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2004 Plant Protection Survey Report

Table of Contents

1. FORESTRY SURVEYS

1. 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. In November of 2003 an eradication program was launched by the CFIA in cooperation with municipal, regional and provincial agencies as well as the Canadian Forest Service. Throughout the winter of 2004 just over 15,000 host trees were removed from the infested area. Detection and monitoring survey’s continued through the summer of 2004 with a few positive trees being discovered in August and again in November. In both cases the eradication plan was put into effect and all positive trees in addition to all host trees within 400 metres were removed. This resulted in the removal of approximately 1000 trees. 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

1.1 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

Early in 2004 the beetle was detected at low levels east of the Ash-Free Zone in the Municipality of Chatham Kent. The CFIA then began extensive surveys east of the ash free zone. Survey crews surveyed just over 1,000 square kilometres of land in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and discovered 17 infested sites. Infestation were also detected within the City of Chatham initiating delimiting surveys in that area. Survey crews in Lambton County surveyed approximately 250 square kilometres of land with no signs of EAB infestation.

Ministerial orders are now established for both Essex County and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.

Table 1. Summary of Emerald Ash Borer Surveys in Ontario - 2005

1.2 Exotic Bark Beetle Trapping

Related CFIA links: Wood packing material, Wood Import Alert

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

Map: Exotic Bark Beetles Survey - Canada 2004

The Exotic Bark Beetle detection survey complements the CFIA’s import inspection program for wood packing materials in marine containers. Sites near dunnage storage and disposal areas were the principal survey target areas as well as a number of inland locations identified through CFIA import interceptions. Trapping in port areas was focused on detection of possibly established populations not interception of transient occurrences. Therefore traps were not placed on the pier (vessel docking and loading/unloading points at the port) but were placed in host stands within the vicinity of the port.

Lindgren funnel traps (8 or 12-funnel) were used for the survey. Traps were placed in March and collected in November. There were two lure changes during the trapping season one in June and other in 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 alpha-pinene + UHR ethanol

2) Ultra-High Release ethanol alone

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

For this national survey a total of 286 traps were placed in 2004 with the number of traps per province broken down as follows: BC (76), ON ( 75); QC (47); NB (15); NS (44); PE (24); NF (24). 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 3225 lab submissions to the CFIA Centre for Plant Quarantine Pests in 2004. Each submission contained multiple specimens,. The only exotic species identified belonged to the family Scolytidae and these are listed in Table 2 below.

Table 1. Summary of Exotic Scolytidae Trapped in Canada - 2004

1.3 Red-haired Pine Bark Beetle (Hylurgus ligniperda)

• Map: Red-haired Pine Bark Beetle Survey - Ontario 2004
• Map: Red-haired Pine Bark Beetle Survey - Quebec 2004

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 proposed regulation. 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 alpha-pinene and Ultra-high-release ethanol lures. The survey began in late March and ended in late October with two lure changes during the season. Traps were placed in 50 sites in southern Ontario and 29 in southern Quebec. No H. ligniperda were detected in either province in 2004, supporting Canada’s pest-free area claim.

1.4 Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)

Newfoundland (Map)

In 2004, 334 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. Two males were captured in two traps in the city of St. John’s.

Prince Edward Island (Map)

An increase in moth captures were observed in 2004 when compared to 2003. Among the traps placed, 461 moths were captured in 124 positive traps (compared to 265 moths captured in 89 positive traps in 2003). Multiple trap captures were recorded from 61 traps with a maximum capture of 25 moths per trap. The city of Charlottetown had the highest trap captures of 332 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 2004, the highest male moth captures were recorded in Halifax (874). A total of 13 male moths were captured in 10 different locations within Cape Breton County. 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 European genotype.

New Brunswick (Map trapping survey)

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 did not detect any signs of defoliation caused by gypsy moth in 2004. 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.

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 area. 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 2004 by NBDNRE. New egg masses were found for the third consecutive year in Miramichi City and Upper Northampton and for the second consecutive year at Sussex and Riverview. In 2004, new and old egg masses were found for the first time in the City of Saint John.

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 typed as having a genetic make-up similar to other North American L. dispar.

Quebec

Surveys for the North American biotype of gypsy moth were not conducted by CFIA staff in 2004. According to provincial surveillance information, the overall gypsy moth 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 substantially in 2004 to only 441 ha compared to 59,413 ha mapped in 2003. Nearly half of the defoliation, occurred north of the town of Uphill in the Kawartha Lakes . 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 has been conducted by CFIA or CFS since 2003 pending a policy review.

