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2008 Plant Protection Survey Report

Table of Contents

Forestry Surveys

Invasive Alien Plant Surveys

Horticulture Surveys

Grains and Field Crops Surveys

Potatoes Surveys

Forestry Surveys

Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)

Eradication Program in Toronto-Vaughan, Ontario

The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALHB), Anoplophora glabripennis, is an invasive insect that attacks and kills a wide variety of deciduous tree species. This beetle was 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. An eradication program was launched in November of 2003 by the CFIA in cooperation with municipal, regional and provincial agencies as well as the Canadian Forest Service. Currently, there is no attractant or lure available that could be used to detect adult populations of the Asian longhorned beetle. The only technique available to detect its presence is to search either for adults during the flight period or for visible signs and symptoms of its attack on trees. Details on the progress of the eradication program can be found at the CFIA Asian Longhorned Beetle web page at: www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/anogla/asialonge.shtml

Ontario - High Risk Detection Grid Survey

In 2008, a broad scale grid survey was developed in collaboration with Canadian Forest Service. This approach was designed to ensure an extremely high probability of detecting the presence of an advanced infestation at each grid point. This survey was conducted as a pilot in the municipalities of Markham, Kitchener/Waterloo, London and Ottawa in 2008. A triangular grid consisting of contiguous survey points was placed over each of the cities. No evidence of Anoplophora glabripennis was detected at any of the 570 locations surveyed. This strategy will be implemented in other areas of Ontario and Canada in 2009. Surveillance activities within the established regulated area are ongoing.

The broad-scale survey conducted in other areas of Canada focused on high risk sites including; importers and inland receiving sites of high-risk cargo from Asia, ports and terminals, disposal and storage sites, previous interception points and potential introduction sites. No signs or symptoms of Anoplophora glabripennis were observed during these surveys.

Quebec - 54 sites (11 sites around Montreal and 43 sites throughout southern Quebec)
Nova Scotia - 4 sites
New Brunswick - 14 sites
Prince Edward Island - 5 sites
Newfoundland and Labrador - 5 sites in the St. John’s area

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)

The Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis, is an introduced metallic wood boring beetle which attacks and kills living ash (Fraxinus spp.) trees. This exotic insect pest was positively identified for the first time in North America in the summer of 2002. Early detection is essential to mitigate the spread of this pest to uninfested areas. In 2008, a number of strategies were employed for Emerald Ash Borer detection in Canada including; scouting for broad scale ash decline, sentinel trap trees, visual inspection of high risk sites, aerial surveys and biosurveillance utilizing the native wasp Cerceris fumipennis (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae).

The high risk detection surveys targeted sites where the pest is most likely to have been introduced through human activities such as campgrounds, firewood dealers, importers of ash material, truck stops, urban areas recently planted with host material, sawmills, ports and industrial areas.

Background information on the pest and regulatory updates can be found on the CFIA Emerald Ash Borer web page. at: www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/agrpla/agrplae.shtml

Ontario

  • Survey Map for A. planipennis, Ontario 2008

Visual detection surveys were conducted at 739 high risk sites across Ontario in 2008. While conducting this survey, inspectors detected A. planipennis for the first time in Huron county. A trap survey was conducted in counties neighboring infested or positive counties (Huron, Perth, Haldimand, Brant and Oxford). Two sites were selected per 10 km grid square based on risk and three sentinel trees were established at each of the 218 locations. CFIA also confirmed the presence of A. planipennis in Brampton, Mississauga, Oakville, Vaughan, Ottawa, Sault Ste. Marie and Pickering.

The complete list of Emerald Ash Borer regulated areas can be found at: www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/agrpla/survenqe.shtml

Québec

In 2008, the national survey was conducted by the three Quebec areas at 174 high-risk sites. In the spring of 2008, a pruner noted the presence of signs similar to those caused by the emerald ash borer near the town of Carignan, in the RCM of La Vallée du Richelieu. The CFIA confirmed that the emerald ash borer was first detected in Québec in the Montérégie area on June 26, 2008. The delimitation survey continued until November 2008 within a radius of 16 km of the site where the borer was positively identified. No new sightings have been reported outside of the regulated area.

Atlantic

Surveys were conducted in all four Atlantic provinces as listed below. No signs or symptoms of A. planipennis were observed during the survey.

Nova Scotia - 4 sites were surveyed in the Halifax Regional Municipality area.
New Brunswick - 26 sites
Prince Edward Island - 8 sites
Newfoundland and Labrador - 5 sites surveyed in the St. John’s area.

Manitoba

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency inspected 30 high risk sites throughout Southern Manitoba in 2008. No signs or symptoms of A. planipennis were detected.

European Wood Wasp (Sirex noctilio)

On July 5, 2005, the first established population of the European woodwasp, Sirex noctilio (Fabricius), was reported in Fulton, New York. The European woodwasp feeds on many species of pine and is a serious pest of plantations in Australia, South America and South Africa. In 2005, in response to additional finds near the initial discovery in Fulton, the Canadian Forest Service, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) and the CFIA established a trapping survey along the Canada-US border extending west from Cornwall to Prince Edward County south of Belleville, Ontario. A total of 36 sites were surveyed from Sandbanks Provincial Park southeast of Wellington, Ontario to Cornwall. Five adult female S. noctilio were captured at four of these sites. Two additional adults were found in Lindgren traps baited with alpha-pinene/ethanol within the CFIA Exotic Forest Insect survey. These traps were located in Waterloo County and Durham County. See the 2006 and 2007 versions of this report for information on further detections in Southern Ontario.

Two, 12-unit Lindgren funnel traps were placed at each survey site at the beginning of July and removed from the field in mid-October. Traps were baited with ultra high release lures containing 70% alpha-pinene (75% + enantiomer and 25% - enantiomer), plus 30% beta-pinene.

Ontario

In 2008, given the number of positive finds that had been made in Ontario in the previous two years the OMNR under a collaborative survey contract with CFIA, undertook additional detection surveys in Ontario focussing on high risk pine stands that were not managed, were over-stocked, and exhibited low or mild level of stress (i.e. pine decline and mortality).

Traps were deployed at 125 locations, extending from Sault Ste Marie to Mattawa, and also covering sections of Kirkland Lake. This survey focussed on high risk Scots pine, Red Pine and Eastern white pine stands (unmanaged, overstocked, with low or mild level stress) in counties and regional municipalities north of the known distribution of S. noctilio. No S. noctilio adults were captured during this survey.

