvest by monitoring the harvest and by licensing diggers and dealers of wild, wild-simulated, woods-grown and cultivated ginseng. MDA conducts a management program in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USF&WS) that follows established protocols to insure the continued viability of a potentially threatened native resource and to protect it from over- harvest. Harvested ginseng is certified through the program to enable licensed dealers to sell this wild- harvested plant product in international markets. MDA also works with growers of wild-simulated and woods-grown ginseng to allow them to market and export their highly valued crops. The dried roots are highly prized, especially in China and Korea, for properties that putatively promote good health. In 2007-2008 the program licensed 10 Ginseng Dealers and 230 Ginseng Collectors in the State. During the 2007-2008 harvest and sales season, the certification program inspected, collected size and age data from, and weighed 148.12 pounds of dry wild and wild-simulated ginseng root; 750 pounds of artificially propagated dry ginseng root and 10 pounds of wild-simulated stratified ginseng seed. Data were gathered and reports submitted in accordance with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requirements. The amount of ginseng cultivated including woods-grown and wild-simulated designations in Maryland, and certified by the department, continues to remain high relative to the amount of wild 5 of 10 ginseng harvested and certified in the state. This reflects both continuing interest in ginseng as an alternative crop, and the ability of Maryland growers to produce high quality ginseng. If this trend continues, harvest pressure on wild ginseng may be reduced, in turn, allowing wild ginseng populations to rebound.
The MDA continues to participate in the virus-free rose certification program with Angelica Nursery. MDA maintained and certified stock plants of two varieties of roses in 2008. One variety was propagated by tissue culture, producing a total of 300 plants. Laboratory and greenhouse personnel participated in a visual inspection of all rose plants at the nursery both in the spring and the fall, and submitted nine leaf samples of stock plants to Agdia for testing in their rose screen for viruses. Visual surveys are conducted twice a year, and testing occurs once each year.
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT & BIOLOGICAL CONTROL Cooperative efforts continued among MDA, the University of Maryland, growers, and the Northeast Integrated Pest Management Center (NEIPMC). MDA represents Maryland state regulators at the NEIPMC through a seat on the Advisory Council. In 2008, the section participated in a Plant Protection Guest Lecture Series at the University of Maryland, in ongoing cooperation with the Maryland Plant Protection Center. This effort is a collaboration between USDA and the University of Maryland that aims to establish a leading academic research and extension program in the mid-Atlantic region.
Weed Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plant Protection and Weed Management Section entomologists and staff continued to conduct an IPM program to provide biological control of certain thistle species. The program has helped significantly to control musk thistle along highway areas that are inaccessible to mowing and/or spraying equipment. MDA provided technical assistance with noxious weed problems on public land to various federal, county and state agencies, including the University of Maryland, the Department of Natural Resources, correctional institutions, county road departments, State Highway Administration and the U.S. Department of the Interior. Weed IPM research activities were conducted at field plots at the MDA facility in Cheltenham and along State Highway Administration rights of ways during each of the past eight years. These plots continued to be used for evaluation and to conduct weed suppression trials. Additionally, plots long established at Western Maryland Research and Education Center (WMREC) in Keedysville were supplemented in 2008 with newly planted research plots. Integrated Pest Management investigations continued to be targeted at suppression of Cirsium and Carduus thistles. Research is focused on the evaluation of organisms for potential biocontrol, testing herbicide formulation efficacy, and evaluating the use of competitive vegetation (including native grasses and forbs) in an effort to provide environmentally-sound and cost-effective methods for suppression of noxious thistle species in Maryland. Presentations regarding the progress of ongoing biocontrol and weed management programs were made to State Highway Administration managers, staff and guests from other state agencies at an SHA sponsored Vegetation Management Conference by the staff entomologist coordinating the program and by Weed Management Program staff. The staff entomologist and MDA Plant Protection Section Program Manager also met with SHA Landscape Operations Division staff and administrators to review program accomplishments and progress, and to coordinate and develop a work plan for the next few years.
A survey for the presence and effects of rose rosette disease was continued in 2008. Rose rosette disease is a pathogenic malady of the multiflora rose, Rosa multiflora, a problem weed in 6 of 10 pastures, woodlands, and rights of ways in Maryland and many other states. The disease, which has become established in North America and is spread by natural means, reduces populations of this invasive rose species. Since the disease was first detected in Maryland in the 1990s , results of surveys conducted by MDA Plant Protection and Weed Management staff indicate that the disease is continuing to spread over a wide portion of Central and Northern Maryland, and has become locally established in Southern Maryland and on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. In 2002, a field experiment to test the relative susceptibility of various rose cultivars and native rose species to rose rosette disease was designed and implemented at the MDA facility in Cheltenham. Experimental results continued to be recorded and accessed in 2008. This experiment is intended to provide valuable information needed to assess the effects of the disease on rose species other than R. multiflora including native species and cultivars important to the landscape and nursery trade in Maryland.
This was another active year for releases of biological control agents, the leaf-feeding beetles Gallerucella calmariensis and G. pusilla, on populations of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). During the summer of 2008, more than 2,500 adult beetles were released at several locations on the Patuxent River near Jug Bay and adjacent to the Merkle Wildlife Management Area. An additional 2,500 beetles were released along the Anacostia River between Bladensburg, Md and the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. The first MDA-reared beetle adults and larvae were also released in 2008. Adult beetles were released in central Howard County and adult beetles and larvae were released in southern Charles County near Port Tobacco. Partners with the Maryland Department of Agriculture in these efforts are the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks. Funding for the project was, in part, derived from funds dedicated by the Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration. MDA was the primary coordinating agency. The rearing program move from Cheltenham to our main headquarters in Annapolis has proven to be successful as well as efficient. MDA staff reared beetles at the MDA greenhouse and rearing laboratories in Annapolis throughout the 2007 season and in 2008 were successful for the first time at bringing the adult beetles out of overwintering diapause and increasing beetle numbers significantly over the course of the spring and summer. MDA staff is making preparations to increase production even further in 2009. In addition to the releases and the rearing project described above, locations where beetles were previously released in Prince George=s and Howard counties were surveyed for the biocontrol agent; beetle activity was again detected. An average of 30,000 beetles per year had been released over several years through 2003 to establish populations of the leaf feeding beetles in field insectaries, to support field collections for biological control efforts, and to allow for redistribution in the future. Sites in Howard and Prince George’s counties where beetles were released in past years were evaluated for levels of plant control and were surveyed for establishment of the beetles. No detectable level of control of purple loosestrife has been noted, but for the fourth consecutive year, high numbers of beetles were observed at the Howard County site, indicating that established populations are reproducing at that location. Slow increase of beetle populations is not uncommon, and significant reduction of purple loosestrife populations has taken five to seven years or longer in some other states. Additional releases of adult and larval beetles are planned for 2009.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks (HCR&P), released an additional 1,150 mile-a-minute weevil adults (Rhinoncomimus latipes Korotyaev) in 2008. The releases were performed at two sites in central Howard County including one of the original locations where 500 mile-a-minute weevil adults were released in 2007. The weevil is a beetle that feeds exclusively on an invasive vine from Asia known as 7 of 10 the mile-a-minute weed (Persicaria perfoliata). The beetles were released in test plots located on county property near Meadowbrook Park in Columbia. The release is part of cooperative research with the University of Delaware Department of Entomology and Wildlife Biology in a mile-a-minute biological control study. Weevils overwintered successfully at the field release sites and were active in the spring of 2008. As part of an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, the Plant Protection Section Weed Biocontrol Program began a greenhouse and laboratory mile-a-minute weevil rearing program in 2008. Preliminary rearing program and field results show great promise for use of the weevil as a host- specific control against mile-a-minute weed.
Noxious Weed Management This program supports the control and eradication of designated noxious weeds in order to reduce their economic and aesthetic impact on farmers and landowners. Noxious weeds (Johnsongrass, shattercane, thistles, and multiflora rose) cause losses in excess of $25 million annually to Maryland agriculture due to reduced quality and yields of crops and forages, increased control costs, and increased roadside and development property management cost. The Maryland General Assembly enacted the first Nuisance Weed Law on Johnsongrass in 1969. In 1987, the Nuisance Weed Law was rewritten and renamed the Noxious Weed Law (Title 9, Subtitle 4, Agriculture Article, Annotated Code of Maryland). The Noxious Weed Law requires that a landowner, or a person who possesses and manages land, eradicate or control the noxious weeds on that land by using practices prescribed by the department, including mowing, cultivating, or treating with an approved herbicide. The law prohibits the importation and transportation of these weeds in the State and prohibits the presence of viable noxious weed seed and rhizomes in seed, topsoil, mulch, nursery stock, on farm machinery, or any other article. The Noxious Weed Law also provides that the Department of Agriculture may enter into an agreement with a county or political subdivision to provide technical and financial assistance for initiating weed management and eradication programs. A weed control advisory committee has been established in each of the 20 participating counties, with representatives from farming organizations, governmental agencies, and local farmers. Each committee provides advice or input into planning the noxious weed control program in that county. A county weed control coordinator, usually employed on a part-time basis, determines the degree of noxious weed infestations within the county, locates uncontrolled infestations, provides information on currently recommended control practices, and initiates agreements with landowners to implement a control program. In many counties, the local weed control coordinator also performs spot- spraying on roadsides, in cooperation with the Maryland State Highway Administration, to help eliminate Johnsongrass or thistles and to control noxious weeds on private or public lands for a fee. In counties with no weed control coordinator, section employees handle these duties. This program was highly successful in most areas of the State during 2008. The weed control program provided an average of $4,400 per county in grant assistance to 20 counties. The grants were leveraged with similar amounts of money from the counties and the counties generated in excess of $900,000 from spraying services provided by the county programs. The county programs are supervised by the state personnel as specified by contract. Under the direction of Plant Protection and Weed Management Section entomologists, staff assisted in an integrated pest management (IPM) program to provide biological control of certain thistle species. Noxious weed advisory notices were mailed to 193 managers of property infested with a noxious weed. Generally these notices were effective in obtaining compliance. When necessary, MDA sent follow-up correspondence resulting in compliance. The weed control program responds to citizens' requests for technical assistance in controlling invasive, difficult to control, persistent weeds, such as phragmites, kudzu, mile-a-minute, tree of heaven (Ailanthus), Japanese stilt grass, purple loosestrife, Japanese bamboo, (falopia japonica), as well as invasive bamboo (Bambuseae). 8 of 10 Giant hogweed is a federal noxious weed that was first detected in the State of Maryland in 2003. Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) was originally detected at 29 sites in Baltimore and Harford Counties. In 2005, eight additional sites in Garrett County were added to this list as was one additional site in 2007. No new sites were found in 2008. A multi-state eradication effort is underway, all previous sites and all newly verified sites were brought into this program. Plans have been made for continuing this effort in 2009. The Weed Control staff partnered with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for the tenth year in providing a Phragmites Management Program. Upon request from landowners or managers, the Weed Control Program staff supplied technical and spraying assistance for control. The DNR provided 100 percent of the cost of the herbicide (Aquaneet) applied in the nine counties of the Eastern Shore for phragmites. Total spray revenue for phragmites control was in excess of $58,000 for treating approximately 300 acres in 260 locations in 16 counties. In all counties, the noxious weed control program's spraying service was offered to landowners participating in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) or Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Due to the likelihood of weed problems occurring on land in these programs, spraying services were offered for noxious weed control.
