Illinois Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey

2008 Hot Zone Proposals for Statewide Targeted Detection Surveys

 

Primary Hot Zone

The primary hot zone for Illinois is the single hot zone the SPARC warrants the most attention and pest detection resource allocation outside of other separately PPQ funded domestic or emergency programs (such as EAB, ALB, PSB, European Gypsy Moth).

 

1. Distribution Centers

A distribution center is a warehouse or other specialized building which is stocked with products to be re-distributed to retailers or wholesalers. With foreign container cargo volume increasing yearly, the possibility of exotic pest introduction at one or more of these distribution centers poses a threat to Illinois agriculture.

Distribution centers are the foundation of a retailing network. They allow a retail location to stock vast numbers of products without incurring an explosion in transportation costs. The way a typical distribution network operates is to have centers setup throughout a commercial market. Suppliers will ship truckloads of products to the distribution center. The distribution center will then store the product or de-palletize/re-palletize until needed by the retail location and ship the proper quantity.

A very efficient method of distribution, besides direct to the retailer, is shipping full truckloads/railcars/containers to a distribution center, unload full pallets of products, possibly warehouse the product, and then load the pallets onto trucks that are going to individual stores. The risk associated with this method would be hitchhikers on pallets/SWPM and target pests escaping the packaging of infested product during storage. Most products cannot be delivered in this manner and pallets, or even individual boxes, must be broken down and divided, resulting in a higher risk of target pests escaping into the surrounding environ from de-palletized infested product.

 

Research will be conducted during the 07-08 winter, to locate and target certain distribution centers for survey/trapping activities during the ’08 season. Taken into consideration to determine the pest risk at these distribution centers will be:

·        Type of products

·        Origin of products

·        Volume of product

·        EAN’s issued with distribution center being the destination

·        Environs surrounding the distribution center

·        Information provided and discussed at the monthly Port Risk Committee meeting

·        Information shared and discussed at the Spring CAPS Committee meeting

 

This targeted detection survey (TDS) will consist of both trapping and visual inspections around the selected distribution centers by PPQ and CAPS personnel. Targets of this survey will be, but not limited to:

·        Exotic bark and woodboring beetles

·        Sirex Woodwasp

 

Additional targets may be added specific to the situation at a certain distribution center.

 

All survey data will be collected using geographic coordinates and entered into the National Agricultural Information System (NAPIS) at county resolution. Survey results and summary data will be reported back to the SPARC in the fall of 2008.

 

Secondary Hot Zones

Secondary hot zones are hot zones the SPARC warrants attention, but the targeted detection survey will be secondary in nature to the primary hot zone, or the hot zone requires more research to determine the actual pest risk.

 

S1. Rail/Ocean Cargo and AGM

Asian gypsy moth is an exotic pest not known to occur in the United States. The Asian gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar ssp.) is a voracious pest of trees. An introduction into the US would pose a major threat to the forest habitats on the North American continent. This is due to the broad range of host plants this insect will feed on and the fact that the female AGM is an active flyer that is capable of flying up to 25 miles. AGM egg masses are tolerant of extremes in temperature and moisture and travel well on logs, pallets, shipping containers, and on the hulls and riggings of ships. When Asian gypsy moth is detected in the US, an eradication program is implemented.

 

PPQ has identified a list of ships from Russia and Japan that are in known Asian Gypsy Moth infested ports during the egg laying period. Ships on these lists are considered high risk for AGM. CBP follows inspection and exclusion protocols for AGM at ports of entry, however there is still a risk of AGM escaping to the environs of cargo facilities. This targeted detection survey will compliment the detection and exclusion activities carried out by CBP personnel.

 

AGM was detected in 2006 at The Port of Long Beach, CA. The rail corridor between Long Beach and Illinois is one of the busiest in the nation. Over 4.3 million containers arrived to the Port of Long Beach last year and cargo volume continues to increase. There is a risk of AGM entering Illinois through the rail system from West Coast Ports of Entry.