[D]

Western Canada: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia

• Map: AB, SK and MB
• Map: BC coast; BC Interior

Annual surveys are conducted for Gypsy Moth in all four Western Canada provinces by both the CFIA and provincial partners. There were two positive traps in Manitoba each with a single male moth, one was located in Carmen, the other in Winnipeg. All traps in Saskatchewan were negative. One male moth was captured in Banff National Park, 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 2004, 89 male moths were caught in pheromone traps in the following locations. Lower Mainland: Burnaby (1), Chilliwack (2), Harrison Hot Springs (4), Langley (4), Vancouver (2), Vancouver Island: Courtenay (1), Duncan (24), Esquimalt (3), Gabriola Island. (22), Nanaimo (5), Salt Spring Island (7), Sidney (1), Victoria (Saanich, Oak Bay and Vic West)(12). The Interior: Okanagan Landing (1)

High density mass trapping grids (trap density 9 traps/acre or 22 traps/hectare) where placed by the province at Duncan and on Gabriola Island. In total 967 traps where placed around Duncan with 958 traps recovered, 2560 traps were placed on Gabriola Island with 2556 traps recovered. 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 2004 had a genetic profile typical of other North American L. dispar reference specimens.

Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum)

• Map: Phytophthora ramorum Survey- Ontario 2004
• Map :Phytophthora ramorum Survey- Quebec 2004

Surveys for P. ramorum focused on four major activities in 2004; Recall, Trace Back, Trace Forward and a National Survey. The recall, trace back and trace forward investigations where conducted in British Columbia in response to information received from the USDA concerning shipments into Canada of infected Camella species from a California based nursery. Total survey activities which included: Recall, Trace Back, Trace Forward, National Survey (detection and delimitating) resulted in the submission of 43,149 samples of which 112 were positive for P. ramorum. The numbers of positive samples collected by host genus are summarized in Table 3.

The National (detection) Survey, conducted from June to September, was focused on nurseries that had imported host material from California, Oregon and the European Union within the last 6 years. At each of these sites, up to 30 samples from plants showing symptoms consistent with P. ramorum infection were collected and submitted to the CFIA Centre for Plant Quarantine Pests in Ottawa for analysis. The results of this survey are summarized in table 1. P. ramorum was not detected during the National Survey.

Table 1. Summary of Phytophthora ramorum National Nursery Survey Sites - 2004

Traceback Investigation and Eradication of P. ramorum in Britsh Columbia in 2004.

In March 2004 information was received from the USDA that a nursery based in Azusa, California had shipped Camellia species into Canada which were later reported to have tested positive for P. ramorum,. On March 31, 2004, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the presence of P. ramorum in California-origin plant material at nine (9) retail garden centres in the south coastal area of British Columbia. The CFIA prohibited further imports to prevent the entry of P. ramorum into Canada. In addition, all plant material in Canada originating from California was placed under regulatory control. Subsequent testing of this material revealed no further confirmations of P. ramorum and the plants were released. Plants originating at the nursery supplying the infested Camellia were subsequently destroyed or returned to the US.

On April 26th a joint recall on all Camellia species shipped to Canada from Monrovia Nurseries between September 1, 2003 and March 2004 was announced by the CFIA and the British Columbia Landscape and Nursery Association (BCLNA). The recall, which lasted until June 4, 2004, was intended to remove any Camellia plants that may have been infected with P. ramorum from private properties, to prevent the possible spread into the urban or natural environment. The recall in British Columbia identified ten (10) homeowners (one home had two positive plants) with infected Camellia plants. All the Camellia which entered Canada from the infested California nursery and found there way into the retail market were "traced out" and destroyed. In total, 1555 samples were processed by the Centre for Plant Quarantine Pest laboratory during the recall activity, 11 were confirmed positive for causal agent P. ramorum.

Table 2. Summary of positive sites in BC for Phytophthora ramorum regulatory activities-2004.

Table 3. Summary of Phytophthora ramorum positive samples - 2004

1.5 Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle (Tetropium fuscum)

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 Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle (BSLB) survey and eradication program entered into it's fourth year of activity in 2004. In the greater Halifax area 249 km² were surveyed identifying 1363 suspect trees of which 405 were removed, 330 of the trees were later confirmed as positive for BSLB. Given the increase in the area surveyed in 2004 the number of suspect and positives trees were about half of what was reported in 2003 (2793 suspect, 650 positives). There were five confirmed positive finds of BSLB outside of the current regulated area in 2004. The finds were located near Minesville, Lucasville, Timberlea, Hatch Lake and Bayside.