OTHER SECTION ACTIVITIES During 2008, MDA continued to take a leadership role in the Maryland Invasive Species Council (MISC), a forum for information exchange and consensus building among diverse interests in public and private agencies or organizations concerned with invasive species. Several Plant Protection and Weed Management staff members were directly involved with MISC and were able to assist other members or individuals with technical information on control of invasive plant species or with actual spraying as well as partner with other agencies on grants to control invasive species. Through MISC, the MDA has been able to disseminate information on many of the serious pests cited in this report. The MISC Web site is www.mdinvasivesp.org.
9 of 10 Table 1. Plant Protection and Weed Management Summary of 2008 Activity
2006 2007 2008
Beekeepers Registered 1,059 1,331 1,152
Apiaries Registered 1,379 1,460 1,152
Apiaries Visited 734 620 725
Apiaries Inspected 572 509 593
Apiaries with Disease 32 29 25
Bee Colonies Registered 7,274 8,212 9,379
Bee Colonies Inspected 4,215 4,603 4,725
Bee Colonies with Disease (American Foul Brood) 50 45 34
Laboratory Diagnoses of Bee Diseases and Pests 82 98 21
Colonies Certified for Movement Out of State 5,140 3,860 3,975
Colonies Moved into Maryland Under Permit 378 452 550
Bee Colonies Certified During Inspection 4,215 4,603 4,725
Field Diagnoses for Varroa Mite 64 92 70
Ginseng Dealers Registered 9 10 9
Ginseng Collectors Licensed 210 230 230
Plant Inspections Conducted 1,263 920 602
Nurseries Certified 374 400 369
Nursery Acreage Certified 10,503 9,540 9,360
Plant Dealers Licensed 664 642 644
Plant Dealer Retail Outlets Licensed 734 739 838
Greenhouse Plants Inspected (1,000 sq. ft.) 7,853 7,978 7,978
Plant Brokers Licensed 14 13 16
Post-entry Quarantine Inspections 39 11 5
Phytosanitary Certificates Issued 510 328 301
Condemnation-Seizure Notices Issued 24 13 9
Plants Condemned 624 1,149 617
Imported Fire Ant Positive Sites 12 3 6
Imported Fire Ant Traps Placed 3,056 1,395 1,593
Imported Fire Ant Traps With Some Species of Ants 927 409 712
Special Insect Traps Monitored 3,934 2,027 3,663
Blacklight Samples Processed 6,433 5,875 5,611
Soil Samples Processed for Nematode Surveys 24 14 10
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HEALTH / AGRICULTURE BUILDING JON S. CORZINE PO BOX 330 DOUGLAS H. FISHER Governor TRENTON NJ 08625-0330 Secretary
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY REPORT TO THE EASTERN PLANT BOARD
SUMMARY OF 2008 ACTIVITIES
APIARY INSPECTION
Approximately 10,000 colonies entered New Jersey from Florida, Maryland, Louisiana, Virginia, and South Carolina for commercial pollination of fruit crops, blueberries, and cranberries.
New Jersey had a 17% winter death loss the winter of 2007-2008, down from 40% the previous winter. Division staff inspected 1,521 colonies located in 270 apiaries for brood disease and parasites. The program detected 46 cases of American Foul Brood, which was controlled following Department of Agriculture regulations; 16 cases of European Foul Brood were detected in 2008.
The Apiarist gave 24 presentations to various growers groups, schools, and beekeepers meetings. The Apiarist and seasonal inspector conducted three beginner beekeeping courses in conjunction with Rutgers University; 330 new beekeepers were enrolled in these courses. The first 70 eligible new beekeepers received basic equipment and a nucleus colony “nuc” to get started. This project was funded by a grant administered through the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The Apiary staff participated in the development of a new course, “Business Tools and Marketing Strategies” for beekeepers designed to move experienced beekeepers beyond the hobby stage; 45 beekeepers enrolled in the course. At the end of the 2008 season, New Jersey had 972 registered beekeepers.
NURSERY INSPECTION PROGRAM
New Jersey law requires that all nursery stock sold in New Jersey be free of injurious pests, ensuring that ornamental plants purchased by consumers are healthy and do not contain pests that could spread to other plants.
The nursery inspection staff inspected over 19,061 acres in nursery stock and 2,575,638square feet of greenhouse area in 1,284 locations to certify freedom from dangerous insects and diseases. The most frequently observed pests were bagworm, white pine weevil, Japanese beetle, spider mite and a variety of scale insects. These infestations were controlled under Department orders. A total of 719 garden centers, plant dealers and landscape firms were inspected, 822 nurseries were certified for the year 2009. This list of certified nurseries and plant dealers is posted on the Division’s web site and is updated monthly.
The Division's inspectors issued 260 state phytosanitary certificates for material such as dormant and blooming bulb plants, Ginkgo, Jasmine, Poinsettia cuttings, and Asian Grapefruit to name a few to be shipped to Central and Western States. 89 federal phytosanitary certificates were issued enabling export of plants and plant material, such as, Poinsettia cuttings, rose plants, nursery stock, dormant bulbs, etc., to Canada, Trinidad, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Japan and others countries.
New Jersey Is An Equal Opportunity Employer • www.nj.gov/agriculture Rose plants are regulated and inspected for virus complexes known as “Rose Mosaic Disease”. A program of certification from the rose plants source state is required and a visual inspection for symptoms of the “Rose Mosaic Virus” complex is completed at rose plant producers here in New Jersey. In the six rose plant production sites, 422,455 rose plants were inspected and a total of 723 plants were found to be infected with “Rose Mosaic”. These 723 infected rose plants were destroyed. Rose plants from one production site were quarantined for a virulent strain of downy mildew ( Peronospora sparsa ); the plants were released for sale following treatment.
Field inspections of blueberry plants were conducted at blueberry plant production nurseries participating in the Blueberry Plant Certification Program. This Blueberry Plant Certification Program exists to inspect for targeted disease and insects, as-well-as, common injurious insects and diseases. The spring and fall inspection were completed at 7 blueberry nurseries with locations in Atlantic, Burlington and Gloucester Counties. Spring inspections were completed on 32,767 Mother Plants. During the fall inspection, 2,271,540 blueberry plants were inspected, consisting of 32,767 mother plants, 744,271 nursery plants, 1,493,684 cuttings and 818 potted plants. During these inspections 1,894 plants were rejected and destroyed for diseases such as Stunt, Ringspot and Mosaic Viruses. Dodder, a parasitic plant, was found and removed from 30 blueberry plants.
The Nursery Inspection Program, under an agreement with the USDA-APHIS, inspects and regulates certain plant material entering New Jersey. The “Post Entry” plant material enters New Jersey through designated ports of entry and must be grown, under quarantine, by the Federal Permit Holder for two years. During these two years, state inspectors visit the pre-approved site where the post entry plants are grown. The inspection is completed twice a year at the site where the plant material is being grown. The inspection is designed to prevent the introduction of disease specific to the plants under quarantine as- well-as other insects and diseases. Three inspections of “Post Entry” plant material was completed by state inspector with assistance from our Federal counterparts. Among the plant material, which is under quarantine, are Japanese maple, Mahonia and Barberry plants from New Zealand and The Netherlands.
Division staff approved 26 blueberry growers for participation in the Canadian Blueberry Certification Program. This program is designed to facilitate export of fresh blueberry fruit into Canada while protecting against the introduction of blueberry maggot – a native to northeastern United States. Detecting the onset of adult fly emergence is critical to this program, and the first positive adult catch for 2009 was confirmed in Burlington County on June 12th. Division staff monitored the pesticide application, shipping and cooking records for participating growers during this time. A total of 21 growers in Atlantic County and 1 grower in Burlington County shipped a total 721,792 crates of fresh blueberries into Canadian markets under the program in 2008.
VEGETABLE TRANSPLANT INSPECTION
In 2008, Division staff inspected 7 lots of vegetable transplants shipped into the state for use by New Jersey farmers for plant disease, insect or nematode problems. Of the total 1,356,750 plants received 86,350 plants were inspected. The predominant crops inspected were leek, escarole, endive, lettuce and Bok choi. No lots were rejected for disease or insect problems during 2008. PLANT PEST SURVEY
The Department participated in the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program, a cooperative effort between the USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine Program (PPQ), state universities and state departments of agriculture throughout the U.S.A.
A visual survey of ash trees for signs of Emerald Ash Borer ( Agrilus planipennis ) was conducted at 20 nurseries, 11 campgrounds and 10 highway rest areas. No signs of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation were detected. In addition, New Jersey participated in a National trapping survey for EAB. Eighty large purple sticky traps were placed at 20 locations throughout the state. Trapping sites included nurseries, campgrounds and sawmills. Lures were changed once and traps were inspected twice throughout the trapping season. No suspects were detected. New Jersey also participated in another national insect survey for the Light Brown Apple Moth ( Epiphyas postvittana ). Fifty delta traps with pheromone lures were hung at 25 locations in five counties. Trapping sites included urban parks and gardens as well as nurseries and garden centers in urban areas. Traps were serviced once every two weeks and lures were changed monthly. Several suspected LBAM were found and were delivered to USDA APHIS PPQ for identification. All samples were negative for LBAM. Lindgren funnel traps were deployed for a European Wood Wasp ( Sirex noctilio ) survey at twenty locations in two counties. All traps were located in pine stands. Traps were serviced once every two weeks and lures were changed monthly. Trap catches were forwarded to the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh, PA for identification. No Sirex noctilio were detected during this survey.