           

Piggybacking of trap activities onto the Illinois PPQ Gypsy Moth trapping activities will likely occur to conserve time and resources. Select locations in Illinois will be trapped for AGM by PPQ/CAPS/Cooperators throughout the 2008 season based on input from the SPARC membership knowledge base:

·        Harbors throughout the State

·        Rail cargo yards and container storage facilities

 

All survey data will be collected using geographic coordinates and entered into the National Agricultural Information System (NAPIS) at county resolution. All positive traps will be sent to PPQ OTIS labs for DNA analysis to separate Asian Gypsy Moth detections from the present European Gypsy Moth in Illinois. Instructions on delivering these positive traps to OTIS will be sent out early next year. Survey results and summary data will be reported back to the SPARC in the fall of 2008.

 

S2. Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) and Illinois Locations at Risk

In March 2007, the first find of light brown apple moth (LBAM), Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), on the US mainland occurred in California. LBAM is a native pest of Australia and has been introduced into India, New Caledonia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Although it was reported in Hawaii in the late 1800s, the LBAM find in California is the first on the US mainland.

 

LBAM has a host range in excess of 150 plant genera in over 70 families, including nursery stock, cut flowers, stone fruit (peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, and apricots), pome fruit (apples and pears), grapes, and citrus. The pest damages plants and crops by feeding on leaves, new shoots and fruit.

 

PPQ will conduct a national detection survey for LBAM to find any additional infestations. Given the wide host range of this pest and the number of potential pathways for spread, determining trapping sites based on risk (e.g., Targeted detection surveys of Hot Zone) may be the best way to leverage resources.

 

Piggybacking of trap activities onto the Illinois PPQ Gypsy Moth trapping activities will likely occur to conserve time and resources. Research will be conducted by PPQ and cooperators during the 07-08 winter, to locate and target certain locations for this targeted detection survey during the ’08 season.

 

1.      Nurseries that have received nursery stock from CA

2.      Frequent sites of ornamental plantings (potential introductions) – Landscapes, Parks, etc.

3.      Abandoned and production orchards and vineyards of apple, blackberry, blueberries, currants, grapes, and stone fruits (peaches, plums, etc.)

 

PPQ requires the use of ISIS for reporting all data collected as part of the LBAM National Survey. All survey data will be collected using geographic coordinates and also entered into the National Agricultural Information System (NAPIS) at county resolution. Survey results and summary data will be reported back to the SPARC in the fall of 2008.

 

S3. Barge Traffic

Barge traffic is any shipment transported by way of an inter-coastal waterway that is in or borders the state. The Mississippi River System, including the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) connects Gulf Coast ports, such as Mobile, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Houston, and Corpus Christi, with major inland ports, including Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago, St. Paul, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh. The Lower Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico allows ocean shipping to connect with the barge traffic, thereby making this segment vital to both the domestic and foreign trade of the United States.

 

Barges are well suited for the movement of large quantities of bulk commodities and raw materials at relatively low cost. The inland and intracoastal waterway system handles about 630 million tons of cargo annually, or about 17 percent of all intercity freight by volume. These are raw materials or primary manufactured products that are typically stored for further processing or consumption, or transshipped for overseas markets.

1.      Coal is the largest commodity by volume moving on the inland waterways. The country's electric utility industry depends on the inland waterways for over 20 percent of the coal they consume to produce electricity.

2.      Petroleum is the next largest group, including crude oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, heavy fuel oils and asphalt.

3.      Another large group includes grain and other farm products, most of which moves by waterway to ports on the Lower Mississippi River or Columbia River for export overseas. 60 percent of the country's farm exports travel through inland waterways.

4.      Other major commodities include aggregates, such as stone, sand and gravel used in construction; chemicals, including fertilizers; metal ores, minerals and products, such as steel; and many other manufacturers products.

 

Barge Traffic has been largely unmonitored as a means of introducing exotic plant pests in the Midwest. Cargo of foreign origin or from regulated interstate areas may enter Illinois ports. Inland ports in Illinois will be investigated to develop a risk profile of product entering Illinois via barge traffic. This will include site visits along with visual surveys by PPQ/Cooperator personnel. Follow-up trapping activities will be conducted if warranted.

 

Other Hot Zones to be researched winter 2008:

·        Research facilities and the escape potential of prohibited exotic pests brought to the US under PPQ permit or in violation.

·        Other Targeted Detection Surveys?