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

The table below summarizes the surveys conducted for BSLB in Nova Scotia up to March 2005.

*The Radial Survey is now complete because most major road corridors out to 50km from Point Pleasant Park have been checked.

1.6 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 were 33 sites trapped by the CFIA in New Brunswick and in Nova Scotia 22 sites were trapped by the Provincial Department of Natural Resources. Samples from both provinces were submitted to the CFIA Centre for Plant Quarantine Pests in Otttawa. 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 2004 pending a policy review.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae)

There were no positive finds for this insect during surveys conducted during 2001, 2002 or 2003. The survey activity also demonstrated that relatively few importing nurseries deal in hemlock stock. In addition, wild stands of Hemlock are not abundant. This tree species tends to be quite dispersed and where it is present it is not inventoried. In 2004, surveys were conducted in New Brunswick (3 sites) and in Nova Scotia (6 sites) in support of a new import Directive. No evidence of A. tsugae was detected.

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

• Map: Asian Gypsy Moth and Nun Moth trapping in Canada - 2004

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 mainly targets the areas in the vicinity of ports; marine shipping container storage depots; 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 were 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 2004, traps for these species were placed in BC (31 sites), ON (42 sites), QC (56 sites), NB (18 sites), NS (31 sites), PE (4 sites) and NF (11 sites). No L. monacha were detected and all L. dispar moths tested using molecular analysis had a genetic profile typical of other North European L. dispar reference specimens.

2. HORTICULTURE SURVEYS

2.0 Blueberry Scorch Virus

• Map: Ontario 2004
• Map: Quebec 2004

Damage caused by this virus in British Columbia has led to concerns that more virulent strains may exist than those which occur in eastern North America. A survey to determine the virus’s presence in eastern Canada was requested by the CFIA Horticulture Section, Plant Health Division. For 2004, this survey was limited to selected commercial highbush blueberry farms in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. In Ontario 18 farms were surveyed with 13 in Quebec and five in Nova Scotia resulting in 400 samples being collected and analyzed by PCR at the Sidney Laboratory - Plant Viruses and Virus-like Diseases, British Columbia. All were negative for Blueberry Scorch Virus (BlSV).

2.1 Plum Pox Virus

For information on the PPV program visit the CFIA PPV page at the link below. Details on the 2004 surveys can be found in the Survey Updates section at the bottom of the page. www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/ppv/ppve.shtml

2.2 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/pestrava/connas/connase.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 2004

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. CFIA survey activity focused on cole crop transplants since the movement of transplants is most likely method of introducing this pest. Swede midge was detected in two new counties (Oxford and Norfolk) in 2004.

Quebec

• Map: Swede Midge Survey - Quebec 2004

In Quebec 98 farms were surveyed in 2004. This represented just under 20% of the commercial vegetable farms producing host plants in the province. As a result of the expanded survey Swede Midge was confirmed in three additional MRC’s in 2004, La Vallée-du-Richelieu, Communauté Urbaine de Montréal and Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

2.3 Oriental Fruit Moth (Grapholita molesta)

• Map: Oriental Fruit Moth Survey - British Columbia 2004

Surveys for OFM have been carried out in British Columbia which is the only province in western Canada with commercial stonefruit 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 140 sites were trapped in 2004 with no G. molesta being detected.

2.4 Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica)

Nova Scotia

• Map: Japanese Beetle Survey - Nova Scotia 2004
• Map: Japanese Beetle Survey - Halifax 2004

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 2004, the survey area was expanded to include areas around Kentville, Truro and Syndey in total 223 traps were placed outside of the Regional Municipality of Halifax, all traps were negative for P. japonica.

In Halifax, 284 traps were placed, resulting in 557 beetles captured during the survey. The highest captures ( 257 beetles ) were at Mount St. Vincent University which is about 7 km northwest of Cornwallis Park. High captures were also recorded in the area around Basin View where 168 beetles were captured; Cornwallis Park where 31 beetles were captured. Only 1 beetle captured in the Public Gardens.

Quebec and Ontario

Surveys were discontinued 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 2004

Annual detection surveys for P. japonica are conducted in British Columbia. In 2004, 102 sites were trapped in Greater Vancouver/Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and in the Interior. 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 (P. japonica) was not detected in British Columbia in 2004.

Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick

In 2004, P. japonica surveys were conducted at 68 sites in New Brunswick and 17 sites in Prince Edward Island. Detection surveys in these non-infested provinces 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. No P. japonica were captured in New Brunswick or PEI in 2004.