Rutgers University conducted a survey for Old World Bollworm ( Helicoverpa armigera ) at 15 locations in 10 counties and Egyptian Cottonworm ( Spodoptera littoralis ) at 20 locations in 12 counties. Harstack traps were used for both surveys and all traps were located at vegetable farms. Over 1400 suspect moths were trapped and a representative sample was submitted to USDA APHIS PPQ for identification. No positives for either target pest were reported.
A survey was conducted for Phytophthora ramorum , the causal agent of Sudden Oak Death (SOD). Twenty nurseries or garden centers were randomly selected for survey. A total of 800 leaf samples were collected from host material. Of those, 188 samples were ELISA positive for Phytophthora spp . and DNA was extracted for further testing by PCR. No PCR positives were detected but one sample was deemed inconclusive and re-sampling was required. The original plant was not present at the nursery so additional host plants were sampled at that location. A total of 5 plants tested positive for Phytophthora ramorum in March of 2009. Eradication is in progress and to date over 300 host plants have been destroyed.
POTATO CYST NEMATODE
The Department participated in the national Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) survey to determine the nationwide distribution of Globodera pallida . State survey staff collected soil samples from several potato growers in 2 counties. Only fields which were in a potato rotation and had not been sampled in 2007 were selected for survey. A total of 150 soil samples were collected from 20 fields. Soil samples were washed and analyzed for presence of G. pallida using light microscopy. All samples were negative for G. pallida .
GYPSY MOTH SUPPRESSION
In the spring of 2008, the Department supervised the treatment of 96,685 acres (95,677 single and 1,008 double applications) in 76 municipalities and properties managed by nine agencies using the non- chemical insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki (Btk.). Single and double applications of Btk. were applied at a dosage rate of 38 B.I.U. (64 ounces of Foray 76B) per acre. The treatment blocks were located in Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Salem, Sussex and Warren Counties.
Because the Department was directly involved in the supervision of the program, New Jersey received $1,195,946 in USDA Forest Service funds to cover 23 percent of the municipal aerial spray costs. The municipalities that participated in the voluntary aerial spray program enjoyed greener, healthier shade trees and reduced larval nuisance.
The statewide gypsy moth aerial defoliation survey showed a slight 5.5% increase of gypsy moth defoliation compared to the levels the previous year occurring on 339,240 acres infesting 134 municipalities in 17 counties. The majority of defoliation occurred in Burlington, Monmouth, Ocean, Sussex and Warren Counties.
ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE
In 2002, Asian Longhorned Beetle ( Anoplophora glabripennis ) was confirmed in Jersey City, New Jersey. A multi-agency program was established with the USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine Program (PPQ) and the New Jersey Forest Service to eradicate this foreign invasive insect pest. As a result, a quarantine area of 3.7 square miles was established in Jersey City and Hoboken. A total of 461 host trees were removed and 1,060 additional host trees were treated with imidacloprid for three years. In 2005, all treatments were completed and the quarantine was lifted. Survey activities have been completed in the Jersey City area with no additional finds. In April 2008, with all survey and treatment completed, the state and federal officials declared the Asian Longhorned Beetle eradicated in Jersey City.
In August 2004 a second infestation of ALB was detected in Carteret, New Jersey. Subsequent survey activities expanded the quarantine area into Woodbridge, in Middlesex County; as well as Linden, Rahway, Roselle, Clark, and Elizabeth, in Union County New Jersey. The newest positive find was made in August, 2006, in the city of Linden. This last find expanded the quarantine area to 25 square miles. Since November 2004, 616 infested and over 20,000 high risk host trees have been removed, and preventive treatments with imidacloprid were applied to more than 30,000 trees. These treatments extend out up to ½ mile from an infested tree location. All chemical treatments are expected to end in the spring of 2009. The New Jersey Forest Service has managed the planting of approximately 5,400 replacement trees.
Surveys in high-risk warehouse locations, which receive commodities from countries where Asian Longhorned Beetle is native (Level 3) continued this year. The 25-mile biometric grid survey (Level 4) was significantly expanded as a result of this new infestation in Carteret. This year’s survey saw the completion of over 450 square miles.
SEED CONTROL
A total of 108 samples of seed were submitted to the Division’s Seed Laboratory for analysis. Thirty-four percent of these samples, collected by inspectors for regulatory purposes, were analyzed to determine seed quality and germination rates. Emphasis for sampling and testing was placed on agricultural crop seed, commercial vegetable seed and turfgrass seed.
In order to monitor agricultural seed sold through farm supply outlets, 55 lots of vegetable seed and 22 lots of field crop seed were inspected and sampled in 2008 for quality control analysis prior to being used by farmers. In addition, 31 lots of grass seed were sampled from wholesale distributors and growers. This seed was analyzed for germination and purity. Laboratory testing of these lots found that all samples germinated at or above the percentages listed on the label and were free of any noxious weed seeds.
The general quality of vegetable seed sold in New Jersey directly to farmers is excellent and is accurately labeled. Seed companies do not provide vigor test information on their labels, and are not required by law to do so. Vigor testing, conducted by the seed laboratory upon request, has provided valuable information to several vegetable growers. Low vigor seed could have a disastrous financial impact on growers who plant seed early when germination conditions are less than optimal. In 2008, 34 tests for vigor were conducted for growers of sweet corn, spinach, and peppers.
SEED CERTIFICATION
Turf seed samples (20) were taken from lots of certified turf seed shipped to New Jersey from other States. These samples, which represented 119,100 pounds of certified turfgrass seed, were tested to determine eligibility for the interagency certified seed program. Certification program staff supervised mixing of 13,800 pounds of high quality turf seed. New Jersey sod growers used this seed to produce a high quality sod product.
Division staff certified 29 acres of conservation plant material developed at the USDA NRCS Cape May Plant Materials Center. This stock is used primarily for coastal soil stabilization. Because of the important role the soil conservation plant material plays in coastline stabilization, the demand for plants to replant established sand dunes continues to remain high.
PLANT LABORATORY SERVICES
The Plant Laboratory Services unit provides laboratory support for regulatory inspection and insect rearing programs of the Division of Plant Industry. Germination, purity, vigor and noxious weed examinations were performed on seed submitted to the laboratory. Our survey of seed germinations has assured the farmers their seed will perform at the germination percentages specified on the seed labels under ideal conditions. Vigor testing information allowed the farmer to modify planting times as well as growing and storage conditions. Vigor tests conducted on certain seeds indicated that many of the high germination seed lots did not perform well under stressed conditions. Growers of sweet corn, spinach, and peppers find these tests extremely beneficial to their operations.
Leaf tissue samples were collected from blueberry and cranberry mother plants for blueberry scorch virus testing. Blueberry scorch is the leading disease in New Jersey blueberries. A total of 5,075 samples representing approximately 50,000 mother plants were tested by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for this virus. A total of seven growers in two counties were tested. All samples were negative for blueberry scorch virus. The antibodies used in this test were developed as a joint project between the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and Rutgers. Scientists at Rutgers are currently developing new antibodies to be used in these tests.
The laboratory supported the Apiary Inspection program through the analysis of bees for Varroa and tracheal mites, and testing for American foulbrood, which is a bacterial disease of bees. The field and laboratory staff coordinated the testing of plant material for P. ramorum (SOD), plum pox, and other plant pathogens using ELISA and Polymerize Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques. Liquid chromatography (LC) was used to identify plant and seed varieties. Electrophoresis is also used to identify plants, seeds, as well as insects.
Mycotoxin fungi can be potentially dangerous to animals if they produce toxins in significant quantities on feed materials. The Division’s Plant Laboratory has set up a protocol to screen and quantify the concentration of mycotoxins. The techniques involve a combination of ELISA tests, thin layer chromatography and liquid chromatography.
The result of a Departmental reorganization was that the State Chemist position and laboratory supervision and participation in feed and fertilizer testing has been transferred to the Division of Plant Industry, Plant Laboratory Services work group.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF PLANT PESTS
Under the Division’s Biological Control Program, beneficial parasitoids and predators are laboratory reared for release into the field to control agricultural and forest pests, as well as to protect the state’s natural resources and other open lands. The release of beneficial insects reduces the need for pesticides, reduces the amount of pesticide residue in the environment and minimizes pest resistance to chemicals. The reduction of pesticide applications in the field also allows the native beneficial insects to increase, adding more pressure on the pest populations.
The Division conducted nine biological control programs designed to establish new beneficial species in the state, reduce pest populations in certain crops, monitor pest populations to determine impacts and gather base line data, gather efficacy on new biological control programs and monitor established beneficial insect populations on a variety of crops to evaluate the need for augmenting those populations. Seven of these programs required laboratory rearing of beneficial insects for release into the field. The goal is to reduce or maintain New Jersey pest populations below economic levels.
The Mexican bean beetle (MBB), Epilachna varivestis , biological control program involves the mass production and release of small beneficial wasps ( Pediobius foveolatus ) to control MBB. The Mexican bean beetle feeds on snap bean, lima bean and soybean foliage. The imported wasps, known as parasitoids, attack and kill MBB larvae. The exotic parasitoids cannot over-winter in New Jersey, and must be reared in the laboratory and released into soybean fields each summer. A total of 126,000 adult parasitoids were released into 55 nurse plots, with an additional 262,000 released directly into soybean and lima bean fields.
New Jersey farmers planted about 100,000 acres of soybeans in 2008. Approximately 80% (80,000 acres) of the total acreage was susceptible to feeding damage by the Mexican bean beetle. The parasitoid release program has been so successful in reducing MBB populations, to manageable levels, that no pesticide applications have been required on soybean acreage since 1993 . This savings has amounted to approximately $1,280,000 in reduced pesticide costs. This program receives financial support from the New Jersey Soybean Board.
Under a cooperative agreement with the USDA, Forest Service (USFS), the Phillip Alampi Beneficial Insect Laboratory (PABIL) began work in 2007 with Laricobius nigrinus , a Derodontid beetle predator, of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA). A total of 2,033 beetles were released in New Jersey in 2008. Evaluation of release sites confirmed field reproduction as overwintering Laricobius nigrinus beetles were recovered from three of the four pre-2007 release sites in October; one recovery was from the 2005 release site in Worthington SF which is three consecutive years of recovery for that site. One S. tsugae was recovered in Monmouth County .
Since 1988, Division staff has monitored eleven permanent study plots in an effort to document the impact of hemlock woolly adelgid on the State’s natural hemlock stands. New growth counts have been recorded annually to determine the quality and health of the trees at each site. When the trees become stressed, less new growth sprouts. Significant tree mortality was first observed in heavily infested HWA study plots in 1995. Since that time tree mortality has steadily increased with some stands reaching as high as 100%. Usually within two to three years of a heavy infestation tree decline becomes evident. Although mortality varies from plot to plot, the plots that have been heavily infested the longest demonstrate the most mortality. Stands with secondary pest problems, such as scale or mites, decline more rapidly.