Québec

In Québec, traps were deployed at 158 sites in 2008 by the Québec Ministry of Natural Resources under the terms of an agreement with the CFIA. Scots pine is the main variety at ninety (90) sites, red pine at fifty-eight (58) sites and jack pine at ten (10) sites. These stands, for the most part unmanaged, dating 15 years or more, consist of stressed and weakened trees, and are located along roads leading to sawmills that process the pine wood, or near the sawmills themselves. During the survey, a single site located in the municipality of Lachute was identified as positive; this tree stand, dating back to the late 1920s, grows on poor soil, is not maintained, and includes Scots pine and white pine. It is the first recorded case of S. noctilio detected in Québec since surveillance began in 2006.

Atlantic Canada

Many of the Sirex survey sites were those that had been previously selected for Pine Shoot Beetle surveys as the host conditions are favourable for the establishment of both species. In Nova Scotia 20 sites were surveyed and in New Brunswick there were 17 sites. No S. noctilio were detected during these surveys.

Invasive Alien Forest Pests Surveys

In 2006, the Exotic Forest Insect Survey was replaced with a more intensive and focussed survey at fewer locations. The new survey design was implemented in four pilot cities across Canada: Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. The survey includes both a semiochemical insect trapping and an insect rearing component.

For the trapping component of the survey, 10 sites were selected in each municipality based on risk of foreign pest introduction via infested off-continent wood packaging or dunnage. Lindgren traps (12-funnel) were placed at each site and each trap was baited with either, i) ultra-high release ethanol + ultra-high release alpha-pinene, ii) ultra-high release ethanol, or iii) ConTech® 'Exotic Bark Beetle' lure (2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, cis-verbenol, racemic ipsdienol). Each lure type was replicated three times at each site for a total of nine traps per site.

The rearing survey consists of obtaining two logs from a tree that is targeted for removal by a city's hazard tree removal program. Logs are placed in a custom designed rearing facilities for up to two years under climate-controlled conditions. Emerging insects will be regularly collected from the bolts and submitted to the CFIA Entomology laboratory in Ottawa for identification. In 2007 the rearing component of this survey was expanded into Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.

For additional information concerning this survey contact Robert Favrin, National Manager, Plant Health Surveillance Unit.

Ontario

In 2008, the semiochemical trapping component of the survey was carried out in the cities of Brampton, Oakville, and Hamilton using the methodology described above. A total of 116 traps were deployed at 16 sites in the three targeted cities. Sirex noctilio was detected at 4 of the sites surveyed. In addition, the banded elm bark beetle, Scolytus schevyrewi Semenov (Coleoptera: Scolytinae), was detected at a single site in Brampton.

Nova Scotia

The trapping survey was conducted at 10 sites in Nova Scotia. In the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), 6 sites were targeted in industrial and ports areas. Other sites in the province included port and industrial sites in Chester, Sheet Harbour, Pictou, and Shelburne. A total of 29 brown spruce longhorn beetle (Tetropium fuscum) adults were collected from all 6 sites in HRM located within the Containment Area covered by the Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle Ministerial Order. One additional T. fuscum was collected at the Pictou site.

Log collection for the rearing survey continues in various urban areas around the Halifax Regional Municipality. Rearing is underway for 18 trees from the following genera: Ulmus, Pinus, Tilia, Catalpa, Populus, Glenditsia, Acer, and Fraxinus. No new records of exotic insects were recorded.

New Brunswick

The trapping survey focussed on trapping at 4 sites in the city of Saint John and one site at the port of Bayside in Saint Andrews. No new records of exotic insects were recorded

Québec

Sixteen high-risk sites were monitored in 11 woods and parks near industrial centres, 4 sea ports and one burial site. Trapping surveys were conducted in the following 8 RCMs: Bécancour, Metropolitan Community of Montréal, Metropolitan Community of Québec, Lajemmerais, La Vallée du Richelieu, Le Bas Richelieu, Les Moulins, Trois-Rivières (outside of the RCM).

None of the insects sent to the entomology lab in Ottawa were identified as exotic forest pests.

The exotic forest pest early containment project continued in 2008 with the collaboration of the city of Montréal. All of the samples sent to the lab tested negative as exotic insects.

British Columbia

The municipalities chosen for trapping in 2008 were New Westminster (1 site), Burnaby (4 sites), Port Coquitlam (2 sites), North Vancouver (1 site), Pitt Meadows (1 site) and Coquitlam (1 site). A total of 86 Lindgren funnel traps were deployed using the methods described above. No new records of exotic insects were recorded.

The insect rearing component resulted in a total of 92 log samples monitored in the rearing lab from high risk sites in Surrey, Coquitlam, Burnaby and Vancouver (Stanley Park). Calosota pseudotsugae, a hymenopterous parasitoid indigenous to North America was reared from western hemlock logs collected after the 2006 storm in Stanley Park. This is a new Canadian record for this insect.

North American Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)

A French naturalist brought the gypsy moth to the United States (Massachusetts) in 1869 for experiments. During his studies some of the caterpillars escaped into his garden and the nearby woods. This initial small population quickly became a very serious pest. All levels of government became involved in a co-operative control effort and within a few years the insect was almost eradicated. At that point, with the threat no longer obvious, the program was ended. Left alone, the Gypsy moth very quickly became established throughout the north-eastern quarter of the United States. The first reported find in Canada occurred in Québec in 1924 and then in New Brunswick in 1936, in both instances the pest was eradicated. However, the Gypsy moth became firmly established in Québec in the 1960's and quickly spread into Eastern Ontario. Today, Gypsy moth is established in southern Ontario, southern Québec, south-western New Brunswick and south-western Nova Scotia. Adult male monitoring surveys are conducted annually in non-regulated areas of Canada using Delta trap baited with + disparlure pheromone. Surveys are also conducted to verify eradication of the insect in areas where eradication programs have been undertaken and to monitor for the pest in pest free regulated areas. Two systems of trapping are used: a) detection trapping to determine the presence in an area currently free from L. dispar and b) delimitation trapping to determine the extent of a population

Newfoundland

In 2008, 386 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, and wooded areas frequented by visitors. There were two males captured in Pippy Park, St. John’s. Visual surveys around these traps did not result in the detection of any additional life stages of gypsy moth.

