Questions and Answers
Regulated Area in Nova Scotia for Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle

In 1999, BSLB was confirmed in Point Pleasant Park in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) of Nova Scotia. To date, this is the only known location in North America where BSLB has been found.

BSLB can be distinguished from North American species of Tetropium by the presence of coarse sculpturing, with tiny, tooth-like projections on the surface of the upper thorax. Its antennae are red-brown and about one-third to one-half the body length. Its legs are brown in color.

1 - Egg
The eggs are 1 mm long, oblong and white with a tinge of green. They are usually laid singly or in pairs, and are well concealed and securely attached under bark scales.

2 - Larva
The larva is yellow-white, about 8.5 - 22 mm long, and slightly flattened, and the head is reddish brown and the visible portion is 1 - 2 mm wide. It feeds initially in the inner, living bark and later scores the sapwood. At maturity the larva excavates a shallow, oval-shaped pupation chamber in the sapwood or inner bark.

3 - Pupa
The pupa is white, about 17 mm long by 3.8 mm wide. The larva pupates in the spring after a period of winter dormancy.

4 - Adult
Adult emergence begins in the spring and continues over a 6-8 week period. Males and females are sexually mature upon emergence and the female has a full complement of eggs (average 80). Mating and host selection begins almost immediately.

Symptoms may include:

• Scattered streams of unexplained resin along the trunk;
• Beetle exit holes in the bark about 4mm across
• Networks of feeding tunnels just under the bark, up to 6abbr title="millimetres">mm across, filled with sawdust-like material (frass);
• Tunnels in the wood about 4cm deep and 6abbr title="millimetres">mm wide. These tunnels appear L-shaped when the wood is cut in cross section;
• Coarse sawdust in and around tunnels or plugging the entrance/exit hole;
• Infested trees may exhibit progressive yellowing, browning, and loss of needles from portions of the crown.

Under the authority of the Plant Protection Act, the CFIA is the agency responsible for preventing pests of quarantine significance from entering Canada. When pests of quarantine significance are introduced into Canada, consultation is undertaken with federal and provincial government departments, stakeholders, scientists and international experts to determine whether this is merit in trying to eradicate or contain the pest. The CFIA carefully considers this advice in reaching a science-based decision on the risk-management strategy for the pest.

In the case of Halifax, a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary task force was formed in the spring of 2000.

While the CFIA is the lead agency, the continued efforts and cooperation of its federal, provincial, municipal and industry partners are required to protect Canada’s valuable resources.

A regulated area is created to slow or prevent the spread of quarantine pests (including diseases) that could adversely affect plant life. Generally, restrictions or prohibitions are placed on areas or things where the pest is present or suspected to occur and where there is merit in trying to slow or prevent the spread of the pest. One way to establish a regulated area is through a Ministerial Order.

A regulated area allows the CFIA to establish and enforce risk-mitigative measures to prevent the movement of potentially infested wood items from areas where a quarantine pest has been found. This is necessary to slow the spread of the pest, to protect the health of Canada's trees and forests and to prevent economic losses to the nursery, forest products and tourism industries and municipalities.

Additionally, a Ministerial Order defining a regulated area officially identifies the region that is known to have a quarantine pest.

When necessary, the CFIA issues a Prohibition of Movement notice to restrict or prohibit the movement of high-risk materials from properties that are confirmed or suspected to be infested with a quarantine pest. The purpose of these alternative tools is to slow the spread of the pest to and protect neighbouring areas.

If you have received one of these notices, you are prohibited from moving the regulated materials described in the Notice from the location described on the Notice without prior written permission from the CFIA.

A Ministerial Order was issued in October 2000 (revised in July 2001) that established a portion of the HRM as a regulated area. Under this Order regulated materials can be moved within the regulated area, but cannot be moved out of the area without the prior written permission of the CFIA.

When necessary, the CFIA has also issued Prohibition of Movement notices to property owners outside, and in some instances within the regulated area where BSLB-infested trees have been found in order to prevent the spread of the beetle from these locations. No regulated materials can be moved from these properties without the prior written permission of the CFIA.

How long will the regulated area in Nova Scotia remain in effect?

Regulated materials include wood of all species, in the form of logs, trees, lumber, wood with bark attached, nursery stock, wood mulch, wood or bark chips, and firewood.

What is a Movement Certificate?

Can wood processing companies outside the regulated area harvest regulated materials from within the regulated area?

Will the CFIA continue to remove trees in generally infested areas?

Will the CFIA continue to remove infested trees found outside the regulated area?

Yes. Landowners who see signs of infestation on their spruce or conifer trees should contact the CFIA at 1-877-868-0622 or 902-426-4667.

The Agency has been increasing public awareness of the BSLB and the requirements of the Ministerial Orders by:

• publicizing the regulations on the movement of regulated materials in newspapers and on the radio;
• actively seeking opportunities to present information or speak on the BSLB;
• holding public meetings;
• keeping the public, stakeholders and affected industries up to date through regular meetings and on the CFIA website;
• distributing posters and other printed materials to the public, to impacted areas and to affected industries
• taking effective enforcement actions when warranted
• Continued cooperation from the public is essential if we are to control this pest

What impact has Hurricane Juan had on the BSLB eradication efforts in the HRM?

Hurricane Juan reached Halifax and the surrounding area on September 29, 2003. It mainly affected the central corridor of mainland Nova Scotia from Halifax through to the town of Truro and beyond to Prince-Edward-Island. Millions of spruce trees were toppled, uprooted and devastated, leaving them stressed and vulnerable.

In December 2003, the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) issued a report that warned of the potential increase in BSLB populations as a result of stressed trees and windfall from Hurricane Juan. In February 2005, the CFS confirmed the presence of breeding BSLB in spruce windfall.

Is the CFIA cleaning up regulated materials in the regulated area that were affected by the hurricane?

No.  The CFIA is not responsible for the clean-up of debris left by Hurricane Juan. However, the Agency assists in these efforts by working with landowners, industry and other partners to develop appropriate management solutions to allow clean-up in an acceptable manner. The CFIA will continue to review any additional measures brought forward to promote the harvesting of trees from the regulated area while preventing the spread of the BSLB.

What you can do to help protect Canada's trees and forests from the BSLB:

 Do not move regulated materials out of the regulated area or from properties under Prohibition of Movement notices without prior written permission from the CFIA.

If you live outside the regulated area, report signs of BSLB infestation to the CFIA.

Assist the CFIA by reporting all illegal movement of regulated materials.

Nova Scotia BSLB Office:
1-877-868-0622 or (902) 426-4667
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.