The exotic freshwater wetland plant, purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria has displaced the native flora, and threatens many animals that depend on these plants for survival. Large monotypic stands of this plant have the capacity to reduce ground water recharge, decrease water storage capacity of a wetland, reduce the marsh’s ability to attenuate floods, reduce open water space, reduce species diversity, and jeopardize the health and vitality of the marsh ecosystem.
The Division continued to mass produce and monitor two foliage feeding beetles of purple loosestrife, Galerucella pusilla and Galerucella calmariensis , as part of a cooperative program with the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Division of Fish & Wildlife (DF&W) and with a grant from the USDA, APHIS/PPQ. The PABIL Laboratory produced 598,000 Galerucella spp., 36,500 of which were released in NJ’s loosestrife-infested wetlands, the remainder being sold to land managers and cooperators in the Northeast. Since the initial releases in 1997, approximately 1.8 million beetles have been released at 102 sites in 17 New Jersey counties. Galerucella has been recovered from approximately 98% of these release sites.
After releasing the beetles, the purple loosestrife population collapsed at one site in Hunterdon County and in four sites in Sussex County, due to heavy beetle feeding. Additional sites are showing signs of purple loosestrife stress and collapse. Galerucella spp. have been recovered at 84 non-release sites since 2002, with one recovery made 31.5 miles away from the closest release site.
In addition, releases have been made at a number of sites including National Park Service lands, and sites managed by Natural Lands Management, The Nature Conservancy of NJ, Mercer County Park Commission, Union County Park System, Allentown Borough, Rider University, property managed by the NJ Meadowlands Commission, a number of mitigation sites and private landowner properties. Since 1997, 770,400 beetles have been shipped to other states including Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Michigan and New Hampshire in an effort to establish field colonies within those states .
In 2004, as part of a cooperative effort, including the USFS, University of Delaware and the Division, 46 adult Rhinoncomimus latipes beetles host specific to an exotic invasive plant, mile-a-minute (MAM), Persicaria perfoliata , were shipped to the Phillip Alampi Beneficial Insect Laboratory from specimens collected in China, in order to develop a mass rearing technique. The remaining beetles from that shipment, 200, were released into a MAM site in South Jersey. In 2005, the beetle was recovered from the release site, thereby, documenting establishment.
Since receiving the beetles from the University of Delaware, the PABIL has made enormous progress in understanding the requirements necessary to produce this predatory weevil, R. latipes and its host, P. perfoliatum . The Laboratory has devised a method for producing the plant from rooted cuttings and has established a stock of plants in the greenhouse sufficient enough to not only continue developing and evaluating rearing techniques, but also to begin increasing production levels high enough to allow for releases in New Jersey and other states. In 2008, the laboratory’s production capacity reached a sustained level of more than 2,000 new weevils emerging each week, permitting 47,134 predators to be released in New Jersey in 2008, with an additional 15,122 predators shipped to cooperators in Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland.
During 2008, R. latipes weevils were recovered from all of the 2007 release sites for an establishment rate of 100%. Field evaluations of the release sites showed decreases in seed production at all release sites and two of which were completely defoliated by the weevils.
From 1992 to 2004 Cybocephalus nipponicus, a predatory beetle from China, was reared in the laboratory and released in the landscape on shrubs and trees infested with euonymus scale (Unaspis euonymi ) and euonymus alatus scale, Lepidosaphes yangicola . Establishment of the beetle has been confirmed in every New Jersey County. Observations at previous release sites have also verified its ability to colonize and reduce scale populations in both shady and sunny locations. A total of 685,930 predatory beetles have been released on euonymus scale.
Cybocephalus will feed on a number of Diaspid (hard shell) scale species. Elongate Hemlock Scale, (Fiorinia externa) is a hard scale species that is commonly found on hemlock needles often causing a decline in hemlock vigor. Initial laboratory studies confirmed that C. nipponicus larvae and adults would feed on Elongate Hemlock Scale.
A total of 11,000 C. nipponicus were released in 8 hemlock sites in 2008. The beetles were recovered at 58.5% of the surveyed hemlock sites, not all of which had received releases in the past. C. nipponicus is expanding its range in New Jersey and establishing itself on hemlocks infested with Elongate Hemlock Scale. Besides evaluating the release sites, 60 additional natural hemlock stands were surveyed resulting in beetles being observed in 7 stands. Since the observations were made in stands far removed from the release site, it is believed the beetle, which is established on euonymus plants throughout the state, dispersed naturally to these stands. In New Jersey, a native pest, tarnished plant bug (TPB), Lygus lineolaris , is often observed in alfalfa but seldom causes economic damage to this crop. However, large numbers of TPB can cause significant damage to stone fruit, strawberries, and many other plant species of economic importance.
In 2001, the Division received an exotic European Mirid parasitoid, Peristenus relictus , from the USDA, Beneficial Insect Research Laboratory, Newark, Delaware to investigate the feasibility of utilizing it as a biological control agent for TPB . With the development of an inexpensive, high quality TPB diet by researchers at the USDA, ARS Biological Control and Mass Rearing Unit, Mississippi State University, the potential to rear tens of thousands of host TPB nymphs in the laboratory is now feasible, making it possible to dramatically increase parasitoid production. Since 2004, the laboratory has made significant rearing progress utilizing this egg-based artificial diet. Host and parasitoid colonies are at their highest levels of production and vigor, with 2,000 – 3,000 parasitoids produced weekly.
In 2008 a total of 51,000 P. relictus was released among 39 fields in Mercer, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Salem and Gloucester Counties. However, no recoveries were made . A total of twelve Peristenus digoneutis specimens were recovered in 2008 from field-collected tarnished plant bug nymphs. P. digoneutis is a solitary parasitoid that has been previously established in the northern part of the state in the 1980’s by the USDA.
With the increasing threat of mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis, that affect humans and economically important animals, the Phillip Alampi Beneficial Insect Laboratory cooperated with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Office of Mosquito Control Coordination, to develop a biological control program for mosquitoes breeding in standing freshwater. Copepods, which are nearly microscopic crustaceans, are efficient mosquito larvae predators. At the request of the NJDEP Office of Mosquito Control Coordination, the Division of Plant Industry Phillip Alampi Beneficial Insect Rearing Laboratory established cultures of various native species of copepods, and evaluated procedures for mass-production.
Throughout 2005 the Alampi Laboratory collected and established cultures of copepod species native to New Jersey and thought to be of value for inclusion in a mosquito biological control program. Having concurrently developed a mass production method for copepods and their associated food organisms and with the intent of starting field trials, the NJDA focused in 2007 on the mass culture of the predatory copepod, Macrocyclops albidus, a species successfully used to control mosquitoes in discarded tires and other containers in subtropical climates.
Having devised a way to collect copepods en masse from their culture medium and dispersing them in the field, the Laboratory established field trials in four counties in cooperation with NJDEP’s Office of Mosquito Control Coordination and the Mosquito Control Commissions of Mercer, Hunterdon, Monmouth, and Morris Counties. The trials yielded particularly valuable information on the logistics of transporting, releasing, and monitoring copepods, and provided information on the rate with which copepods can build their populations and suppress certain mosquito species in tires. A decreased number of mosquito larvae were found in the tires in three of the four counties in the study.
REPORT TO THE EASTERN PLANT BOARD
SUMMARY OF 2008 ACTIVITIES
OUTLINE OF CONTENTS
Administration Botany CAPS Summary Disease Diagnostic Lab Results Entomology Pest Detection and Eradication Activities Nursery/Greenhouse/Dealer Certification Phytosanitary Certification Postentry Quarantine
ADMINISTRATION
The Bureau of Plant Industry of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is organized into four divisions. The Agronomic and Regional Services Division (John Breitsman, Chief) includes feed, fertilizer, soil conditioner and lime programs, as well as seed analysis, testing, and certification programs. The Conservation and Agricultural Technology Division (David Bingaman, Chief) oversees integrated pest management, nutrient management, and sustainable agriculture. It also provides a liaison with the State Conservation Commission. The Health and Safety Division (Dave Scott, Chief) includes the agromedicine program; farm safety program; Pesticide Advisory Board; pesticide applicator certification, licensing, and training; pesticide environmental programs; pesticide hypersensitivity registry; pesticide product registration; and pesticide enforcement. The Plant Protection Division (Dr. Karl Valley, Chief) oversees plant merchant licensing and plant inspection programs; apiary registration and bee inspection; the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS); the Entomology Laboratory; the Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory; the fruit tree improvement program (FTIP) and other special certification programs. Karl Valley and Walt Blosser serve as National Plant Board representatives.
BOTANY
Giant Hogweed Control and Eradication in Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania has been controlling and eradicating giant hogweed, a federal noxious weed of limited distribution in Pennsylvania since 1998 as part of a USDA-APHIS PPQ eradication effort. Giant hogweed has been discovered in 17 counties at 524 sites since the program began in the state. Of these only 19% (100 sites) were “active” and required treatment in 2007 and less than 11% (60 sites) were “active” and required treatment in 2008. The program continues to have few new sites reported with less than 10 new sites of giant hogweed reported and confirmed in 2008. This information continues to support the states findings that effective eradication of giant hogweed infested sites can occur after 3 consecutive years or less depending on the seed bank. One full time program manager equivalent and one full time field technician position equivalent manage and implement the state wide eradication program that utilizes a toll free hotline for reporting this invasive, poisonous plant.
Pilot Kudzu Eradication Program in Pennsylvania: Third Year Summary: Pennsylvania Began a pilot kudzu eradication program in 2005 funded in part by a one time allotment from the legislature of $50,000.00. Kudzu is a state noxious weed in Pennsylvania and all known sites in the state are
surveyed and monitored under this program. Kudzu is found in Zone 6 of the U.S. National Arboretum Plant Hardiness Zone Map in 13 counties in the state. PDA has confirmed kudzu on more than 114 individual properties. Since 2005, 52 of 89 populations have been enrolled in the 3 year treatment program and all sites have been controlled or eradicated. There is a waiting list for future enrollment that will be dependent on renewed funding. Enrolled sites are treated for 3 consecutive years by the Bureau of Plant Industry with the annual goal of limiting any significant above ground biomass production. Technical assistance and training is also provided to enable property owners to monitor and effectively manage the seed bank after the program ends. With the exception of the treated sites, all known sites of kudzu in Pennsylvania are flowering and producing viable seed on an annual basis and seed production at many locations has been documented since the 1980’s. Most, but not all of the kudzu sites in Pennsylvania are more than 30 years old if not decades older and were purposely planted for soil stabilization purposes. The program has successfully killed or is in the processing of killing all kudzu on properties enrolled in the program. However, seed bank germination has occurred at all treated sites the year after treatment and seed bank monitoring will be necessary to prevent sites from re-establishing. One full time program manager equivalent and one part-time seasonal field technician equivalent manage and implement the state wide pilot eradication program.
