Swede Midge (Contarinia nasturtii) in New York State

DA-2007-06
February 28, 2007

TO: STATE AND TERRITORY AGRICULTURAL REGULATORY OFFICIALS
Swede Midge, Contarinia nasturtii (Kieffer), is a pest of Brassica and other related crucifers. It has caused serious economic damage to vegetable crops in Canada, especially to broccoli fields. This fly species had not been detected in North America before 2001.

Beginning in September 2004, Swede Midge, a Cecidomyiidae, was first detected in Niagara County, New York. During the course of subsequent survey activities for this pest in 2005, additional positive samples were collected in the New York counties of Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Orleans, and Wyoming.

Detection efforts for Swede Midge continued in New York in response to the finds in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, during the course of survey work, seven additional counties discovered the pest:Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Lewis,Madison, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wayne. This brings the total number of counties positive for Swede Midge in New York to thirteen.

APHIS continues to coordinate with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to conduct additional delimiting surveys for infestations of Swede Midge. A pest alert describing this insect and symptoms of damage by the pest is available on the APHIS website at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ep/emerging_pests/swedemidge.html.

Paul R. Eggert for

Richard L. Dunkle
Deputy Administrator
Plant Protection and Quarantine