Prince Edward Island

The detection survey for gypsy moth in Prince Edward Island is a co-operative undertaking between CFIA and Parks Canada. There were 477 traps place by CFIA and 25 placed by Parks Canada. There were 172 positive traps with a total of 501 moths. Traps set around the regulated area of Charlottetown and the city of Summerside had the highest trap captures. Visual surveys around these positive traps did not result in the detection of any additional life stages of gypsy moth.

Nova Scotia

The CFIA conducted leading edge trapping along the eastern boundary of the regulated area, and detection trapping throughout eastern Nova Scotia. In support of the survey activity, the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources has, since 1995, deployed a province-wide network of pheromone traps to monitor population trends. In 2008, CFIA placed 196 traps. There were 66 positive traps with a total of 219 moths.

Visual searching in the fall of 2008 resulted in egg mass finds in three locations in Pictou County. At two sites in River John, one site had one new egg mass and the other had one new and three old egg masses. These egg masses were in the same general area of the four egg masses found for the first time during the 2007 survey. Additionally two new egg masses were discovered in Eureka.

New Brunswick

In 2008 gypsy moth surveys within the province of New Brunswick were a co-operative undertaking between the CFIA, the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources (NBDNR) and the municipalities of Fredericton and Moncton. The NBDNR did not detect any areas of defoliation due to Gypsy moth.

Trapping surveys were carried out by all partners and focused on: 1) delimitation along the leading edge of the infestation, 2) early detection in areas removed from infested areas, 3) detection at locations with a high risk of introduction (eg. importing saw mills, tourist areas), 4) delimitation surveys within municipalities, 5) monitoring of trap catches in known gypsy moth areas.

The CFIA placed 199 delta traps along the leading edge and at high risk sites primarily in non-regulated areas. There were 72 positive traps with a total of 232 moths. No egg masses were detected during follow-up searching around traps with five or greater moths. Enhanced trapping in the Paquette area did not detect any gypsy moths. This site has had higher than expected catches in the last two years.

Québec

Surveys for the North American biotype of gypsy moth were not conducted by CFIA staff in 2008. According to provincial surveillance information, the overall gypsy moth distribution has not changed significantly in Québec in a number of years, with little-to-no defoliation observed in the past several years except in a few isolated locations in southern Québec.

Ontario

According to the aerial survey information gathered by CFS and the OMNR, there was a slight increase in the total area of moderate-to-severe defoliation caused by the gypsy moth in 2008 (39,476 ha) when compared to 2007 (31,094 ha), 2006 (10,309 ha) and 2005 (1,242 ha). A large proportion of the defoliation occurred around Guelph, Sudbury and Aylmer. Moderate-to-severe defoliation was also widespread in Aurora, Midhurst and Sault Ste. Marie. Further information on specific areas of defoliation can be obtained from the Canadian Forest Service in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. In 2008, the CFIA placed delta traps at 268 sites in the Thunder Bay area in a linear arrangement along transportation corridors. There were a total of 67 adult moth captures at 31 sites, with a maximum capture of 7 moths at a single site.

Graph - Gypsy Moth Defoliation in Ontario, 1981-2008
*Data based on aerial surveys by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Graph - Gypsy Moth Defoliation in Ontario, 1981-2008

Western Canada: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia

Annual surveys are conducted for Gypsy Moth in all four Western Canada provinces by both the CFIA and provincial partners.

In Manitoba 320 traps were placed by CFIA, the City of Winnipeg, and the Province (Manitoba Conservation) in 2008. There were 8 sites that were positive for L. dispar yielding a total of 98 male moths captured. Five of the sites were within the city of Winnipeg; 2 males were caught in one trap each near the Forks; 4 moths in 1 trap on Westburn Crescent, 58 moths in 6 traps and 5 egg masses on St. Mary’s Road; 4 moths in two traps near St. Norbert, and 1 moth near Conestoga Park. Twenty six male moths in 10 traps were captured and 48 egg masses removed at a golf course south of Winnipeg in La Salle. Two moths were also found in 1 trap each in Carman and 1 moth was detected in Winkler.

In Saskatchewan 239 traps were set by CFIA in 2008 with 2 traps being positive for L. dispar. One male moths were trapped near Swift Current and 1 male moth was trapped near Moose Jaw. There were three moths captured in Regina by city staff. Without treatment, the moth population previously detected in the neighbourhood of Gabriel Dumont Park disappeared. The area will continue to be intensely monitored in 2009 to determine population status.

In Alberta 439 traps were deployed in 2008 by CFIA, Provincial parks and municipal staff. Two traps, one in the city of Calgary and one in Medicine Hat were found positive for L. dispar dispar with 1 moth caught in each trap.

In British Columbia, the CFIA undertakes and conducts the majority of the surveys with the B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range taking the lead in eradication and control programs following any new detections. In 2008, a total of 4440 traps were set out by all partners resulting in 33 male moths being captured in 21 traps at 10 locations. In the Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley positive traps (moths) were located in Vancouver 1(2), Burnaby 1(1), Richmond 2(2), Langley West 2(2), South Surrey/Whiterock 3(3), Delta 2(3), Chilliwack 1(1) and Harrison Hot Springs 5(16). Follow up visual searches at Harrison Hot Springs revealed 100 egg masses(91 new, and 88 embryonated) and 24 pupal cases in a commercial Corylus orchard. On Vancouver Island 2 positive traps with 1 moth each were collected from Victoria. One moth was detected from the interior of the province in 2008 near Fernie.

All moths submitted from the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Manitoba were subjected to DNA analysis to determine possible Asian biotype. All moths were found to be of genotypes well known within the North American populations.

Asian Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)

Québec

Adults were collected at three sites in the Metropolitan Community of Québec (Québec Port) and at five sites on the outskirts of the Port of Sorel; none of the DNA tests performed on the moths sent to the lab showed the presence of the Asian biotype of L. dispar dispar.

Ontario

Within Ontario, trapping was conducted for the Asian biotype of Lymantria dispar at a total of 15 sites, targeting international ports and terminals, container storage yards, intermodal terminals and industrial zones. All moths submitted for DNA analysis testing were found to be of genotypes currently known within the North American populations.

Atlantic Canada

Surveys were conducted in all four Atlantic provinces as listed below. All moths were found to be of genotypes currently known within the North American populations.

New Brunswick - 5 sites in Beldune (1), Bayside (1), and Saint John (3)
Prince Edward Island - 2 sites in Souris and Summerside
Nova Scotia - 5 sites in Halifax (3), Sydney (1), and Port Hawksbury (1)
Newfoundland and Labrador - The three moths collected in North Amerian Gypsy Moth Survey were submitted.

Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle (Tetropium fuscum)

The brown spruce longhorn beetle (BSLB), Tetropium fuscum (Fabricius), an introduced wood boring pest, is native to north and central Europe and Japan, where it uses stressed and dying conifers as hosts, most notably the Norway spruce (Picea abies). In 1999, the beetle was detected in Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and subsequent investigations confirmed that beetles collected in the park as early as 1990 were, in fact, Tetropium fuscum. Studies conducted by the Canadian Forest Service since 1999 indicate that the wood-boring beetle is killing healthy spruce trees by feeding on the cambium and phloem and eventually girdling the tree. BSLB is considered to be a quarantine pest in North America. Panel traps baited with host volatiles and a pheromone are used for this survey.

In 2008, the detection survey for the brown spruce longhorn beetle (BSLB) continued to include extensive trapping in Eastern Canada. The CFIA carried out this survey to determine he extent of the beetle's distribution within Nova Scotia and confirm that it had not spread to other provinces. All traps were baited with a combination of two ultra-high-release host-volatile lures and a BSLB pheromone lure developed by the Canadian Forest Service. In Québec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland trapping occurred at two types of sites. Priority sites such as sawmills, pulpmills, campgrounds and ports had three traps per site. General forested areas had one trap per site. In Nova Scotia, staff with the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Natural Resources Canada – Canadian Forest Service (NRCan-CFS) assisted CFIA with the trapping effort that occurred primarily at priority and general forested sites. In addition, four satellite sites, representing the geographical limits of prior BSLB detections were trapped at a higher intensity. Each satellite site included trapping at the center point of the previous detection as well as a network of four traps placed at 250 m intervals in each cardinal direction. NRCan-CFS also established a total of 30 research plots inside and outside the Containment Area. Each research site included an array of three traps. Most of these research plots were established at locations where BSLB had previously been detected. See Table 1 for a summary of the 2008 surveys.

The 2008 survey resulted in 8 new positive locations outside of the current BSLB Containment Area (http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/surv/tetfus/20070515e.shtml) in the counties of Pictou, Halifax, Hants, and Colchester. There are now a total of 26 sites where BSLB has been detected outside of the BSLB Containment Area.

Table 1. 2008 Tetropium fuscum Detection Survey Summary
Province Number of Sites Number of Traps Number of Positive Traps
Nova Scotia (inside containment area) 15 39 13
Nova Scotia (outside containment area) 333 463 10
New Brunswick 154 192 0
Prince Edward Island 20 34 0
Newfoundland and Labrador 18 26 0
Québec 29 50 0
Totals 570 804 23

 

Table 2. 2008 Nova Scotia IAS Forestry Trapping Summary
Nova Scotia Number of Positive Traps Number of BSLB Collected Number of BSLB Positive Sites
(inside containment area) 6 54 6
(outside containment area) 4 36 1

 

Table 3. Overall Nova Scotia Results
Nova Scotia Number of Positive Sites Number of BSLB Collected Mean Trap Catch Median Trap Catch Range (Min - Max.)
(inside containment area) 19 89 4.9 2.5 1-17
(outside containment area) 11 14 1.2 1 1-3

Please visit the CFIA brown spruce longhorned beetle web page for more information on the overall program at: www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/tetfus/tetfuse.shtml

Pine Shoot Beetle (Tomicus piniperda)

Pine shoot beetle (PSB), Tomicus piniperda (Linnaeus) native to Asia, northern Africa, and Europe was first found in North America in 1992 in Ohio, USA. A serious pest of pines (Pinus spp.), the beetle attacks new shoots, stunting the growth of the tree. The pest, which is believed to have been introduced through solid wood packing material, has since been detected in the Great Lakes region of Canada and throughout the northeastern United States. This survey is being conducted in support of D-94-22 Plant Protection Requirements on Pine Plants and Pine Materials to Prevent the Entry and Spread of Pine Shoot Beetle, and various other policies and programs aimed at preventing the spread of Pine Shoot Beetle (PSB) from infested areas within Canada and the US. Both a trapping and a visual inspection component are included in this survey. The survey uses 12-funnel Lindgren funnel traps baited with host volatile lures.

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

New Brunswick

In New Brunswick, 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 stands along major transportation corridors. In 2008, traps were set at 30 sites throughout the province. Most sites had three traps however some had either one or two. Visual surveys were completed at 23 sites. All samples submitted for identification were negative for T. piniperda.

Nova Scotia

In 2008 this survey was completed in cooperation with the staff at the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources. There were 18 sites with three traps each. All samples submitted for identification were negative for T. piniperda.

Ontario

In 2008, trapping for Pine Shoot Beetle was conducted by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to delimit the distribution of T. piniperda in Northern Ontario and determine infestation status. A total of 58 sites were targeted in Northern Ontario. There were new detections of T. piniperda, outside of the established regulated area in the counties of Leeds & Grenville, Lanark, Renfrew, the districts of Sudbury and Nipissing, the division of Greater Sudbury and the City of Ottawa.

Québec

In 2008, pine shoot beetle trapping surveys were conducted in 10 RCMs throughout Québec. Captured adults were reported in the following regional municipal counties (RCMs) during the surveillance exercise; the number in parentheses indicates the number of sites identified as positive in each municipality.

  • RCM Antoine-Labelle: L’Annonciation (4)
  • RCM Deux-Montagnes: St-Eustache (1)
  • RCM Les Chenaux: St-Prosper (1)
  • RCM Les Moulins: Mascouche (1)
  • RCM Les Pays d’en Haut: Ste-Adèle (2) and St-Sauveur des Monts (6)
  • RCM Maskinongé: St-Élie (1)
  • RCM Mirabel: Mirabel (3)
  • RCM Portneuf: St-Basile (2), St-Gilbert (1) and St-Raymond (2) Shawinigan (outside of the RCM): St-Georges (1)

In 2008, a total of 12 new municipalities within Québec were declared infested with the pine shoot beetle.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae)

The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), Adelges tsuga Annand is a destructive pest of susceptible species of hemlock, Tsuga spp. and is native to India, Japan, Taiwan, and China. In 1919, HWA was first reported in North America in British Columbia and can now be found in the western American states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California affecting both western hemlock, Tsuga Heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. and mountain hemlock, T. Mertensiana (Bong.). Damage on these two species is usually minor. Hemlock woolly adelgid was first identified in the eastern United States in Virginia in 1951. Since this time it has rapidly spread throughout many hemlock stands in the eastern US and is now present from Georgia north to Maine. In the eastern US, HWA has resulted in significant mortality of both eastern hemlock, T. canadensis (L.) Carr. and Carolina hemlock, T. caroliniana. Hemlock woolly adelgid threatens the existence of these two species in many locations.

