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Summary of Plant Quarantine Pest and Disease Situations in Canada
2003

Table of Contents

FORESTRY SURVEYS

Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)

Established populations of Anoplophora glabripennis were detected for the first time in Canada in September of 2003. The infestation occurred in an area along the municipal border between the cities of Vaughan and Toronto, Ontario. The CFIA is engaged in an eradication program in cooperation with municipal, regional and provincial agencies as well as the Canadian Forest Service. Details on the progress of this program can be found at the CFIA Asian Longhorned Beetle web page at: www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/pestrava/asialong/asialonge.shtml

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)

This exotic insect pest of ash (Fraxinus spp.) was positively identified for the first time in North America in the summer of 2002. Background information on the pest and regulatory updates can be found at the following link on the CFIA page: www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/pestrava/ashfre/agrplae.shtml

The CFIA surveyed nearly 7000 sites in Ontario during 2003. There were only three positive sites outside of Essex County. Two of these were located in what would later become the Ash Free Zone and the third was in the extreme southwestern portion of the municipality of Chatham-Kent.

Table 1. Summary of Emerald Ash Borer Surveys in Ontario - 2003

Exotic Bark Beetle Trapping

Related CFIA links: Wood packing material

See also CFS Biodiversity Studies: www.pfc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/biodiversity/exotics/

Maps: Exotic Bark Beetles Survey 2003

• Ontario 2003
• British Columbia 2003
• Quebec 2003
• Maritimes 2003
• Newfoundland 2003

The detection survey program for exotic bark beetles complements the CFIA's import inspection program for wood packing materials in marine containers and port activities designed to control import of exotic pests in wood dunnage and crating. Sites near dunnage storage and disposal areas were the principal survey target areas as well as a number of warehouse locations identified through CFIA import interceptions. Trapping in port areas was not conducted directly on the pier (vessel docking and loading/unloading points at the port) but moved to host stands in the port vicinity, with a focus on detection of established populations not interception of transient occurrences.

Lindgren funnel traps (8 or 12-funnel) were used for the survey. Traps were placed in March and collected in November, with two lure changes (June and September). A minimum of three traps were placed at each target area with multiple groups of three traps placed at some larger sites. Each trap was baited with one of the three lure combinations below:

1) Ultra-High Release a-pinene + UHR ethanol

2) Ultra-High Release ethanol alone

3) Phero Tech Inc. Exotic Bark Beetle Lure® (ipsdienol, methyl butenol, cis-verbenol)

There were 544 traps placed with the number per province broken down as follows: BC (68), ON ( 210); QC (168); NB (15); NS (38); PE (24); NF (21). In addition to the above, separate Tomicus piniperda and Hylurgus ligniperda surveys were conducted in some provinces as described in other sections of this report (Tomicus piniperda; Hylurgus ligniperda). There were 1856 lab submissions to the CFIA Centre for Plant Quarantine Pests. Each submission contained multiple specimens,. The only exotic species identified belonged to the family Scolytidae and these are listed in Table 2 below.

Table 2. Summary of Exotic Scolytidae Trapped in Canada - 2003

Red-haired Pine Bark Beetle (Hylurgus ligniperda)

• Map: Red-haired Pine Bark Beetle Survey - Ontario 2003
• Map: Red-haired Pine Bark Beetle Survey - Quebec 2003

This beetle was discovered for the first time near Rochester, New York in the late 1990's. It is native to Europe where it is a pest of pine trees. The CFIA is reviewing the regulatory status of this pest and survey data is required to support any proposed regulations. Many of the survey sites chosen were those targeted for Pine Shoot Beetle in southern Ontario and southern Quebec in previous surveys and included pine stands along major transportation routes, pine Christmas tree plantations and sawmills importing logs from New York State.

The survey utilized Lindgren funnel traps (8 or 12-funnel) baited with a combination of Ultra-high release -pinene and Ultra-high-release ethanol. The survey began in late March and ended in late October with two lure changes during the season. Traps were placed at 75 sites in southern Ontario and 28 in southern Quebec. No H. ligniperda were detected in either province in 2003, supporting Canada’s pest-free area claim.

Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)

Newfoundland

• Map

In 2003, 323 delta traps were deployed in the annual detection survey in Newfoundland. Traps were placed in areas that were identified as locations that posed a high risk of possible introduction, such as campgrounds, recreational sites, tourist chalets and wooded areas frequented by visitors. Most survey sites were near the towns of Port-aux-Basques, Corner Brook, Gander, and St. John's. Three males were captured in three traps in the city of St. John’s.

Prince Edward Island

• Map

A decrease in moth captures were observed in 2003 when compared to 2002. Among the 360 traps placed, 265 moths were captured in 89 positive traps (compared to 1765 moths captured in 317 positive traps in 2002; 214 moths captured in 114 positive traps in 2001 and 80 moths in 46 traps in 2000). Multiple trap captures were recorded from 42 traps with a maximum capture of 17 moths per trap. The city of Charlottetown had the highest trap captures of 163 males. Follow-up egg mass searches, conducted in the fall around positive trap locations did not detect other life stages (egg masses, pupal/larval skins, females).

Nova Scotia

• Map

The CFIA conducted leading edge trapping along the eastern boundary of the regulated area, and detection trapping throughout eastern N.S. In support of the survey activity, the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources has had in place (since 1995) a province-wide network of pheromone traps to monitor population trends. In 2003, the highest male moth captures were recorded in Halifax (377), Cumberland (199), Hants (127), and Colchester (74) Counties. A total of six male moths were captured in six different locations within Cape Breton County. Follow-up egg mass searches around positive trap locations found an egg mass at Parrsboro which was sent NSDNR for identification. In addition to the above, traps were placed around ports in Halifax and Shelburne as part of the Asian gypsy moth trapping survey (see section on Lymantria dispar-Asian and Lymantria monacha in this report). All moths analyzed were identified as the North American genotype.

New Brunswick

• Map trapping

Gypsy Moth surveys within the province of New Brunswick are a co-operative undertaking between the CFIA, the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources and Energy (NBDNRE) and the Canadian Forest Service.

An aerial survey conducted by NBDNRE found that the defoliation caused by gypsy moth in 2003 was decreased from that observed in 2002. The decrease was attributed to a combination of poor survival of overwintering eggs and an increased incidence of disease in the juvenile population during the summer. About 1504 hectares of hardwood forest were affected mainly in the vicinity of Grand, Maquapit and Washademoak Lakes. Only 352 hectares of this area had severe defoliation the remainder was categorized as light (342 ha) and trace (687 ha) amounts of defoliation.

In addition to the aerial survey, cooperative trapping surveys were conducted by the three partners. The majority of the trapping effort focused on, 1) delimitation along the leading edge of the infestation and 2) early detection, in areas removed from the infested areas and determined to have a high risk of introduction (importing sawmills, tourist areas). The CFIA focused on delimitation surveys around the regulated and placed 348 traps. The NBDNRE and CFS focused on early detection and monitoring of population dynamics in known infested areas.

In addition to pheromone trapping, egg mass surveys were conducted in the fall of 2003 by NBDNRE. For the second year in a row, NBDNRE found new egg masses in the city of Miramichi (Newcastle Parish, Northumberland Co.) and Upper Northampton (Northampton Parish, Carleton Co.). New egg masses were found in for the first time New Maryland (New Maryland Parish, York Co.), Penniac (St. Mary’s Parish, York Co.) and in Moncton. Egg masses were again found in the parishes of Sussex, Studholm and Westfield (King’s Co.), Hampstead (Queen’s Co.) and Woodstock (Carleton Co.). The NBDNRE also recorded a major reduction in the number of egg masses around Grand, Maquapit and Washademoak Lakes.

The CFIA also trapped sites around Saint John, Belledune, Oromocto, and Burton as part of the Asian Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) and Nun Moth (Lymantria monacha) port monitoring project discussed in another section of this report. No nun moths were detected and all L. dispar moths tested using molecular analysis were types as having a genetic make-up similar to other North American L. dispar.

Quebec

Surveys for NAGM were not conducted by CFIA staff in 2003. According to provincial surveillance information, the overall gypsy moth (NAGM) distribution has not changed significantly in Quebec in a number of years with little to no defoliation observed in the past several years except in a few isolated locations in southern Quebec.