Northeastern Weed Science Society Noxious and Invasive Vegetation Short Course 2008: The Northeastern Weed Science Society (NEWSS) Noxious and Invasive Vegetation Management Short Course (NIVM) was offered for the first time in the Northeast for public and private land managers; policy makers; township and municipality supervisors; and contractors who wanted to gain a better understanding of noxious and invasive vegetation management in terrestrial and aquatic environments such as forests, parks, preserves, conservancies, C.R.E.P (conservation reserve) lands, highway right-of-ways (R.O.W), and ponds, lakes and riparian areas. Penn State University and the Bureau of Plant Industry, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture co- hosted the event which was sponsored by the non-profit society and with a start up 2 year grant from the U.S Forest Service. The Botanist/Weed Scientist for the Bureau of Plant Industry coordinated the event for the Society. Weed management and invasive vegetation identification professionals affiliated with NEWSS from Maine to North Carolina to Tennessee conducted the training program that was designed to encourage interaction between instructors and participants. The three-day course was held in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania in Mount Gretna the week of September 15th, 2008. Sixty-one registrants from MD, DE, PA, Washington D.C, NJ, NY, OH, VA, TN and Ontario, Canada attended the course that was taught by 16 instructors, a course coordinator and one staff assistant. Through hands-on participation, registrants learned how to identify invasive terrestrial and aquatic vegetation problematic in the northeastern region of the United States, apply basal or cut stump treatments, operated and calibrated herbicide application equipment, and inventory for multiple species. The course will be sponsored and hosted again in Pennsylvania in 2009.
Mile-A-Minute Control Project in Sinnemahoning Valley – Cooperative Weed Management Forming, December 2008: Mile-a-minute is a state noxious weed widespread in the southeastern portion of the state but until recently not established in the northern tier counties. In 2004 mile a minute vine was detected growing in the First Fork of the Sinnemahoning Creek Valley in Sinnemahoning State Park and surrounding areas in Grove Township, Cameron County and Wharton Township, Potter County. A multi agency task force was created and grid surveys were conducted in order to determine the extent of the infestation in the region during 2005 and 2006. In 2007 Sinnemahoning State Park received funding to begin treating mile a minute vine within the park boundaries. Their efforts continued through 2008. In 2008 the Department of Agriculture received a grant from the United States Forest Service to assist property owners with treatment of mile a minute vine on private lands outside Sinnemahoning State Park. With this grant the Department hired a seasonal technician to work with private landowners during 2008. As a result of the inspections, Mile a minute vine populations are estimated to cover 41 acres on non-park lands north of Bailey Run. Of these 41 acres, 13 acres have been identified as being able to be mowed with a brush hog. The mile a minute vine program information packet along with landowner permission/refusal forms were distributed to 94 landowners via mail or in person. More than 60 landowners have returned signed permission to treat forms. Mile a minute vine weed alert brochures were posted at the fourteen businesses in the watershed. In addition, the program news release and weed alert brochure was sent home to all of Austin School District elementary and high school students, approximately 250 students. Two workdays were held in the watershed in conjunction with the Bucktail Watershed Association. Efforts continue to form a collaborate Cooperative Weed Management Area in this region which would target mile a minute vine and other noxious and invasive species of limited distribution.
Noxious Weed and Invasive Vegetation Complaints fielded in 2008: In addition to the three noxious weed management programs ongoing in the state, the Bureau of Plant Industry, Botany/Weed Science office also handles all noxious weed and invasive plant complaints as well as poisonous plant concerns received by the Department of Agriculture. During the growing season, the office fields dozens of complaints per month for Canada thistle, multiflora rose, johnsongrass, purple loosestrife and mile-a- minute. 99% of the Noxious Weed Control Act Complaints received are handled via communications to the violating party without issuance of a noxious weed order. Only 3 noxious weed orders were issued in 2008 for kudzu and Canada thistle. Japanese bamboo, Japanese knotweed and tree of heaven were the most reported invasive species of concern in 2008.
CAPS SUMMARY
Ralstonia Blight, Ralstonia solanacearum Race 3 Biovar 2: Ralstonia blight continues to be a concern to PA geranium growers and to the Bureau of Plant Industry officials. It has previously been detected in PA in 6 of the last 13 years. In addition, this pathogen is still listed as a “select agent” of concern for agro-terrorism. Plant inspectors conducted a monitoring survey for Ralstonia during their routine inspection of plant merchants between January and July 2008. Geraniums were checked for wilting leaves and/or abnormal yellowing of lower leaves in 30 licensed establishments in 20 counties. From these sites 99 symptomatic plants were collected and analyzed at PDA’s PDDL. No Ralstonia was detected this year.
Nematodes of Regulatory Concern in Potato: A number of nematodes parasitizing potato are of regulatory concern both nationally and to PA in particular. The golden nematode (Globodera rostochiensis) and the pale cyst nematode (Globodera pallida) are pests specific to plants in the Solanaceae family whereas Columbia root knot nematode (Meloidogyne chitwoodi) and the false root knot nematode (Meloidogyne fallax) parasitize the same crops in addition to cereal crops. None of these 4 pests have ever been detected in PA. Sampling of soil from commercial potato acreage focused on 19 central and western PA counties this year. They included Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Cambria, Centre, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Huntingdon, Jefferson, Juniata, Lycoming, Mercer, and Mifflin, Potter, Somerset, Warren, Washington, and Westmoreland counties. Certified seed potato acreage in Potter and Erie counties was also included in the survey. Sampling procedures conformed to those adopted by the CAPS National Guidelines, as modified from the USDA Protocol for Nationwide Golden Nematode Survey. Some 606 samples were taken from 203 separate fields. Sample processing for Meloidogyne spp. is conducted by greenhouse bioassay with oats and pepper at the PA Department of Agriculture Diagnostic Laboratory, Harrisburg, PA. For Globodera spp. sample processing by elutriation is being conducted. Extracted cysts will be identified by dissecting/light microscopy. Laboratory analysis is expected by April 30, 2009.
Other Pest Surveys
Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines: Due to the regulatory impact on growers of nursery stock wishing to market to other states and countries a delimiting survey was continued this year to determine if SCN has spread beyond the 2 known infestation sites in Lancaster Co. Some 138 soil samples were collected in 69 fields in the top10 soybean-producing counties. Sample analysis was conducted in the greenhouse by a differential bioassay of resistant and susceptible soybean seedlings. Lab analysis is complete as of this writing with no new SCN sites detected. Karnal Bunt (KB), Tilletia (Neovossia) indica: KB is a fungal disease of wheat, durum wheat, triticale, and rye. Due to its regulatory significance on the national level, APHIS initiated the Karnal Bunt National Survey in 1996 to facilitate grain export. During 2008, 6 samples taken from PA grain/feed mills in Adams, Berks, Chester, Dauphin, Franklin and Lancaster Counties were forwarded to an approved laboratory and tested for bunted kernels. No KB was detected
DISEASE DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY RESULTS
In 2008, the Division of Plant Protection processed a total of 1,505 regular samples (201 insects, 1,304 biotic and abiotic diseases), which were mainly submitted by the Bureau of Plant Industry Plant Inspectors. Among the 1,304 samples, 651 samples were associated with fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes. The samples associated with plant pathogens amounted to 50%, within which Fungi, Bacteria, Virus, and Nematodes amounted to 64, 14, 22 and <1%, respectively (Table 1). Of special concern were the detection of Chrysanthemum White Rust (a federal quarantine pest) and the re-emergence of Xanthomonas blight (a state stop-saleable pest) in geranium.
Table 1. Number of samples processed in the Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 1990-2008.
Year Total Fungi Bacteria Virus Nematode Other 1990 2895 565 18 597 113 1602 1991 2433 435 73 381 85 1459
1992 2035 554 82 313 21 1065 1993 2089 454 214 327 17 1077
1994 2211 631 99 363 23 1095
1995 2310 693 111 388 7 1111 1996 2263 799 104 384 27 949
1997 2433 792 75 413 37 1116 1998 2301 589 84 448 77 1103
1999 2123 401 159 302 10 1251 2000 2279 608 177 314 34 1146
2001 2251 772 99 270 61 1092 2002 1648 598 99 266 60 625
2003 1881 676 114 169 65 857
2004 1971 630 60 221 46 1014
2005 1952 490 38 213 14 882
2006 1219 460 35 106 15 599
2007 1802 498 64 229 9 791
2008 1505 418 91 145 1 725
Vegetable Transplant Inspection: Plant Inspectors of the PA Department of Agriculture did not come across any field-grown vegetable transplants during the past five years (Table 2). Though no bacterial pathogens were detected as a result of
Transplant Inspection Program, 27 tomato samples submitted to the lab were identified with Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, and Clavibacter michiganesis subsp. michiganensis. Five of these samples had more than one bacterial pathogens detected.
Table 2. Number of vegetable transplants inspected, 1986-2008.
Number of vegetable plants inspected, millions
Year Field grown Soil-less media grown Total 1986 21.32 19.43 40.75
1987 17.99 19.35 37.34 1988 16.99 14.1 31.10
1989 11.38 19.11 30.49
1990 7.57 26.85 34.42 1991 6.92 16.31 23.24
1992 4.49 15.36 19.85 1993 2.45 14.65 17.10
1994 3.01 14.94 17.96 1995 1.75 17.35 19.10
1996 0.93 20.72 21.65 1997 0.54 20.51 21.06
1998 0.7 17.33 18.04
1999 1.03 23.58 24.61 2000 1.54 17.08 18.62
2001 1.42 14.58 16.00 2002 0.83 13.16 14.00
2003 .21 14.72 14.93 2004 0 10.67 10.67
2005 0 9.22 9.22 2006 0 8.3 8.3
2007 0 11.3 11.3 2008 0 5.9 5.9
Virology diagnostic laboratory samples from licensed nurseries and dealers: The virology laboratory processed 393 plant samples from greenhouse, nursery, and miscellaneous crop situations, submitted in large part by PDA Plant Inspectors. Virus was detected in 141 of the 393 diagnostic samples: 52 were infected with impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV), 56 had other viruses that we identified to genus or specific virus (including two double and one triple infection), and 33 had viruses we were unable to classify.