This survey is being conducted in support of plant health policy directive D-07-05, Phytosanitary requirements to prevent the introduction and spread of the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsuga Annand) from the United States and within Canada. This visual survey is aimed at early detection of the pest in areas where it is not known to occur.

In 2008, visual surveys were conducted in and around importing nurseries in New Brunswick (3 site), Nova Scotia (8 sites), Québec (18 sites) and in Ontario (10 sites). No signs of A. tsugae were observed during these surveys.

Invasive Alien Plant Surveys

Woolly Cupgrass (Eriochloa villosa)

Woolly cupgrass, Eriochloa villosa, is an annual plant of the family Poaceae. Native to temperate Asia, it was introduced to the United States in the 1940s, apparently from ship's ballast. There are fifteen species of the Eriochloa genus in Central and North America, but most are located in the southwestern part of central United States. The genus has a limited forage value and many species are considered weedy. In the United States, woolly cupgrass is present in cultivated fields of many states and is well adapted to corn-corn and corn-soybean rotation. The control of woolly cupgrass can be very difficult and expensive. It is very prolific and tolerant to many herbicides.

In 2000, this weed (Eriochloa villosa) was first discovered in an experimental test plot close to Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec. At the time it was discovered an eradication and control plan was put into place. In spite of eradication efforts made by the property owner, Québec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) and the CFIA, the plant persists on the property. In Québec, in 2003 and again in 2004, seeds of woolly cupgrass were detected in single lots of imported seed of Japanese millet. In July 2005, woolly cupgrass was added to the list of "Prohibited noxious weed seeds" of the Weed Seed Order of the Seeds Act.

Québec

The 2007 survey report made a recommendation to revisit farms targeted in 2007 for a second year, to ensure that we did not miss any woolly cup grass and to detect any new infestations.

The detection survey was conducted from August 25 to September 12, 2008 in the Saint-Hyacinthe area, then extended until October 24 in the Québec area. In total, 178 farms were visited and 474 fields were surveyed, covering an area of 4588 acres. During the survey, two new sites close to the one initially identified as positive were reported in the municipality of St-Hyacinthe.

Also, E. villosa was discovered in three cultivated fields by a dairy farmer in the RCM of Brome-Missisquoi; in this case, the weed was found in two fields in the municipality of Bedford and in a field in Stanbridge Station.

Jointed Goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica)

Jointed goatgrass is a winter annual grass native to southern Europe and Russia. It was most likely introduced into North America as a contaminant in wheat seed. The earliest record is from a specimen that was collected in Centerville, Delaware in 1870. Jointed goatgrass lowers crop yields through direct competition, reduces harvesting efficiency and lowers crop quality by contaminating harvested grain. In the United States it costs producers an estimated $150 million per year. This weed is now widely distributed throughout the United States. It infests more than 5 million acres of winter wheat in the western United States and continues to spread.

In Canada, jointed goatgrass was first detected near Port Colborne, Ontario in 2006. Jointed Goatgrass poses a serious threat to winter wheat production.

Ontario

In 2007 and 2008, the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) conducted field surveys for invasive plant species under contract with the CFIA. These surveys focussed on detecting possible new introductions of invasive plant species, gathering data on rare but possibly increasing invasive plant species and surveying potential sites for the recently detected invasive species, jointed goatgrass, in Ontario. The 2008 surveys focused on delimiting the jointed goatgrass infestation in Port Colborne. A total of 4 new populations of A. cylindrica were identified, all within 5 km of the original find.

Manitoba

In Manitoba, CFIA staff conducted surveys at 5 sites near grain elevators in the vicinity of Emerson and Letellier. A. cylindrica was not observed at any of these locations in the 2008 survey.

Québec

In 2008, surveys were conducted at 30 sites in Quebec, spread throughout 22 municipalities. Targeted sites included grain elevators, sawmills, seed scalpers/spreaders and a flour mill. Jointed goatgrass was not detected.

Horticulture Surveys

National Detection Survey for Phytophthora ramorum

Phytophthora ramorum is a fungus-like plant pathogen that causes a disease known as Ramorum Blight and Leafdrop on a wide variety of nursery plants. It has also been associated with a disease of oak, known as "Sudden Oak Death," that was first observed in coastal California in the mid-1990's and now occurs as far north as southern Oregon.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency conducts annual surveys for P. ramorum and has in the past detected the presence of the organism on plants in a number of retail/wholesale nurseries in the southern coastal area of British Columbia. When P. ramorum is found, the nursery site is placed under quarantine and all infected plant material is destroyed. Extensive surveys and trace forward and trace back activities are then conducted to ensure the organism has been eliminated.

The National P. ramorum Survey, is conducted from May to September with the majority of the inspection conducted during the spring months. The survey covers from 30% to 100% of the production and wholesale nurseries in a province, depending on the size of the industry in each province. At each of these sites, all blocks of host material are inspected and composite samples collected from within any block showing suspect plants. A sample consists of a composite of 7-10 symptomatic plant parts (leaves or stems) collected from one host genus in a block at a production site. There may be more than one sample per genus per block depending on the amount and diversity of symptoms observed.

Québec

In 2008, a total of 34 sites spread throughout 20 RCMs in Québec were inspected. Targeted sites included garden centres, nurseries and a few public parks and gardens. Of the 127 samples sent to the lab, all tested negative for Phytophthora ramorum.

Ontario

A total of 96 sites were surveyed in Ontario in 2008 with approximately 413 samples collected from 43 nursery production facilities. All samples were negative for P. ramorum.

Atlantic Canada

In 2008, surveys were conducted in New Brunswick (19 sites, 28 samples were collected and submitted), Nova Scotia (8 sites, 5 samples were collected and submitted), Prince Edward Island (12 sites, 2 samples were collected and submitted) and Newfoundland and Labrador (5 sites, 0 samples were collected and submitted). All samples were negative for P. ramorum.

British Columbia

The 2008 National Nursery Survey consisted of 60 sites that were surveyed for P. ramorum. Of the 4,314 samples taken, 24 were positive for P. ramorum. Samples originated from 9 retail nurseries and 12 landscape sites. Of the 12 landscape sites, 10 were carry overs from 2007.

