April 2008 report from the California Oak Mortality Task Force

March edition of NPDN First Detector Network News

In this edition:

-Tracking wheat rust overseas and other pests and pathogens in North America
-GPDN Diagnostic Web-Seminar Series is available to download now!
-Training opportunities for First Detectors and others
-Ralstonia survey – help define Ralstonia training and diagnostic needs!
- Employment opportunities

And more!

New and Emerging Insect Pests

List Compiled by Todd Murray et. al, October, 2007
New and Emerging Pests Recently Reported by PPDEN Collaborators
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Pest Name: Dusky Wireworm, Agriotes obscurus
First reported in WA: 2000 – First US Record
Potential Impacts: Larvae prefer to feed on cereal crops but will feed on many species of economically important crops. Larvae have caused significant damage in some agricultural settings in Western Washington
Areas(s) found: Whatcom, Snohomish, King, Piece, Thurston, Lewis, Cowlitz Counties
Brief description: WSU DDDI sample 92 was submitted from King County in 2005 for confirmation of ID
Links to resources:
WSDA Pest Survey Pages: http://whatcom.wsu.edu/pestsurvey/
Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter: http://csanr.wsu.edu/whatsnew/SPNW-v4-n2.pdf
WSU Extension contact(s): Todd Murray, WSU King County Extension, Eric LaGasa WSDA

Pest Name: Bordered Plant Bug, Largus cinctus
First reported in WA: 2003 – First Washington State Record
Potential Impacts: Feed on a wide range of row crop and ornamental plants.
Areas(s) found: Lewis County
Brief description: WSU DDDI sample 70 submitted in 2004 documented unusually large numbers of samples originating from Lewis County
Links to resources:
WSU Extension contact(s): Eric LaGasa WSDA

Pest Name: Viburnum Leaf Beetle, Pyrrhalta viburni
First reported in WA: 2004 – First Washington State Record
Potential Impacts: Serious defoliator of many Viburnum species.
Areas(s) found: Whatcom, Skagit Counties
Brief description: WSU DDDI sample 63 and sample 105 submitted in 2004 and 2005 respectively documented first state and county records for this pest. Southern Skagit County is the furthest southern record for this insect.
Links to resources:
WSU Whatcom County: http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/homehort/pest/VLB.htm
WSU HortSense: http://pep.wsu.edu/HortSense/scripts/query/displayProblem.asp?tableName=plant&problemID=767&categoryID=1
WSU Extension contact(s): Todd Murray, WSU King County Extension

Pest Name: Large Yellow Underwing, Noctua pronuba
First reported in WA: 2004 – First Washington State Record
Potential Impacts: Feed on a wide range of plants and could cause damage to turf.
Areas(s) found: Most Washington State Counties
Brief description: WSU DDDI sample 107 submitted in 2005 documented the first County record in Snohomish.
Links to resources:
WSU Extension contact(s): Eric LaGasa WSDA

Pest Name: Large Yellow Underwing, Noctua pronuba
First reported in WA: 2004 – First Washington State Record
Potential Impacts: Feed on a wide range of plants and could cause damage to turf.
Areas(s) found: Most Washington State Counties
Brief description: WSU DDDI sample 107 submitted in 2005 documented the first County record in Snohomish.
Links to resources:
WSU Extension contact(s): Eric LaGasa WSDA

Pest Name: Apple Clearwing Moth, Synanthedon myopaeformis
First reported in WA: 2006 – First North American Record
Potential Impacts: Bark-feeding moth of apple and other fruit trees.
Areas(s) found: Whatcom
Brief description: WSU DDDI sample 185 submitted in 2006 documented the consultation with outside specialists for confirmation of the species identification.
Links to resources:
WSU Whatcom County: http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/homehort/pest/synanthedon.htm
WSU Extension contact(s): Eric LaGasa WSDA