Excluding INSV, a total of 9 other viruses were detected and identified to the group/genus or specific virus level. These viruses were arabis mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, hosta virus X, pelargonium flower break virus, potato virus Y, potyvirus, tobamovirus, tobacco streak virus, and tomato spotted wilt virus. All of these viruses were identified by ELISA or by ELISA in conjunction with bioassay. One agent, inducing rhododendron necrotic ringspot disease, was identified by symptoms only. Of the 33 viruses found but left unclassified, 6 were from portulaca samples and 6 from phlox, while no other host was represented more than twice.
PVY-ntn: One potato tuber sample was submitted from a commercial tablestock grower. The tubers displayed necrotic ring symptoms externally and internally, and were confirmed positive for potato virus Y by
ELISA, also producing necrotic symptoms on tobacco in a bioassay. This is the first report of a PVY-ntn (tuber- necrosis-inducing) strain in Pennsylvania, although other strains of PVY are common.
Diseases Significant for Regulatory Attention
Bacterial Blight of Geraniums: Bacteria Blight of Geraniums has been a chronic disease, however, the occurrence of its causal organism, Xanthomonas campestris pv. pelargonii (Xcp), was not found in propagation areas in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006(Table 3). Lack of Bacterial Blight of Geraniums in propagation areas may indicate that a thorough Culture- Indexing program against Ralstonia solanacearum Biovar 2, the listed pathogen for the Agriculture Bioterrorism Act 2002, might have helped to exclude Xcp (The Culture-Indexing process excludes both bacteria).
Table 3. Number of geranium samples with bacterial blight, Xanthomonas campestris pv. pelargonii, 1988-2007. Number samples Number samples with Year with Xcp Year Xcp 1988 0 1999 83 1989 7 2000 82 1990 4 2001 45 1991 50 2002 3 1992 33 2003 2 1993 110 2004 2 1994 45 2005 0 1995 40 2006 0 1996 42 2007 23 1997 11 2008 15 1998 22
Sudden Oak Death Survey: Phytophthora ramorum (causal agent of Sudden Oak Death) was not found during the 2008 survey in Pennsylvania. A majority of the survey samples were collected from a P. ramorum confirmed nursery in 2006 and 2007 in PA in addition to the samples submitted by DCNR, which represented 25,000 acres of PA forest. Through the survey, a total of 158 Phytophthora cultures were isolated and added to our culture collection. PDA has one of the largest Phytophthora collections in the U.S, near 2,000, which have been cultured from PA diagnostic samples since the 1980s (www.phytophthoradb.org).
Chrysanthemum White Rust Survey and Control Activities: A formal Chrysanthemum White Rust (CWR) survey was not conducted in 2008. However, CWR was detected at a residential property for the first time in PA. CWR was also confirmed at four commercial establishments. One each in Bucks, Pike, Montgomery and Northampton counties. Inspectors from PDA and USDA also collaborated on a traceback investigation at a nursery in Erie county due to CWR being confirmed at a Michigan nursery. CWR was not detected at the Erie county site. All infected plants were placed under stop- sale and destroyed.
High-risk pathogens threatening Pennsylvania: The abiding necessities among Penn State University, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, USDA, and Pennsylvania agro-industries have generated data of high-risk pathogens threatening PA agriculture. PDA Plant Disease Diagnostic laboratory participated in developing and implementing conventional and real-time PCR- based disease diagnostic technologies to detect high-risk plant pathogens, developing various molecular markers for selected fungal and bacterial pathogens, and determining the phylogenetic relationship among the chosen pathogens at both the species and population levels. Accomplished results were published in the journals of the American Phytopathological Society.
Plum Pox Virus Survey and Eradication: Nine years have passed since the discovery of Plum Pox Virus in Pennsylvania in September of 1999 – nine years of intensive survey and eradication effort. In 2008, joint USDA/PDA survey in Pennsylvania generated a total of 234,585 laboratory (ELISA) samples, with no PPV detections. This is the second year of all negative PPV data for the Commonwealth. Samples collected included commercial orchard trees (218,514), residential property trees and shrubs (10,230), nursery and budwood source trees (5,608), sentinel and wild trees (233). Nearly all of these samples (231,062) were collected in a 25-mile radius area that encompasses every part of the state in which positives have ever been found. Samples collected outside of this area (3,523) were related to nursery activity well away from quarantine areas, but in the Commonwealth or in PA nursery operations moved to adjoining states.
In addition to running all 234,585 samples in ELISA, a subset were tested using the more sensitive real time RT-PCR test. A total of 1,053 samples have been tested using this protocol. No positives were found.
This survey season marked the second year of all negative survey data in the Commonwealth. It marked the third year of all negative data from the one-mile area surrounding a portion of Tyrone Township, Adams County, allowing the rescission of the PPV quarantine there. The total Pennsylvania quarantine area now stands at just under 50 square miles. A related PPV nursery quarantine area, restricting nursery production practices, remains in effect in a much larger area. Total PA orchard acreage removed since the beginning of the program stands at 1,614 acres, unchanged from 2006.
ENTOMOLOGY PEST DETECTION AND ERADICATION ACTIVITIES
Several pest survey programs were conducted in Pennsylvania in 2008. In addition to PDA plant inspectors, 35 two-person seasonal surveys crews were employed to conduct pest surveys in select counties. Survey records for over 21,000 separate points were documented in Pennsylvania in 2008 (Map). In all cases, regardless of the survey program, survey crews were instructed to submit all specimens of Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Siricidae, Pentatomoidea, and Scolytinae. These target groups were identified to species whenever possible, and associated data were collected and are stored on Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Entomology servers. Data specific to various surveys were extracted and provided to fulfill cooperative pest survey agreements.
2008 PEST SURVEY SITES IN PENNSYLVANIA
Sites include: Visual surveillance, destructive sampling, sweep net samples, Lindgren funnel traps, purple panel traps, Sirex panel traps, and sugar bait traps.
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB): On June 22, 2007 two adult EAB were collected in Cranberry Township, Butler County, PA. A 98 square mile delimiting survey (One by one mile grids arranged within a five mile radius of the initial detection) was conducted. An additional 27 grids were deemed to be positive for EAB based on collection of life stages. A quarantine order was issued regulating the movement of EAB and host material covering Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence Counties. Pennsylvania received federal funding to participate in a nationwide survey for EAB in 2008 making use of newly designed purple panel traps in a nationwide survey grid. Thirty-five two-person crews were assigned to conduct surveillance in 35 high risk counties in 2008. Crews received training in late-May and placed around 7,400 purple panel traps baited with manuka oil in each grid with suitable ash host material. Traps were checked two times, once half way through the summer, and once at the end of summer. Suspect specimens were placed in vials and identified by entomologists at the PDA lab in Harrisburg, PA. In addition, crews recorded visual surveillance points, took sweep net samples on ash, and also responded to reports from the public.
On June 23, 2008 an Ohio survey crew collected specimens of EAB from infested trees at the Interstate 80 welcome center just inside PA in Mercer County. The specimens were confirmed as EAB and the existing quarantine was extended to include Mercer County. The site contained approximately 12 trees in the picnic area which were later cut and destroyed as hazard trees. The site was estimated to be infested for at least five years and is considered separate from the first detection in Butler County. Visual surveys of the immediate area surrounding the site yielded only one additional positive tree which was a back-yard tree on private property. Access to the tree was limited so no confirmation could be made. The national survey trap in that grid was located approximately one half mile from the site, and on two occasions yielded Agrilus anxius but did not capture any EAB.
In addition, the wood line approximately 40 yards west of the infested trees was a site where two girdled trap trees had been established in the spring of 2006. Both the first tree-peel in fall 2006, and the second in 2007 failed to yield any EAB.
While responding to the Mercer County positive, PDA Entomology staff visited several sites in Lawrence County where no EAB could be located. Entomology staff did collect the first confirmed specimen from Beaver County. The Beaver County site is an expansion of the 2007 site in Butler and Allegheny Counties. It is located on private property adjacent to Interstate 76 just west of the Beaver-Butler County line. The tree that specimens were recovered from was heavily infested and had many thousand exit holes.
Although the 2008 purple panel trap survey did not yield any EAB in PA, several pest Agrilus species were detected during this survey in addition to other Buprestidae genera (see appendix). Some important opportunities were lost in 2008. Crews were directed to screen for target pests in five different groups. If a survey crew was uncomfortable screening for select groups, they were instructed to include all specimens. In samples where no screening occurred, there were at least two groups that were present in nearly every sample, and season ending reports from crews that were screening indicate that the groups were well represented in their traps as well. Specifically the family Elateridae (Click Beetles) and the family Mordellidae (Tumbling Flower Beetles) were frequently trapped. One Mordellidae in the genus Tomoxia was so frequently encountered that the survey crews took to calling it the "Gray Ash Beetle". Although we feel PDA could handle identifications of Mordellidae, the accurate identification of Elateridae would not be possible.
Sirex noctilio: A trapping project for Sirex noctilio was conducted in Pennsylvania in 2007 in response to detections in Tioga and Bradford counties in 2006. PDA, PA Bureau of Forestry, and USDA-APHIS-PPQ personnel placed and monitored some 700 Lindgren funnel traps singly in 5 x 5 mile grids spanning centrally across Pennsylvania from May through September. Additional trapping was implemented in non-infested northern Pennsylvania counties by PDA and the USDA Forest Service. Trapping detected the presence of Sirex noctilio in four new counties in 2007: Elk, Erie, McKean, and Monroe. Plans were underway to continue similar trapping in 2008. An alternative trapping methodology developed by the USDA OTIS laboratory was presented to PDA and was adopted for limited survey in Counties not known to be infested in Pennsylvania. The procedure involves girdling a small group of trees and trapping visiting specimens using glued panel traps hoisted into the trees. A partner agency, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources continued surveillance in 2008 using Lindgren funnel traps. PDA was able to establish and trap at 27 sites in 2008, but the results were not good. Less than 10 specimens were recovered using this protocol. The most likely reason for failure was that PDA survey crews could not girdle trees using herbicides, but had to rely on mechanical girdling. This may have led to reduced attractiveness of the trap trees. DCNR traps which were baited with alpha/beta pinene lure and placed on girdled trees outperformed the glued panel traps deployed by PDA. Sirex noctilio was detected in one new County (Potter County) by a DCNR trap in 2008. For details of the DCNR Sirex trapping program see the 2008 FPM Forest Pest Conditions Report (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/FORESTRY/leaflets/2008_PA_Report2.pdf). No plans for a survey specific to Sirex noctilio are planned for 2009, although all surveys will record Siricidae data collected.
Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB): Only a few public reports for ALB were investigated in 2008. Most were negative, and one was inconclusive. Several calls for information were generated when news of the Massachusetts infestation was reported by newspapers in Philadelphia. One call from a homeowner north of Philadelphia could not be resolved. A site visit and investigation was performed in October of 2008. The property owner complained that a non- coniferous tree (identity of tree species unknown) had snapped from excessive gallery work in a late summer storm in 2003. This was a year after the owner had many crated items shipped to the property from Hong Kong. Upon investigation of the tree, the owner recalled seeing a shiny black 1-1/2 long beetle with white "chevrons" and black and white banded antennae. When presented with several native and foreign specimens as examples, he indicated that Annoplophora glabripennis (ALB) was the one that looked the most like it. He had thought nothing of it in 2003, but remembered it when recent newspaper articles highlighted in 2008. A property investigation revealed no symptomatic trees. The site will be monitored periodically by PDA staff. PDA is planning to trap for ALB in Eastern counties in 2009.
Though no survey was designed specifically to capture ALB in 2008, sugar bait traps were placed by county survey crews to specifically target exotic Cerambycidae. Many Cerambycidae were captured by these traps (see appendix), but no ALB or other exotic Cerambycidae were trapped.
Exotic Wood Boring Beetles (EWBB): Due to the recent detections of the Scolytus schevyrewi (Banded Elm Bark Beetle) and other invasive bark beetles in PA, PDA staff and county survey crews deployed Lindgren funnel traps baited with IPS lure, EtOH, and multistiatus lure at several sites across the commonwealth in 2008. This survey was similar to US Forest Service Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) surveys, but targeted hardwood species instead of conifer species. No new records of Banded Elm Bark Beetle were detected in 2008. Two sites did however record new county records for Anisandrus (formerly Xyleborous) maiche in Indiana and Washington counties. This ambrosia beetle was new to North America in 2006 when it was detected in Allegheny County. No other detections of note resulted from this survey.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB): PDA workers, surveys, and complaints from the general public continue to add new counties to the list of counties known to be infested with BMSB Pennsylvania. In all BMSB has now been detected in 28 Pennsylvania Counties. BMSB was picked up by purple panel traps deployed for EAB surveillance but not in any new counties.
Viburnum Leaf Beetle (VLB): No survey was conducted for this pest in 2008. No new counties were reported through plant inspections or calls from the general public.
Other Pests of Note in 2008: The Entomology Lab at PDA reported several pests as new in the state in 2008.
A table supposedly made of a North Vietnamese sandalwood root stump was turned into PDA by a Perry County woman in February of 2008. The table had been purchased on-line and was noted to have been responsible for "chewing noises" by its owner. This prompted the owner to store it outside in extremely cold weather for a few months. Upon inspection, the table had one exit hole, but no other signs of life. A dissection of the table revealed that it was not a sandalwood root stump, but rather three pieces of sandalwood root puttied together to look like single piece, attached to a piece of either cherry or oak slab wood to serve as a flat surface. The entire piece was puttied and painted to appear as a single root stump. The slab wood piece contained two separate species of longhorned beetle. The first was dead and non-viable. The second was alive and was identified as Aeolesthes sp. Taxonomy of this genus is difficult, but one species listed on the National Oak Commodity survey, Aeolesthes sarta, is a pest of major concern to oak. Regulatory officials were alerted and an investigation to the pathway for this pest was initiated.
The Pittsburgh zoo submitted a sample of ants for identification collected from their primate house kitchen. The primate house kitchen is located on the floor below a tropical botanical display. The ants were identified as Technomyrmex albipes, the white footed ant. White footed ant is known to be a major structural pest in Florida, and is considered new to Pennsylvania.
The Apiary section of Entomology has been conducting a survey of native pollinators in Pennsylvania over the past few years. In late June of 2008, a non-native bee known as Lithurgus chrysurus , the Mediterranean Wood Boring Bee, was detected in Lehigh, Northampton, and Monroe counties in Eastern PA. This bee nests in wood structures and is credited as a pest in some European literature. The pest is considered new to PA, but it is not new to North America. It was discovered in New Jersey in the mid1970's and was thought to be eradicated in 1978. There is little information on the pest but it was easily collected while foraging on spotted knapweed along railroads in the Lehigh Valley area.
A head of organic Romaine lettuce was purchased from a major chain grocery store in Lancaster County in September of 2008. The lettuce was infested with live aphids, identified as Nasonovi ribis-nigri, the Lettuce Aphid. The aphid is a known pest of lettuce in California and had not been previously recorded in Pennsylvania. Additional aphid specimens were collected under similar circumstances in Cumberland County, PA. At this time, no Federal action has been taken as a result of this detection.
A pest control technician submitted a ground beetle from a warehouse in Luzerne County, PA. The specimen was found in association with pallets from an undisclosed shipment originating from the Mid-western United States. The beetle was identified as Euryderus grossus. It is know as a "plains" species and is most often associated with grasslands. It is known for western Ohio and Ontario, but was previously recorded in Pennsylvania. Limited surveillance was done in the immediate vicinity, but yielded no additional specimens. No future action is planned.
NURSERY/GREENHOUSE AND NURSERY DEALER CERTIFICATION
During the 2008 inspection/certification year 4944 inspections were conducted (1474 nursery, 1577 greenhouse and 1893 nursery dealer). The number of active licensed growers currently totals 2,279. The number of active licensed nursery dealers currently totals 4423. Total acres of production equals 230,905.4 with 28,564,014 million square feet under glass.
PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATION
Shipments of plant material requiring Phytosanitary Certificates totaled 1713, which required 407 inspections.
POSTENTRY QUARANTINE
Five lots of plant material from three countries consisting of 2117 units were released from postentry quarantine following the appropriate inspections and detention period. Five other lots consisting of 14,583 units have completed the required detention period and are pending release.
West Virginia Department of Agriculture Plant Industries Division Report to the Eastern Plant Board April 6-9, 2009 Portland, Maine
West Virginia Department of Agriculture Plant Industries Division Report to the Eastern Plant Board
Plant Industries Division is made up of two units, the Agricultural Pest Survey Programs Unit and the Forest Health Protection Programs Unit. During FY 2008, the Division operated programs under the authority of the West Virginia Plant Pest Act and the West Virginia Noxious Weed Act, plus a number of cooperative agreements and memorandums of understanding with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDA-APHIS-PPQ) and the USDA, Forest Service (USDA-FS).
Agricultural Pest Survey Programs
Introduction - Except for the Pest Identification Laboratory (PIL) and the Black Fly Control Program, each of the programs in the Agricultural Pest Survey Programs (APS) Unit conducts statewide surveys to detect both native and exotic (foreign) agricultural pests that can be detrimental to West Virginia’s agricultural interests and the ability to export agricultural products. The survey data gathered by the APS Unit is used to formulate recommendations, as needed, on the pest problems encountered.
The Black Fly Control Program has the responsibility of significantly reducing the black fly population in southeastern West Virginia without adversely affecting non-target aquatic organisms within the area of treatment. This is accomplished by monitoring black fly larval development in certain southern West Virginia river systems for the purpose of determining the optimum time to conduct black fly control operations. Suppression activities target problem areas of the New, Bluestone and Greenbrier Rivers.
Accomplishments:
• Supervised 22 black fly treatments between April and October. • Conducted 83 aquatic invertebrate monitoring trips between March and October. • Investigated black fly complaints in Greenbrier County. • Attended the VA/WV Water Research Symposium in Blacksburg, VA, November 2007. • Visited Uniontown, PA, lab for training with PA Black Fly Suppression Program personnel. • Begin mapping hazards (wires) and riffles on Greenbrier River for expansion of program north of Marlinton.
The Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program fulfills the requirements of a cooperative agreement between the USDA-APHIS-PPQ and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) by conducting surveys for insects, plant pathogens and injurious weeds in field crops in order to detect any newly introduced foreign plant pests and to monitor the presence and severity of native agricultural pests.
CAPS Program efforts are directed at improving methods for the detection and measurement of plant pests, conducting surveys in support of export certification requirements and entering pest data from this and other Division programs into the National Agricultural Pest Information System's (NAPIS) computer database. Reports of pest populations are made to local, state and federal cooperators. In addition to conducting regular native pest surveys for agricultural plant pests, the program cooperates in multi-state regional pest surveys.
Accomplishments:
• Established 11 sentinel plots in soybean fields and Kudzu patches throughout Mason, Wood, Hardy, Berkeley, and Jefferson counties and monitored them weekly to biweekly for soybean rust (SBR) pustules beginning in June. • Processed 7,000 soybean leaves using combination of incubation and dissecting microscope analysis. Analyzed 200 suspect leaf samples using DNA-PCR analysis. No SBR was detected. • Sampled a total of 45 acres of commercial potato fields for potato cyst nematode (PCN) throughout Mason, Randolph, Fayette, Jefferson, Mineral, Tucker, Preston, and Nicholas Counties. All samples tested negative for PCN leading to enhanced marketability for interstate and international markets. • Sampled wheat grain from 14 growers in Mason, Wood, Nicholas, Berkeley, and Jefferson Counties for karnal bunt. All samples tested negative leading to enhanced marketability for interstate and international markets. • Diagnosed over 20 outbreaks of endemic plant diseases and provided management information to county extension agents and directly to growers. • Performed field inspections for the national seed potato certification program as required for interstate trade of WV seed potatoes. • Surveyed 25 counties for exotic wood-boring wasps from July to October. This survey will continue until the fall of 2008. • Surveyed 11 counties for leek moth from August through September 2007. • Conducted surveys for exotic dodders (Cuscuta spp.) and broomrapes (Orobanche spp.). • Set 70 traps in seven counties for Sirex noctilio in June. This survey will continue through December 2008. • Set traps in 30 counties for exotic wood-boring beetles and wasps in June. This survey will continue through December 2008. • Set 50 light brown apple moth traps in 13 counties. This survey will continue until the fall of 2008. • Set 487 emerald ash borer purple prism traps in 26 counties.
The Pest Identification Laboratory (PIL) is a cooperative effort of the entomology and plant pathology staff. It complements the pest survey and detection efforts of the APS Unit by providing expertise in the identification of insects, plant diseases, weeds and other pests; disseminates information and/or control recommendations on the problems identified; investigates problems considered significant from a biological, regulatory or impact standpoint; and maintains permanent reference collections and record systems of insects, plant diseases and weeds. It also provides pest identification, information and control recommendations for private individuals, businesses and other government agencies.