Plum Pox Virus

For information on the Plum Pox Virus program visit the CFIA Plum Pox Virus page at the link below. Details on the 2008 surveys can be found in the Survey Updates section at the bottom of the page: www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/facren/ppve.shtml

Swede Midge (Contarinia nasturtii)

In 2000, Ontario researchers determined that damage observed on broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) since 1996, originally attributed to nutrient deficiencies, was actually caused by Contarinia nasturtii (swede midge), a Cecidomyiid native to Europe. This was the first identification of the swede midge in North America. Some of the fields in which the pest was found had up to 80% loss in marketable yield. An unofficial survey in 2001 reported the pest being present in nine counties in Ontario, some of which are contiguous with the state of New York in the U.S., and one municipality in Québec. Presently, swede midge is present in 32 counties and jurisdictions in the province of Ontario and 33 RCM's in the province of Québec. This survey, conducted from mid May to late September, includes both a pheromone trapping and a visual inspection component and is undertaken in support of policies and programs related to D-02-06 and to support Canada's Pest Free Area claims for export.

In 2008, the CFIA continued the expanded survey for C. nasturtii in the Western and Atlantic provinces of Canada making this the third year for a national survey. Traps were checked and the sticky liner was replaced every week during the crop growing season. The removed liner was submitted to the CFIA Centre for Plant Quarantine Pests in Ottawa for identification of suspect specimens. 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/horte.shtml

Western Canada

In Western Canada the survey was conducted in canola fields as well as in cole crops. For canola, given the expanse of the area under production and the geographically large size of the fields up to four traps were placed at each field. Traps were placed in locations that gave the best coverage incorporating micro-habitats such as those adjacent to shelter belts and areas of higher humidity. The selected sites also had to offered good accessibility. The surveys conducted in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were undertaken with the cooperation from the Provincial Governments.

Province Number of sites surveyed
British Columbia 19
Alberta 40
Saskatchewan 45
Manitoba 38
Total 142

In 2008, C. nasturtii was confirmed from 2 traps in Manitoba. Positive traps were from Glenlea in canola fields and from Newton in Broccoli fields. These represent new Provincial records. Positives were again confirmed from Saskatchewan near Nipawin and the municipality of Orkney (near Yorkton). There were no detections in British Columbia or Alberta.

Atlantic Canada

New Brunswick

Trapping occurred at 17 sites with a total of 57 traps. All samples submitted were negative for C. nasturtii.

Nova Scotia

Trapping occurred at 12 sites targeting a variety of cole crops including broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. A total of 48 traps were set. In early July two traps were confirmed positive for swede midge from the same field in the Lakeville, Kings County area. Each trap had one adult fly. The two positive traps were located about 1 km and 1.5 km from the 2007 trap that was positive. Because of the interception of swede midge at this site in two consecutive years, Kings County was added to the regulated area of Canada. No additional C. nasturtii were collected.

Prince Edward Island

There were initially 10 sites targeted with 61 traps in a variety of cole crops including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and canola. On approximately June 16th, a single adult was captured in a trap near Hunter River, Queens County. An additional 48 traps were then deployed in and around the positive site. No additional C. nasturtii were collected. This catch represented the first record of C. nasturtii in Prince Edward Island.

Newfoundland and Labrador

There were 10 sites completed with a total of 46 traps. All were negative for C. nasturtii.

Oriental Fruit Moth (Grapholita molesta)

Native to China and Korea, where the peach tree is also native, the Oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta was spread to many temperate fruit-growing areas of the world during the first thirty years of the 20th century. The means of spread between countries was almost certainly as cocoons on dormant fruit-tree nursery stock, but spread within each country also occurred with infested fruit. This insect was first reported in the USA in 1916 and it rapidly spread throughout that country. It was first reported in Ontario in 1925. Today, the only commercial peach-growing area of North America which is free of the pest is the province of British Columbia. A small population was detected in 1957 and eradicated at great expense. Annual surveys since 1957 have been negative for this pest. Annual pheromone trapping surveys for G. molesta are carried out in British Columbia using wing traps with a baited flexlure pheromone dispenser. The principle area of commercial stone fruit production in BC is the Okanagan Valley which is where the majority of trapping takes place

A total of 180 sites (Okanagan Valley 110 traps, Vancouver Island 32 traps, Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley 38 traps) were trapped in 2008 with no G. molesta being detected.

Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica)

Japanese Beetle (JB), Popillia japonica (Newman), is native to the main islands of Japan and was first discovered in North America in 1916 in a nursery near Riverton, New Jersey (United States). The first beetle found in Canada was in a tourist's car, arriving in Nova Scotia at Yarmouth by ferry from Maine, in 1939. During that same year three additional adults were again captured at Yarmouth and three more at Lacolle in Southern Québec. Treatment programs have been unable to completely eliminate this pest from Canada and currently there are populations established in Ontario, Québec and Nova Scotia. Additionally, the pest is distributed throughout the eastern United States. This species of beetle affects more than 300 plant species, including some economically important commodity plants such as fruit trees, ornamental shrubs and roses, field crops, turf grasses, and sod. The larva feed on roots and are a major pest of turfgrass on golf courses, recreational and industrial parks, school grounds and home lawns. The adults feed above ground on foliage, flowers and fruits.

This survey is being conducted in support of policies and programs related to the plant health policy directive D-96-15, Phytosanitary Requirements to Prevent the Spread of Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica in Canada and the United States. The survey is conducted in order to clarify the distribution of P. japonica for regulatory purposes. Specifically designed JB traps baited with a pheromone and food lure are used for this survey.

British Columbia

Annual detection surveys for P. japonica are conducted in British Columbia. In total, 600 traps were placed in 2008 (Greater Vancouver/Fraser Valley- 350 traps, Vancouver Island - 150 traps and in the Interior - 100 traps). Other areas of the province are not suitable for larval development. The survey focused on nurseries, garden centers, sod farms, golf courses airports and around sites that may have been exposed to regulated imported material from infested areas of the US or Canada. P. japonica was not detected in British Columbia in 2008.

Prince Edward Island

Detection focused on public and private sites with managed lawns and gardens such as: nurseries, garden centers, sod farms, golf courses, and parks. Surveys were conducted at 111 sites in Prince Edward Island. The 2008 survey resulted in significant finds of P. japonica in Queens County. There were 17 positive traps with a total of 1948 adult beetles collected in the Cornwall and Charlottetown areas. In the late summer, adult feeding was observed at one site where leaves of various hosts plants including Prunus, Vitus, Malus, Rubus, and Crataegus were significantly skeletonized. These finds represented the first records of P. japonica on Prince Edward Island.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Surveys were conducted at 54 sites in the province. Enhanced trapping occurred around the 2 positive sites of 2007, however there were no P. japonica detections in 2008.