Pest Name: Rhyparochromis seed bug, Rhyparochromis vulgaris
First reported in WA: 2000 – First North American Record
Potential Impacts: Aggregate in large numbers in homes and other structures
Areas(s) found: Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Peirce, Thurston, Lewis, Cowlitz, Garfield, Franklin
Brief description: WSU DDDI sample 81 submitted in 2005 documented confirmation of the species identification and first county record for King County. WSU DDDI sample 166 documented the first county record in Whatcom. WSU DDDI sample 619 documented the first county record in Garfield. WSU DDDI sample 736 documented the first county record for Franklin County.
Links to resources:
WSDA Pest Survey Pages: http://whatcom.wsu.edu/pestsurvey/158RhyparochromisAndRagliusAlertAndUpdate06.pdf
WSU Extension contact(s): Eric LaGasa WSDA

Pest Name: Raglius seed bug, Raglius spp.
First reported in WA: 2002 – First Washington State Record
Potential Impacts: Aggregate in large numbers in homes and other structures
Areas(s) found: King, Peirce, Yakima
Brief description: WSU DDDI sample 111 submitted in 2005 documented confirmation of the species identification and first Washington State Record. WSU DDDI sample 216 documented the first county record in King. WSU DDDI sample 295 documented the first county record in Yakima.
Links to resources:
WSDA Pest Survey Pages: http://whatcom.wsu.edu/pestsurvey/158RhyparochromisAndRagliusAlertAndUpdate06.pdf
WSU Extension contact(s): Eric LaGasa WSDA

Pest Name: Dogwood sawfly, Macremphytus tarsatus
First reported in WA: 2005 (?) – First Washington State Record
Potential Impacts: Defoliator of Dogwood Trees
Areas(s) found: King, Whatcom
Brief description: WSU DDDI sample 1187 submitted in 2007 documented tentative species identification.
Links to resources:
WSU Extension contact(s): Eric LaGasa WSDA

Septoria found in BC on hybrid poplar

Sept 24- 2007
Septoria musiva (a severe leaf spot and stem canker) has been found on
hybrid poplar in commercial stool beds in the Frasier Valley of British
Colombia. This is a pathogen not known to be in U.S. PNW and has the
potential to impact hybrid poplar health and the trade of growing stock
(including cuttings) entering and leaving Washington.

Follow up information-

Article on recent finds of Septoria in Frasier Valley of British
Colombia:
http://pnwfungi.org/pdf%20files/manuscripts%20volume%202/pnwf20077.pdf

Pictures of Septoria signs and symptoms:
http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/subimages.cfm?SUB=704

FEDERAL ORDER:Quarantine of Putnam and Westchester Counties of New York for Pine Shoot Beetle

This Federal Order is issued under the regulatory authority provided by the Plant Protection Act of June 20, 2000, as amended, Section 412 (a), 7U.S.C. 7712 (a), which authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the movement in interstate commerce of any plant, plant part, or article if the Secretary determines the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the dissemination of a plant pest within the United States.
This Federal Order quarantines, effective immediately, Putnam and Westchester Counties in New York for PSB, Tomicus piniperda. Accordingly, effective immediately, all interstate movement of PSB regulated articles from Putnam and Westchester Counties must be done in accordance with the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Plant Protection Act found at7 CFR 301.50 et seq. This action is in response to detection of PSB in Putnam and Westchester Counties.

The 7CFR 301.50-3(a) allows the quarantine of less than an entire state only when the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Administrator has determined, as here, that the designation of less than the entire state as a regulated area will be adequate to prevent the spread of the PSB and that the state enforces an intrastate quarantine that matches Federal PSB regulations. Prior to October 15, 2007, the State Plant Regulatory Official for New York must confirm the establishment of an intra-state quarantine for Putnam and Westchester Counties that mirrors the Federal Regulatory requirements as specified in 7CFR301.50. The confirmation should be made in writing to the APHIS State Plant Health Director for New York.
The 7CFR 301.50-3(b) provides for temporary designation of new quarantine areas pending publication of a rule to add counties to the list shown in 7CFR 301.50-3(c). 7CFR 301.50-3(b) further requires written notification be given to the owners of property and enterprises in a newly quarantined area, advising them of the quarantine and the necessity of complying with requirements for the movement of regulated articles. This is the responsibility of the Federal and/or State regulatory personnel responsible for the PSB program in the affected state.
If you wish more details on the Federal PSB regulatory program, you may contact the Staff Officer Weyman Fussell at (301) 734-5705. For information on regulatory requirements for movement of articles out of New York, please contact the APHIS State Plant Health Director Yvonne DeMarino at (518) 869-5540.

