Asian Gypsy Moth A Case Study

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Asian Gypsy MothA Case Study
Donna Leonard USDA Forest Service Forest Health
Protection
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AcknowledgementsUSDA AGM Offshore Team Members

• APHIS
• Vic Mastro, Lab Director, Center for Plant Health
  Science and Technology
• Weyman Fussell, National Program Leader for Gypsy
  Moth
• Michael Simon, Senior Staff Officer, Quarantine
  Policy, Analysis and Support
• Joann Cruse, State Plant Health Director, WI
• Forest Service
• Steve Munson, Entomologist, Forest Health
  Protection
• Joel McMillan, Entomologist, Forest Health
  Protection

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Gypsy MothLepidoptera Lymantria dispar

• Native to Europe and Asia
• Univoltine
• Hatch in spring
• Ballooning
• Feed and develop for 2 months
• Pupate
• Adults active in summer

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Gypsy Moth (continued)

• Broad range of host species
• Spring defoliator
• Impacts
• Decreased growth
• Tree mortality
• Nuisance factor

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European Gypsy Moth Introduced

• Abundant host
• Suitable climate
• EGM thrived and spread

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Gypsy Moth Infested Area Defoliation in US
88 million acres since 1924 (earliest records) 76
million acres since 1970
70
14
60
12
Defoliation
50
10
40
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Area Infested
Acres Defoliated (millions)
Acres Infested (millions)
30
6
20
4
10
2
0
0
1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
Year
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Forest Susceptibility
EGM Current Range Less than 30 of the
susceptible host is infested 100 years after the
introduction
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USDA Gypsy Moth Management Programs
STS reduce spread
Suppression mitigate local impacts
Eradication eliminate isolated populations
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Pheromone traps

• STS and eradication programs use pheromone traps
  to detect and delineate infestations
• Pheromone traps capture males only

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Gypsy Moth Native Range
European Gypsy Moth
Asian Gypsy Moth
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EGM vs AGM

• European (EGM)
• Females are flightless
• Natural dispersal limited to ballooning (short
  range)
• Long range dispersal is human aided
• Females smaller
• Not attracted to light
• 250 hosts primarily oaks
• Eggs laid on tree boles

• Asian (AGM)
• Females are strong flyers (up to 40 km)
• Disperse after mating
• Natural dispersal is both short and long range
• Females much larger
• Attracted to lights
• 600 hosts oaks and conifers
• Eggs laid on foliage

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Significance of Differences

• AGMs broader host range
• Higher probability of establishment in the US
• Potential for greater damage
• AGMs female flight
• Increased spread rates
• Impacts survey programs (STS and eradication)
  because management is based on survey for males
  using pheromone traps

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AGM in Russian ports during outbreaks
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Incoming ships are pathways for introduction of
AGM to the U.S.
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History of the AGM Problem

• In early 1990s, AGM came into the Pacific
  northwest on ships.
• Eradication efforts were implemented in
• Oregon and Washington (USA)
• Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
• Another introduction in North Carolina
  eradication in 1994-95
• Total cost of eradication 30 million
• Multiple small eradications since 1995

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USDAs Response to AGM

• Eradications response guidelines
• Began monitoring high risk introduction sites
  (ports, waterways, and cargo receiving areas)
  with pheromone traps
• Identify moths using molecular techniques
• Established cooperative monitoring programs in
  source countries
• Russia 1993
• Japan 2004
• South Korea 2007
• Identify high risk ships for inspection

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AGM Detection History
Year State (s)
1991 OR. WA
1993 NC
1994 WA
1995 WA
1996 WA
1997 WA
1999 WA
2000 OR
2003 CA
2004 ID
2005 CA, TX
2006 CA, OR
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AGM Detections
Primarily associated with ports Some associated
with rail lines, presumably from containers
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Russian Far East Monitoring Program1993 - present

• Monitor Lymantriid populations in high risk ports
  and surrounding forests
• Establish flight period ( risk period for ships)
• Adjust port lighting during peak flight periods
• Identify and record all ships in ports during the
  flight period
• Require phytosanitary certificates for ships with
  N. American destinations
• Provide early warning of high risk years (??)

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3 Lymantriids Monitored

• Asian gypsy moth
• L. dispar
• Nun moth
• L. monacha
• Rosy gypsy moth
• L. mathura

Photos Forestry Images - UGA
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Japan

• 2004 present
• AGM only
• High risk ports identified
• US ship inspections

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South Korea

• 2007 1st year
• AGM only
• 2 ports monitored

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Thank You!