Chrysanthemum White Rust (Puccinia horiana)

Chrysanthemum White Rust, Puccinia horiana (Hennings), is a fungal disease of chrysanthemum. It was first reported from China and Japan in 1895. It spread to all far east countries in the early 1900's, from there it spread to South Africa and Europe in the 1960's. It has since spread throughout Europe and has reached South America, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico. Localized introductions have occurred in United States and Canada. The introduction and spread of chrysanthemum white rust could lead to serious losses. The disease can spread rapidly throughout a greenhouse causing complete crop failure. Intensive management and continuous control measures are required where the disease is present. There is evidence that chrysanthemum white rust develops tolerance to certain pesticides used to control the disease. The introduction of the disease could also result in the loss of export markets for chrysanthemums. New introductions are subject to CFIA's eradication plan and are followed up with visual surveys around affected facilities.

British Columbia

Chrysanthemum White Rust was last detected in BC in September of 2007. In 2008, the fifteen sites surveyed included previously positive greenhouses as well as adjacent facilities and homeowner gardens. Ongoing monitoring at the Vancouver plant auction was also conducted. In 2008, there were no P. horiana detections in British Columbia.

Blueberry Maggot (Rhagoletis mendax)

Blueberry maggot, Rhagoletis mendax, is native to eastern North America including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the north-eastern US states. In 1993 it was found in southwestern Ontario, and few years later, in the fall of 1996, in the southern part of the province of Québec .

The feeding activity of the larval stage renders R. mendax a very destructive pest of both lowbush and highbush blueberries. The introduction and establishment of the blueberry maggot could jeopardize the blueberry industry in uninfested areas such as Newfoundland, British-Columbia and in the Lac Saint-Jean region of Québec. In the wild, natural spread of this pest is made possible by a number of suitable hosts such as huckleberry (Gaylussacia spp.), mountain cranberry (Vaccinium vitis-idea), wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), etc.

The CFIA annually surveys by trapping for adults with ammonium carbonate-baited sticky traps and by sampling and examining fruit for larvae. These activities support the claims of pest free zones and justifies the requirements for importation and domestic movement of regulated commodities.

Details on the directive D-02-04 can be found at : www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/d-02-04e.shtml

Newfoundland

Detection trapping was conducted at 36 sites with 232 traps 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 2008.

British Columbia

The Fraser Valley is the major production area of commercial blueberries in British Columbia. A fair 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 2008, 24 sites (with multiple traps depending on the size) were trapped in the lower mainland/Fraser Valley with 10 sites surveyed on Vancouver Island. No R. mendax flies were detected in British Columbia in 2008.

Québec

Staff in the Montreal East Office conducted detection surveys on seven blueberry fields in as many municipalities. No life stages of the insect were observed during the surveys. For the St-Hyacinthe area, ten blueberry fields in six different municipalities were trapped for the season. An R. mendax larva was detected using the brown sugar test with fresh blueberries from a commercial farm in Mont St-Grégoire; it was the first positive case of this double-winged insect in this municipality. One hundred and fifty-nine natural sites were also trapped in 17 municipalities. All sites tested negative for R. mendax. In the Québec area, the survey was focused primarily on the North Shore, Lac St-Jean and Gaspésie. In total, 26 blueberry farms were trapped in 8 municipalities, along with 3 natural sites and 4 sites close to processing plants. Only one natural site in Bonaventure, containing Vaccinium angustifolium, tested positive.

Highlights for the 2008 season:

  • A commercial blueberry farm containing Vaccinium corymbosum tested positive for R. mendax in Mont St-Grégoire (St-Hyacinthe area).
  • A natural site with Vaccinium angustifolium tested positive in Bonaventure (Québec area).

Ontario

In Ontario, trapping and fruit sampling for R. mendax was conducted at 48 sites in 2008. Positive samples were collected from two previously positive sites. There were no new detections of R. mendax in 2008.

Apple Maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella)

The apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella, is indigenous to North America and has been a serious pest of apples in Canada for over 100 years. The first official record of the pest was at Aldolphustown, Ontario in 1896. By 1905 the insect had extended its range to Como and Saint-Hilaire, Québec. A few years later it was found near Digby, Nova Scotia. It is now widespread throughout eastern Canada, with the exception of Newfoundland. In 2005 it was detected for the first time in Edmonton, Alberta. Until 2006, British Columbia was the only major apple producing area in North America that was considered free of the apple maggot R. pomonella. 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. In addition, increased trapping along the Canada-United States border is carried out to detect the potential spread of populations in adjacent areas south of the border. Apple maggot traps used in this survey are sticky plasticized red spheres baited with ammonium carbonate. These survey efforts are supported by the British Columbia Provincial Ministry of Agriculture through commercial orchards surveys.

In 2008, the survey focused on detection activities within the commercial fruit growing regions in the interior of the province which is geographically separated by a mountain range from the coastal area that is now deemed to be infested. A total of 409 traps were set with no detections of R. pomonella being reported.

Grapevine Phytoplasma (Flavescence Doré and Bois Noir)

Importation of grapevines into Canada from countries other than the United States is controlled through the certification of exporting nurseries. The program is designed to prevent the introduction of a number of serious quarantine viruses and phytoplasmas of grapevine not known to occur in Canada. Under this importation program, tests are carried out both in France and in Canada against quarantine viruses/pests of Canada, prior to the approval for the importation of any variety and rootstock. At present only specific grapevine varieties and rootstock from France and Germany are approved for importation into Canada under this program.

Following a recently review of the export program in France it was deemed necessary to conduct this survey in Canada to provide assurance that imported material is free of the phtyoplasmas Flavescence dorée and Bois noir. The survey focused on vineyards that had been planted with imported vines from France and Germany in the past 5 years. Only plants exhibiting symptoms of possible phytoplasma infection were sampled for testing.

Ontario

A total of 89 sites were surveyed for Grapevine Phytoplasmas in 2008. All of the target sites contained vines imported from France and/or Germany prior to 2007. Of the 347 leaf samples that were collected from Ontario vineyards; 5 samples tested positive for X-disease and 4 samples tested positive for Aster Yellows. Bois noir and Flavescence dorée were not detected.