Ontario

According to CFS aerial survey information, the total area of moderate-to-severe defoliation caused by the gypsy moth decreased in 2003 to a 59,413 ha compared to 153 674 ha mapped in 2002. Nearly half of the defoliation, occurred in or near the town of Parry Sound. Virus and fungal diseases, including Entomophaga maimaiga, were generally prevalent in larval populations this year. Further information on specific areas of defoliation can be obtained from the Canadian Forest Service in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. No trapping for this pest was conducted by CFIA or CFS in 2003 pending a policy review.

[D]

Western Canada: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia

• Map: BC coast
• Map: BC interior

Annual surveys are conducted for Gypsy Moth in all four Western Canada provinces by both the CFIA and provincial partners. There were no positive traps in Manitoba or Saskatchewan but 4 male moths were caught in the City of Edmonton, Alberta. In British Columbia, the B.C. Ministry of Forests takes the lead in eradication and control programs following new detections and the CFIA conducts the majority of the surveys. In BC during 2003, 100 male moths were caught in pheromone traps in the following locations. Lower Mainland: Abbotsford (2), Burnaby (2), Chilliwack (1), N. Delta (43 moths plus 15 egg masses), Langley (4), N. Vancouver (1), Richmond (1), Vancouver (1) Vancouver Island.: Campbell R. (1), Duncan (3), Gabriola Island. (4), Gordon Head, Saanich (33, 2 egg masses), Nanaimo (1), Oak Bay (1), Sooke (1), View Royal (1).

High density trapping grids (22.5 traps/ha, inter-trap distance 21 m) were employed in both North Delta and Gordon Head (Saanich), around sites with previous finds. Trapping at other locations occurred at lower densities depending on capture history in an area. All moths captured in British Columbia are tested using DNA analysis to determine if any moths are of the Asian biotype. All moths captured in BC in 2003 had a genetic profile typical of other North American L. dispar reference specimens.

Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum)

• Map: Phytophthora ramorum Survey - British Columbia 2003
• Map: Phytophthora ramorum Survey- Ontario 2003
• Map: Phytophthora ramorum Survey- Quebec 2003

Surveys for P. ramorum focused on two activities in 2003. The first was a traceback investigation in British Columbia in response to new finds in nurseries Oregon and Washington states. The second was a national detection survey. In both cases, samples were submitted to the CFIA Centre for Plant Quarantine Pests in Ottawa.

The national P. ramorum survey was conducted from June to September and targeted the following types of sites:

1. Importing Nurseries: At each nursery site, up to 30 samples from plants showing symptoms consistent with P. ramorum infection were collected.
2. Nursery Buffer Zone: Any host material within a 50 m buffer around sites in #1 was inspected. Up to 30 samples from plants showing symptoms consistent with P. ramorum infection were collected per buffer zone.
3. Botanical and Public Gardens: a select group of parks/botanical gardens were targeted with a bias toward those with a large Rhododendron component, or had recent planting/acquisition activity of host material from sources abroad. Up to 30 samples from plants showing symptoms consistent with Pinfection were collected per site.
4. Rhododendron Societies: private collections of society member were inspected and up 10 samples from symptomatic plants were collected per individual.

P. ramorum was not detected during the national survey. The number of sites sampled during the national survey are summarized below. The numbers of samples collected by province and host genus are summarized in Table 3.

• BC - 80 companies with 113 farm sites (plus 50 meter buffer around each site)
• ON - 50 nurseries with 70 farm sites (plus 50 meter buffer around each site)
• NS - 1 nursery (plus 50 meter buffer around each site)
• NB - 1 nursery (plus 50 meter buffer around each site)
• QC - 17 nurseries with 18 farm sites (plus 50 meter buffer around each site)

Table 3. Summary of samples collected during national P. ramorum survey by Province and host genus.

Traceback Investigation and Eradication of P. ramorum in Britsh Columbia in 2003. Following notification from the USDA of find of P. ramorum in an Oregon nursery outside of the areas then regulated by the CFIA for the disease, CFIA immediately initiated a trace of all plant material entering Canada from the infested nursery. Three shipments were identified as being imported by a nursery in Richmond, B.C. in 2002. On June 11, 2003, the CFIA confirmed that P. ramorum was present on Rhododendron plants at the same nursery in Richmond. CFIA sampled then destroyed the infected block. CFIA also began tracing the movement of related plant material to determine the origin and spread of the infection. All host materials at the infected nursery were placed under regulatory control for a period of 90 days. During the control period, the plants, soil and water at the facility were sampled and tested.