2.5 Chrysanthemum White Rust (Puccinia horiana)

Surveys were conducted in and around greenhouses and at hobbyist locations in the Fraser Valley area as a follow-up to positive find of P. horiana in a commercial greenhouse. On Vancouver Island 51 sites were surveyed all were negative for P. horiana.

2.6 Blueberry Maggot (Rhagoletis mendax)

Newfoundland

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 2004.

British Columbia

• Map: Blueberry Maggot Survey - British Columbia 2004

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 2004, 30 sites were trapped in the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island and no R. mendax flies were detected.

Quebec

• Map: Blueberry Maggot Survey - Quebec 2004
• Map: Blueberry Maggot Survey - Lac St. Jean- Quebec 2004

In Quebec during 2004, the majority of the surveys were only conducted on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in order to define the northern limit of this pest’s range. The survey involved trapping and fruit sampling at 266 sites. The sites selected were comprised of commercial plantations, hobby farms and natural areas with wild host material. A total of 2446 traps were used in this survey. None of the sites outside of the regulated areas were positive in 2004.

Ontario

• Map: Blueberry Maggot Survey - Ontario 2004

In Ontario, trapping and fruit sampling for R. mendax was conducted at 46 sites in 2004. 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.

2.7 Apple Maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella)

• Map: Apple Maggot Survey - British Columbia 2004

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 CFIA survey targets high-risk sites, fruit stands, organic growers and abandoned urban high risk areas. These survey efforts are supported by BCMAFF who surveys commercial orchards. 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 significantly reduced capture of non-target Rhagoletis species. The use of the spheres has also significantly reduced the workload required for identification of target species. In 2004, 297 sites were trapped by the CFIA in B.C. and no R. pomonella were captured.

2.8 Ralstonia solanacearum, Race 3, biovar 2

In April 2003, Ralstonia solanacearum, Race 3 (Biovar 2) was detected in four Canadian greenhouses on infected Pelargonium spp. imported from Costa Rica and Guatemala. All plant material implicated in these finds were destroyed and the greenhouses were cleaned and disinfected. An interim policy D-03-09 was implemented to prevent the introduction of Ralstonia solanacearum, Race 3 (Biovar2) into Canada. The Action Plan for this pest can be found on the CFIA Horticulture page at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/ralsol/ralstoniae.shtml

Early in 2004 Ralstonia solanacearum, Race 3 (Biovar2) was detected in New York state prompting a repeat of the fall/winter survey that was carried out in 2003 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 survey was to verify the effectiveness of the import policy ( D-03-09 ) and to prevent the introduction of Ralstonia solanacearum, Race 3 (Biovar2) into Canada. From Dec. 2004 to Feb. 2005, 376 samples were submitted to the Centre for Plant Quarantine Pests for testing. All samples were negative.

3. GRAINS AND FIELD CROPS

3.1 Cereal Leaf Beetle (Oulema melanopus)

• Map: Cereal Leaf Beetle Surveys - 2004

Detection surveys were also undertaken in AB, SK and MB to support area freedom. For 2004 the surveys were similar to those conducted in 2002 and 2003, concentrating on areas where potentially infested product may have been. Sampling consisted of 4 X 30 sweeps of the host plants at each site. In 2004, 53 sites were surveyed in Manitoba, 105 sites in Saskatchewan and 101 sites in Alberta. All sites were negative for O. melanopus.

In 2004 30 sites were also surveyed in the southern interior of British Columbia. 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 British Columbia were negative for O. melanopus.

4. POTATOES

4.1 Potato Wart (Synchytrium endobioticum)

In 2004, as a result of surveillance activities, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the presence of potato wart on a regulated farm on Prince Edward Island (PEI). The affected farm has been subject to stringent regulatory restrictions and surveillance activities since potato wart was first detected on the farm in 2002.

These finds demonstrate the effectiveness of the surveillance and risk management activities specified in the Canada/U.S. operational workplan implemented after the disease was discovered in PEI in 2000. The area determined to be affected was relatively small (26 hectares in total) and all of the finds have been in fields previously identified as high risk for potato wart.

The affected farm and any associated fields were already under strict quarantine regulatory measures to prevent any potential spread of the pathogen. The CFIA will continue to enforce restrictions placed on high risk fields, including the cleaning and disinfection of equipment and maintaining surveillance activities.

The CFIA will continue to work in collaboration with the PEI provincial government and PEI potato industry representatives in the management of potato wart. Close to 20,000 fields have been inspected and found free from Potato wart during the last 4 years of implementation of the surveillance program.

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