We continue to appreciate the cooperative relationship with the state of New York in our mutual effort to prevent the spread of quarantine pests.

LIGHT BROWN APPLE MOTHS DETECTED IN SOLANO, LOS ANGELES COUNTIES

Release# CDFA07-055


LIGHT BROWN APPLE MOTHS DETECTED IN SOLANO, LOS ANGELES COUNTIES Vallejo, Sherman Oaks are new infested sites

SACRAMENTO, July 9, 2007 – The light brown apple moth, an invasive species native to Australia, has recently been detected in Solano and Los Angeles counties, adding to the nine previously infested Bay Area and Central Coast counties. Single moths were detected in both new counties, and additional arrays of insect traps in both areas have detected no additional moths.

In the vicinity of the newly detected infestations, regulatory actions will be directed at wholesale nurseries, retail nurseries, and community and school gardens. Regulations are enforced in a cooperative effort by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and county agricultural officials. The details are as follows:

Wholesale Nurseries – Wholesale nurseries in the infestation area will be asked to sign compliance agreements stating that they will inspect host plants before shipment and certify that they do not harbor the light brown apple moth.

Retail Nurseries – Retail nurseries will be inspected and, if infested, will be asked to remove infested plants and plant parts and then sign compliance agreements certifying that host plants to be sold are free-from the pest. Discarded plants and plant parts will be double-bagged and taken to landfills.

Community and School Gardens – Host fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, and cauliflower may not be removed from school and community gardens.

CDFA is asking that green waste hauled by landscapers and lawn maintenance services be hauled only to approved locations, such as landfills, compost facilities and biomass facilities.

In addition, CDFA, the USDA and agricultural commissioners are requesting that residents of the infestation zone please not remove any plants or plant parts from their property, including fruit and flowers.

The first detection of light brown apple moth in the Bay Area came on February 27. Trapping and surveying will continue throughout the state to learn the parameters of the infestation.

Light brown apple moth is native to Australia and is found in New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Hawaii. It is a threat to agricultural crops as well as our environment and natural habitat, forests, parks and urban landscapes. The range of host plants is broad with more than 250 plant species known to be susceptible to attack by this pest. Major domestic hosts of concern are stone fruit (peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries and apricots), apples, pears, grapes and citrus.

The pest destroys, stunts or deforms young seedlings; spoils the appearance of ornamental plants; and injures deciduous fruit-tree crops, citrus and grapes.

The USDA and CDFA have assembled a technical working group comprised of international experts on light brown apple moth to discuss detection and mitigation strategies to safeguard against this potentially damaging pest and prevent its further spread. The two agencies will continue to work together to take the appropriate regulatory action to prevent the spread of this pest in association with the movement of host commodities.
Media Contact: Steve Lyle, Director of Public Affairs
916/654-0462
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The California Department of Food and Agriculture protects and promotes California’s $31.8 billion agricultural industry. California’s farmers and ranchers produce a safe, secure supply of food, fiber and shelter; marketed fairly for all Californians; and produced with responsible environmental stewardship.

June edition of First Detector Network News

In this edition:

o Activate your APHIS eAuthentication at APS
o New NPDN training registration site to be unveiled July 2
o Two New Image Galleries
o New pests and pathogens on the move:
-Asian soybean rust
-Nettle Caterpillar
-Poliaspis cycad scale
-Light Brown Apple Moth
o Training opportunities in pathology and entomology, including
-NPDN Town Hall at APS
-Training-related feedback solicitation
-Third Annual Soybean Rust Short Course (free registration and 5.5 CEUs!)
-LucID training

To have your noteworthy news items included in future editions of the newsletter, please send an email to clharmon@ufl.edu. You can include a short descriptive paragraph, links, and related images or documents – don’t forget to include author credits!