During the B.C. traceback investigation, CFIA staff collected 2844 samples from 13 nurseries, 8 landscape sites, a parks department, and lands adjacent to the infected nursery. Sampling focused on host material at the infected site, a 400 m buffer around the infected site, and sites that shipped plants to an infected nursery (either those in the U.S. or the 1 nursery in Canada).

Of the samples taken in B.C., five Rhododendrons were identified as being infected with the disease. Four of the five were located at the original B.C. nursery, the other from a landscape planting also originating from the infected nursery. All plants along with others in the infected block were destroyed plus host material in the residential planting was removed and destroyed.

Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle (Tetropium fuscum)

Please visit the CFIA Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle site for more information on this program: www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/pestrava/bslb/bslbe.shtml.

In early 2000, the Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle (BSLB) was been identified by the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) to be the causal agent of red spruce mortality in Point Pleasant Park in the Halifax Regional Municipality. Point Pleasant Park is 75 hectares in size and is located in the heart of Halifax. This is the first known interception of this invasive forest pest in North America. It is believed that this pest arrived in Canada in solid wood packing material via the port of Halifax which is immediately adjacent to the park.

Since May of 2000 CFIA and Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources (NSDNR) staff have conducted extensive surveys to determine the distribution of BSLB. No pheromone or effective trapping method is available for use in a large operational context. Therefore most of the survey effort consists of a labour-intensive visual inspection of spruce trees for symptoms of attack: streams of resin scattered along the trunk; 4 mm holes in the bark; and networks of feeding tunnels just under the bark, up to 6 mm across and filled with sawdust-like material.

The table below summarizes the surveys conducted for BSLB in Nova Scotia up to December 2003.

* In most areas this represents inspection of nearly 100% of the host trees in the targeted area.

* Due to the excessive number of fallen or hanging trees in Point Pleasant Park and McNabs Island as a result of Hurricane Juan, it has been decided that both areas are too hazardous to survey at this time. The survey of these areas were to be completed during the month of October, but have now been postponed until both areas are considered accessible and safe.

Pine Shoot Beetle (Tomicus piniperda)

The list of regulated areas can be found in Appendix 1 of D-94-22.

Newfoundland and British Columbia

Pine Shoot Beetle (PSB) detection surveys in these provinces were incorporated into the Exotic Bark Beetle Survey through the use of the Ultra-high release -pinene baited traps. Tomicus was not detected in these provinces (see Table 1).

Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

In these provinces detection surveys are conducted near sites that have a high risk of introduction from North American sources, such as sawmills that import pine logs from the US or in pine stand along major transportation corridors. There 20 sites trapped by CFIA in New Brunswick and in Nova Scotia 9 sites were trapped by the Provincial Department of Natural Resources. Samples from bot provinces were submitted to the CFIA Centre for Plant Quarantine Pests in Ottawa. No T. piniperda were detected in these provinces.

Quebec and Ontario

Surveys for T. piniperda were not conducted by CFIA in Ontario or Quebec in 2003 pending a policy review. The Quebec Provincial Ministry of Natural Resources forestry staff placed Lindgren traps at about 50 sites in the Outaouais region and reported the detection of the insect at two new localized sites in the MRC’s of Pontiac and Les Laurentides.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae)

During surveys conducted during 2001 and 2002 for this insect, it was found that relatively few importing nurseries deal in hemlock stock. In addition, wild stands of Tsuga are not abundant, dispersed and not inventoried. As a result this survey was discontinued in 2003 with the exception of nine nurseries and one wild stand in Ontario Ontario. No evidence of A. tsugae was detected in 2003.

Nun Moth (Lymantria monacha) and Asian Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)