Accomplishments:
• Identified suspect target specimens from approximately 1,100 trap samples collected by the USDA-APHIS-PPQ cooperative exotic bark beetle and Sirex woodwasp surveys, and from the USDA-APHIS-CAPS exotic bark beetle and exotic woodborer survey program. Thirteen species of exotic scolytids and eight species of long-horned beetles were targeted, which included the Asian long-horned and the Japanese cedar long-horned beetles, the Sirex woodwasp, and the emerald ash borer (EAB). • Identified and confirmed a suspect larva from Fayette Co. as EAB. This was the first record of EAB in West Virginia. • Participated in the EAB trapping (EABT) program by surveying for suitable trap sites and deploying 50 traps in the field. • Identified suspect buprestid beetles from 570 trap samples for the EABT surveys. EAB was not found outside Fayette County. • Identified approximately 150 insect samples collected from Lindgren funnel traps set by the Cooperative Forest Health Protection Programs for the detection of exotic Sirex woodwasps. No targets have yet been found. • Conducted surveys for the emerald ash borer/Cerceris sp. wasp bio-surveillance project in cooperation with the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. • Entered approximately 400 identified specimens into the Reference Insect Collection computerized data base, making a total of 129,028 identified specimen records as of the end of June. • Identified specimens of the family Tingidae for the Florida Department of Agriculture. • Provided peer reviews of scientific publications upon request by journal editor of the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. • Handled 1,226 pest calls, 493 specimens, and 185 literature requests. • Provided 36 youth educational programs, 15 adult educational programs, and 14 media interviews on various pest-related problems.
The Plant Pest Regulatory Program (PPRP) protects the state’s agricultural interests from native plant pests that are capable of being distributed on plant material produced within the state and from foreign plant pests that may be introduced either accidentally on plant material from out-of-state sources or intentionally for research or other purposes. This is accomplished through the use of surveys, inspections, quarantines, plant pest orders, plant pest permits, memorandums of understanding, and compliance agreements. The PPRP serves the consumer by preventing the marketing of disease or insect-infested nursery stock and serves other horticultural interests of the state by helping to prevent or retard the dissemination of foreign plant pests. The PPRP is responsible for the annual inspection of all nurseries and, when possible, nursery stock available for distribution at nursery dealerships; the registration of all in-state nurseries and nursery dealers; and the enforcement of all in-state plant quarantines. The PPRP is also responsible for seeing that plant products leaving the state comply with all regulations of the receiving state. The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Regulatory Program, which operates as part of the PPRP, operates under a cooperative agreement with the USAD-APHIS-PPQ. Its mission is to prevent the artificial spread of the EAB through enforcement of state and federal EAB quarantines and the dissemination of information about EAB. The Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread (STS) Regulatory Program, another part of the PPRP, operates under a cooperative agreement with the STS Foundation, which is funded through the USDA-APHIS-PPQ. This agreement funds an STS regulatory officer to investigate the movement of articles that pose a risk of spreading the gypsy moth into uninfested areas of the state and nation.
Accomplishments:
• Registered 117 nurseries and 478 nursery dealerships and conducted 172 nursery inspections and 46 nursery dealership inspections, resulting in the stop-sale of approximately 62 individual pieces of nursery stock because of injurious plant pests. • Conducted surveys under a cooperative agreement with the USDA-APHIS-PPQ that allowed 729 lumber shipments, seven log shipments and one commercial plant shipment to be certified for export from the U.S. • Issued 51 phytosanitary certificates for interstate plant shipments. • Published the West Virginia Certified Nurseries and Nursery Dealers Directory. • Visited 80 sites for the purpose of investigating the movement of articles capable of transporting gypsy moth life stages into uninfested areas under the USDA-APHIS-PPQ funded Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread Regulatory (STSR) Program. • Conducted four inspections at vehicle weigh stations along interstate highways for the purpose of enforcing state and federal gypsy moth quarantines. • Set gypsy moth traps at 26 log yards, sawmills, campgrounds, natural gas facilities, nurseries, and Christmas tree farms operating under state gypsy moth quarantine compliance agreements with the WVDA to monitor gypsy moth activity. • Visited 105 sites for the purpose of investigating the movement of articles capable of transporting emerald ash borer life stages into uninfested areas under the USDA-APHIS- PPQ funded Emerald Ash Borer Regulatory Program.
Forest Health Protection Programs
Introduction – The Forest Health Protection (FHP) Programs Unit provides for forest insect and disease surveillance and detection programs and, when necessary, plans and conducts pest eradication or abatement programs. The programs utilize cooperative agreements with the USDA Forest Service (USDA-FS) to conduct surveys, identify causal agents, delimit infestations, plan control programs, and assist citizens of the state in forest insect and disease related problems. Allied cooperators include West Virginia University (WVU) and the West Virginia Division of Forestry (WVDF).
Forest Insect Survey and Detection Program
• Conducted a hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) survey and control program. HWA permanent plot data was collected from Blackwater Falls State Park, Cathedral State Park and Greenland Gap and forwarded it to the USDA-FS for database inclusion. HWA detection surveys recorded HWA in 3 new counties: Mingo, Wood and Cabell. • Monitored Scymnus sinuanodulus and Laricobius nigrinus predatory beetles that had been released in 3 HWA-infested hemlock stands. Additionally, 1,500 adult Sasajiscymnus tsugae predatory beetles were released in Hawk’s Nest, Cathedral State Park and Blackwater Falls State Park. • Conducted an emerald ash borer (EAB) survey and outreach program. Visual surveys were conducted on well-over 800 sites in 55 counties. Two more locations in Fayette County were positive for EAB but nothing out side of Fayette County. • Conducted a survey for siricid woodwasps. Paired Lindgren funnel traps were run in 19 counties in declining pine stands. The primary targeted organism, Sirex noctilio, was not collected. • Helped set 360 EAB traps for the USDA-APHIS/CAPS trapping effort for EAB. • Helped set traps for the CAPS light-brown apple moth (LBAM) survey.
Forest Disease Survey and Detection Program
• Plant pathology laboratory personnel participated in the USDA-APHIS-PPQ- CPHST Phytophthora ramorum Provisional Laboratory Approval Program and received their accreditation. They are now certified to perform USDA-APHIS-PPQ validated diagnostic tests for Phytophthora ramorum. • Participated in the 2008 Sudden Oak Death National Survey with the USDA-FS to determine if sudden oak death is established in eastern forests. Four streams were chosen for sampling in Nicholas, Fayette, Kanawha and Cabell Counties. Phytophthora ramorum was not detected in the bait leaves but Phytophthora species were recovered 100% of the time in each stream.
• Conducted a beech bark scale/disease resistance survey to determine any isolated pockets or trees that have survived the killing front or still remain scale in heavily scaled area of the advancing front. From this survey, several areas were found that indicate that there are some beech that have not succumbed to scale or mortality. • Conducted a bacterial leaf scorch (BLS) survey. BLS was detected in 5 new counties (Berkeley, Morgan, Kanawha, Cabell, and Wood) and on 5 new hosts (sweet gum, red maple, elm, black oak, and pin oak) aside from being detected on red oak as well. Prior to 2008, BLS had only been detected in Jefferson County on red oak.
Joint Forest Insect and Disease Accomplishments:
• Collected ozone damage data and specimens as part of a continuing USDA-FS cooperative forest health monitoring (FHM) agreement. • Completed the 2007 and 2008 Forest Pest Conditions Database Report and the 2007 FHP/FHM Federal Accomplishments Report for the USDA-FS. • Conducted general insect and disease surveys and made site visits in response to pest calls. Identified insect and disease specimens and contacted landowners with recommendations. • Created informational displays and presented educational material at several events to raise awareness of forest health issues.
Gypsy Moth Program
The Gypsy Moth Program is, by far, the largest single FHP program. It is divided into two parts; the Gypsy Moth Cooperative Suppression (GMCS) and Slow the Spread (STS) Programs, both of which are carried out in cooperation with the USDA-FS. Under the GMCS Program umbrella with the USDA-FS, the WVDA conducts the Cooperative State-County- Landowner (CSCL) Program in the generally infested area of the state. The STS Program operates in the transition zone between the leading edge of the main infestation and the uninfested zone where adult males are only occasionally found. The objectives of the Gypsy Moth Program are to minimize defoliation and tree mortality in the generally infested area and to retard the spread of the moth into uninfested areas of the state.
• A primary component of the Gypsy Moth Program, particularly the STS part of it, is geographic information systems (GIS) support. The purpose of the GIS section is to provide computer systems operation and data management support and produce maps for male gypsy moth detection surveys, gypsy moth and other forest defoliator surveys and forest pest suppression operations. The primary focus of GIS support during the 2006- 2007 seasons was managing male gypsy moth trap catch data, digitizing treatment block maps and related activities.
GMCS Accomplishments:
• GMCS aerial observers flew approximately 4.75 million acres surveying for gypsy moth defoliation on state and private lands in West Virginia. Staff mapped 81,308 acres of defoliation in 2008. • GMCS field crews completed 6,441 survey plots and surveyed more that 365,801 acres during the fall of 2007 to determine what areas were at risk for gypsy moth defoliation in the spring of 2008. • Completed the evaluation of the 2008 proposed gypsy moth treatment blocks for the presence of rare, threatened or endangered (RTE) species and prepared the environmental assessment, biological evaluation and completed the scoping process. • Conducted BMP training sessions on gypsy moth regulations at Romney and Moorefield Division of Forestry. • Quentin “Butch” Sayers was selected to serve another term on National Gypsy Moth Management Board Executive Committee and continued as Chairman of the National Cooperative Forest Health Protection Aerial Application Safety Council. • Inspected contractor’s aircraft for compliance with the gypsy moth program contract. • Completed gypsy moth suppression efforts on 64,495 acres under the CSCL Program. Of that total, 54,373 acres were treated with Dimilin while 10,122 acres were treated with Btk.
STS Accomplishments:
• Trapped a total of 57,323 male gypsy moths. This compares to 69,574 male gypsy moths in 2007. • A total of 4,566 traps were proposed across West Virginia and a total of 4,458 traps were set in 2008.
GIS Accomplishments:
• Provided computer systems operation and data management support as well as map production for male gypsy moth detection surveys, gypsy moth and other forest defoliator surveys and forest pest suppression operations. • Developed a method for providing aerial pilots detailed terrain information, within treatment blocks in order to improve safety. • Continued upgrading regional supervisors with ArcView 9.1.