• Map: Asian Gypsy Moth and Nun Moth trapping in Canada - 2003

Lymantria monacha and the far-east Asian biotypes of L. dispar and have the potential to cause severe damage to trees in Canada. These surveys are conducted in addition to North American gypsy moth surveys described in other sections of this report. Trapping is mainly targets areas in the vicinity of ports as well as marine shipping container storage or unloading areas and freight forwarding facilities. Traps were generally installed in a linear pattern around risk areas with an inter-trap distance of 500 m to 1 km. For L. monacha coniferous stands were preferentially selected and for L. dispar traps were placed in hardwood stands. In provinces with established populations of L. dispar, a subset of the moths captured in each trap was selected for molecular analysis to determine specimen genotype. In provinces that do not have established populations of L. dispar, all moths captured during routine gypsy moth detection surveys were also subjected to molecular analysis. For L. dispar, +disparlure pheromone was used. For L. monacha a mixture of racemic disparlure, racemic monachalure and olefin was used. In 2003, traps for these species were placed in BC (21 sites), ON (12 sites), QC (30 sites), NB (6 sites), NS (5 sites), PE (1 site) and NF (10 sites). No L. monacha were detected and all L. dispar moths tested using molecular analysis had a genetic profile typical of other North American L. dispar reference specimens.

HORTICULTURE SURVEYS

Plum Pox Virus

For information on the PPV program visit the CFIA PPV page at the link below. Details on the 2003 surveys can be found in the Survey Updates section at the bottom of the page.

Leek Moth (Acrolepiopsis assectella)

• Map: Leek Moth Survey - Quebec 2003
• Map: Leek Moth Survey - Ontario 2003

The CFIA conducted it’s first year of formal surveys for this pest in 2001. Pheromone trapping and visual surveys were conducted at commercial and hobby farms in Ontario and Quebec. Pherocon® IIC traps were used in the survey baited with leek moth pheromone [blend of (Z)-11-hexadecenal (Z11-16:Ald) and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol acetate (Z11-16:Ac), in a 10:1 ratio and impregnated into a rubber septum release device]. Each survey site contained multiple traps depending on the size of the field.

In 2003, trapping and visual surveys focused on areas outside of counties where A. assectella was found in 2001 or 2002. In Ontario, the CFIA recorded no positive survey sites among the sixteen surveyed. In Quebec a number of new sites were detected in CFIA surveys in 2003. These were in the vicinity of the towns of Saint-Polycarpe, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Châteauguay, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Châteauguay, Sainte-Brigitte-des-Saults, Saint-Hyacinthe-le-Confesseur, St-Canut. One sample was also submitted to the CFIA lab from a private garden near St-Hubert.

Swede Midge (Contarinia nasturtii)

More information on the background of this pest and the CFIA response can be found on the CFIA Horticulture web site at: www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/hort/swede.shtml.

A visual inspection of host material using a systematic walking pattern was used for this survey. There were three inspection visits per farm (once per month in July, August and September) and at each visit a minimum of two crop blocks were inspected per farm. Suspect tissue samples were submitted to the CFIA Centre for Plant Quarantine Pests in Ottawa for analysis.

Ontario

• Map: Swede Midge Survey - Ontario 2003

The CFIA surveyed 54 farms in Ontario, all of which were located in counties outside of those in which the insect was found prior to the 2003 season. Swede midge was detected in three new counties (Durham, Hamilton-Wentworth and Waterloo). The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food also reported swede midge damage in six canola fields in the Grand Valley area, Dufferin County.

Quebec

• Map: Swede Midge Survey - Quebec 2003

In Quebec 94 farms were surveyed in 2003. This represented just under 20% of the commercial vegetable farms producing host plants in the province. A single positive site was recorded in Quebec located at a vegetable farm in Laval. This was the first record of this insect in the province. Suspect larvae were initially collected from symptomatic broccoli and cauliflower plants. These were subsequently reared to adults for final confirmation.

Oriental Fruit Moth (Grapholita molesta)

• Map: Oriental Fruit Moth Survey - British Columbia 2003

Surveys for OFM have been carried out in British Columbia which is the only province in western Canada with commercial stone fruit production and where the insect is not present. Wing traps baited with a flexlure pheromone dispenser are used in the survey. The principle area of commercial stone fruit production in B.C. is the Okanagan Valley where the majority of trapping takes place. A total of 137 sites were trapped in 2002 and no G. molesta were detected.

Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica)

Nova Scotia

• Map: Japanese Beetle Survey - Nova Scotia 2003

See survey reports for 2001 and 2002 for detailed descriptions of the survey and control activities following the 2001 discovery of an infestation in Cornwallis Park, Halifax. For 2003, the survey area was expanded to include areas up to 15 km from the epicenter of the 2001 infestation. Traps were set at three different densities, varying with risk level and proximity to previous finds. In the high-density zone, there were 20 traps/km² or an inter-trap distance of approximately 100 m. This zone extended to a 1 km radius from sites where Japanese Beetles were found in 2002. Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) was originally only considered to be moderate risk, but as catch numbers increased in 2003, it was changed to high-density zone. The medium-density zone encompassed a 2 km radius from the high-density zones and had a trap density of 10 traps/km² (inter-trap distance of 250 m). The low-density zone had a trap density of 2 traps/km² (inter-trap distance of 350 m). This zone extended outward in a 9 km radius from the edge of the medium-density zone. In addition to the fixed density grids, traps were placed throughout the province in and around importing nurseries. In total there were just over 800 traps placed in the greater Halifax-Dartmouth area.

At each trap visit, a visual survey of host material near the trap was conducted. Although beetles were found during the visual surveys, there was little evidence of adult feeding, including Cornwallis Park. In addition, soil sampling was conducted near traps with high beetle captures. The soil sample technique was the same as that used in 2002. A minimum 30 cm by 30 cm section of sod was cut on three sides using a spade. The sod was flipped over and the soil inspected for the presence of any larva and sod was returned to its original position. No Japanese Beetle larva were found.

Among the 805 traps placed, there were 576 beetles captured during the survey. In Cornwallis Park 11 beetles were captured in the 32 taps placed. High captures were in an area about 4 km northwest of the park where 187 beetles were captured, 124 of which were in one trap. High captures were also recorded in the Mount St. Vincent University area where 213 beetles were captured. In the Dartmouth trap area only 11 beetles were caught.

Quebec and Ontario

Surveys were not conducted in Quebec and Ontario pending a major policy review which would designate regulatory categories based upon the Japanese Beetle infestation status of provinces and harmonize the CFIA program with that in place in the US.

British Columbia

• Map: Japanese Beetle Survey - British Columbia 2003

Annual detection surveys for Japanese beetle are conducted in British Columbia. In 2003, 130 sites were trapped in Greater Vancouver/Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and in the Interior. Most other areas of the province are not suitable for larval development. The survey focused on nurseries, garden centers, sod farms, golf courses and around sites that may have been exposed to regulated imported material from infested areas of the US or Canada. Japanese beetle was not detected in British Columbia in 2003.

Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick

In 2003, P. japonica surveys were conducted at 46 sites in New Brunswick and 17 sites in Prince Edward Island. Detection surveys in these non-infested provinces survey focused on nurseries, garden centres, sod farms, golf courses and around sites that may have been exposed to regulated imported material from infested areas of the US or Canada. No P. japonica were captured in New Brunswick or PEI in 2003.

Chrysanthemum White Rust (Puccinia horiana)

Surveys were conducted on the British Columbia mainland in and around commercial greenhouses and at hobbyist locations as a follow-up to eradication actions for P. horiana in 2002. Fifty sites on Vancouver Island were also surveyed. No P. horiana was detected in 2003.

Blueberry Maggot (Rhagoletis mendax)

Newfoundland

• Map: Blueberry Maggot Survey - Newfoundland 2003

Detection trapping was conducted at 21 sites where lowbush blueberries are commercially harvested in Newfoundland. The major areas surveyed were the Avalon and Bonavista peninsulas, central Newfoundland and near Port aux Basques. No R. mendax flies were detected in Newfoundland in 2003.

British Columbia

• Map: Blueberry Maggot Survey - British Columbia 2003

The Fraser Valley is the major production area of commercial blueberries in B.C. A small number of farms are also located on southern Vancouver Island. The production area is surveyed on a three year rotation cycle with one third surveyed in any given year. In this way the total production area is surveyed after three years. In 2003, twenty-five sites were trapped in the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island and no R. mendax flies were detected.

Quebec

• Map 1: Blueberry Maggot Survey - Quebec Southwest 2003
• Map 2: Blueberry Maggot Survey - Quebec Lac St. Jean, Charlevoix and Gaspé 2003

In Quebec, trapping and fruit sampling for R. mendax was conducted at 262 sites, comprised of commercial plantations, hobby farms and natural sites with wild host material. Over 900 traps were placed. A portion of the sites included plantations within the regulated that participate in the Blueberry Maggot Certification Program (see Policy Directive D-02-04). The 2003 program also included a delimitation survey around the site of the 2002 find near Frelighsburg. None of the sites outside of the regulated areas were positive in 2003.

Ontario

• Map: Blueberry Maggot Survey - Ontario 2003

In Ontario, trapping and fruit sampling for R. mendax was conducted at 36 sites in 2003. This represents about one third of the commercial highbush growers in the province. Rhagoletis mendax was again detected in the Wainfleet Bog in wild Vaccinium. In addition, the insect was found at two new farm sites, near the villages of Cathcart, Brant County and Smithville, Niagara Regional Municipality.

Apple Maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella)

• Map: Apple Maggot Survey - British Columbia 2003

British Columbia is the only major apple producing area in North America that remains free of apple maggot. An annual survey has occurred for many years in British Columbia to support claims of pest freedom and justify import restrictions under Policy Directive D-00-07. The survey focuses on apple producing areas and in urban high risk areas. Since 1999, sticky plasticized red spheres baited with butyl hexanoate (apple volatile) have been used for trapping replacing the traditional yellow sticky board traps which proved very attractive to a non-target species, the snowberry maggot. The use of the spheres has also significantly reduced the workload required for identification of target species. In 2003, 300 sites were trapped in B.C. and no R. pomonella were captured.

Ralstonia solanacearum, Race 3, biovar 2

In April 2003, Ralstonia solanacearum, Race 3 (Biovar 2) was identified for the first time in Canada. Infected Pelargonium spp. (common name: geranium) imported from Costa Rica and Guatemala were found in four Canadian greenhouses. All plant material implicated in these finds were destroyed and the greenhouses were cleaned and disinfected. None of the finds were linked to the 2003 finds reported from the United States earlier that year. During the spring 2003 survey, 221 samples from 111 different greenhouses were submitted to Centre for Plant Quarantine Pests for testing.

An interim policy D-03-09 was implemented on an emergency basis as a precaution to prevent the introduction of Ralstonia solanacearum, Race 3 (Biovar2) into Canada. An Action Plan for this pest can also be found on the CFIA Horticulture page at:  www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/hort/ralstoniae.shtml

During the fall of 2003 a second, follow-up, survey for this pathogen was conducted targeting;

1) Direct importers of Pelargonium from all countries with a emphasis on: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico and Kenya.

2) Facilities receiving the above material from a secondary source within Canada or the USA (rooting stations, distributors, etc.).

The purpose of the fall survey was to verify the effectiveness of the import policy and to prevent the introduction of Ralstonia solanacearum, Race 3 (Biovar2) into Canada. From Dec. 2003 to Feb. 2004, 40 samples were submitted to the Centre for Plant Quarantine Pests for testing. All samples were negative.

GRAINS AND FIELD CROPS

Cereal Leaf Beetle (Oulema melanopus)

• Map: Cereal Leaf Beetle Surveys - 2003

In 2002 substantial amounts of hay moved from eastern to western Canada to assist western farmers during the drought. At this time a revision of the Cereal Leaf Beetle Directive was undertaken. A re-definition of the Regulated Area required that surveys be conducted in northwest Ontario for the first time in many years. Detection surveys were also undertaken in AB, SK and MB to support Canada's pest-free area claim. The surveys were similar to those in 2002, concentrating on areas where potentially infested product may have been. Sampling consisted of 4 X 30 sweeps of the host plants at each site. No positives have been identified from the Prairies in 2003.

A number of sites in southern BC were also surveyed in 2003. The CFIA conducted surveys at 20 sites and BCMAF surveyed 21 sites. Some of the Grand Forks sites were also sampled in 2002. Sites were selected based on presence of host plants and proximity to intensive cattle operations (feedlots and dairy), hay storage, rodeo grounds and other sites at risk from CLB introduction due to hay importation from infested areas of BC or the US. All sites in B.C. were negative for O. melanopus.

POTATOES

Potato Wart (Synchytrium endobioticum)

No new detections of Potato Wart were found in PEI in 2003. A detection from a volunteer plant in a previously known positive field confirmed that conditions were conducive for the development of the disease, validating the more than 1000 soil samples tested. Additionally, more than 5000 post harvest field inspections conducted with all results negative. All seed and commercial fields on the island are inspected as per the US/Canada protocol.

More information on this topic can be found on the CFIA web site at: www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/potpom/wartgalee.shtml