Québec

St-Hyacinthe is the only area where grapevines were imported in 2006, before France or Germany; three importers of grapevines from France were tracked; of these, one individual lost his in the winter of 2007-2008; the other two importers are grape producers in Bromont (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, grapevines imported in 2004) and in Dixville (Chardonnay and Syrah, grapevines imported in 2006). Imported vines were visually inspected. Four samples (2 Chardonnay and 2 Pinot Noir) from the Bromont site were sent to the lab in Sidney, British Columbia, along with two (Chardonnay) samples from Dixville.

Bois noir and Flavescence dorée were not detected in the six samples.

New Brunswick

Four sites were visually surveyed. These sites were not associated with direct importations from either France or Germany. Two suspect samples were submitted to lab and were found negative for Flavescence dorée and Bois noir.

Nova Scotia

Two sites were surveyed with four samples being submitted. All samples submitted were negative for Flavescence dorée and Bois noir.

British Columbia

In 2008, a total of 48 sites from Vancouver Island, Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley and the Southern BC interior were surveyed with 391 samples collected and submitted for testing. All samples submitted were negative for Flavescence dorée and Bois noir, however one sample from Kelowna was positive for Aster yellows.

Leek Moth (Acrolepiopsis assectella)

The leek moth, Acrolepiopsis assectella, larvae are highly specialized to feed on the leaves of various plants belonging to the genus Allium, including onion, leek, garlic, shallot and chive. It is a serious pest of leeks in continental Europe. The larvae prefer younger leaves (0-7 days) but will consume leaves up to two months old.

This insect was first reported in North America in the mid 1990's around Ottawa, Ontario and in a few locations in west Québec. The 2003 CFIA survey identified leek moth as far east as Drummondville, Québec and at a number of small organic garlic farms in eastern Ontario.

The CFIA has determined that, although it can cause damage to organic garlic crops, and leek or scallions not treated with pesticides, leek moth is not a significant economic pest to Canadian commercial Allium production. Leek moth is therefore not a quarantine pest to Canada. However, leek moth is considered a quarantine pest in the United States and this has impacted exports of Canadian produce. Allium spp. plant material with green parts such as leeks and green onions (scallions) represent the majority of fresh Allium spp. exports from Canada into the United States. All targeted commodities destined to be exported to United States from Canada must be certified free of any life stage of the pest. In addition, pheromone surveys are conducted in non-infested provinces to support pest free areas.

Atlantic Canada

In Atlantic Canada a total of 155 sites were surveyed, including 76 sites in Nova Scotia, 29 in Prince Edward Island, 13 in Newfoundland, and 37 in New Brunswick. All sites were negative for A. assectella in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. In early September suspect specimens of A. assectella were collected from a small organic vegetable producer in Queens County, PEI. Two adults and one pupa were confirmed positive for A. assectella. The host material at the site was destroyed and enhanced trapping, conducted late in the season, was negative. This is the first record of A. assectella in Prince Edward Island.

British Columbia

In British Columbia, a total of 174 traps where placed near Allium growing sites such as community gardens and commercial production areas. All sites were negative for A. assectella.

Apple Ermine Moth (Yponomeuta malinellus)

In Canada, Yponomeuta malinellus, is considered to be established in in the major apple production areas of British Columbia which includes the Okanagan Valley, the Fraser Valley and southeastern Vancouver. This defoliator of apple trees was eradicated in New Brunswick (1917) and in Ontario (1957). Apple Ermine Moth (AEM) is not known to occur east of the Rocky Mountains.

Long distance spread is mainly by transportation of dormant material infested with egg masses. The CFIA applies phytosanitary requirements for the importation and domestic movement of regulated material to prevent the introduction and spread of this pest. This biennial detection survey is conducted in non-infested apple-producing provinces. The survey focuses on importers of Malus stock from BC, abandoned orchards and new urban plantings. Trapping is conducted form mid-July to September using Pherocon 1C wing traps baited with AEM rubber septum pheromone. At each trap site visual inspections are also conducted for larval webs and cocoons in the crown of the Malus hosts.

Québec

Pherocon 1C traps with pheromones were placed at five sites in the Québec area, near Malus trees (1 orchard and 4 sites with decorative trees); the sites were located in the following municipalities: one site in Québec, one in St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, one in Ste-Croix, two in Ste-Foy. No adult lepidopterans of the Y. malinellus variety were collected during this trapping survey.

Atlantic Canada

In Nova Scotia trapping and visual surveys were conducted in abandoned orchards and fruit farms at 16 locations in the Annapolis Valley. On Prince Edward Island where there is very little commercial apple production, detection trapping surveys were carried out at total of 10 locations in the three counties (Kings, Queens and Prince). In New Brunswick a trapping survey was conducted at 9 sites including importing nurseries, abandoned orchards and at the AAFC Potato Research Station in Lincoln. No Y. malinellus were detected in any of the Atlantic provinces in 2008.

Ontario

In Ontario, surveys were conducted at 51 sites, including commercial orchards, abandoned orchards, nurseries and garden centres. Y. malinellus was not detected in any trap or visual survey in Ontario in 2008.

Grains and Field Crops Surveys

Alfalfa Snout Beetle (Otiorhynchus ligustici)

The Alfalfa Snout Beetle, Otiorhynchus ligustici, is widespread in northern Europe, Asia minor, and Russia. Alfalfa is the preferred host but insect can feed on many other plants, including true clovers, sweet clover and a variety of weeds. In Europe, it is also a significant pest of hops. The adults beetle feed on leafs and stems of plants while the larvae feed on the roots. All adults are female and can lay fertile eggs without mating, so a single beetle can start a new infestation.

The first North American finds were from Oswego County in New York State, USA in 1896. In 1967 Alfalfa Snout Beetle was found on Wolfe Island in the St. Lawrence River near Kingston, Ontario. There were no additional finds in Canada until 1986 when it was report by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture from a location in Grenville County just west of the town of Prescott.

In 2008, the CFIA in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) surveyed areas of Eastern Ontario. This survey was a follow-up to the work that was undertaken in 2006 (for a full report of that survey please see the 2006 annual). The 2008 survey focused on alfalfa fields in the counties of Frontenac (Wolfe Island), Leeds & Grenville, Dundas, Prescott & Russell and the city of Ottawa. The alfalfa fields were surveyed for the presence of Alfalfa Snout Beetle (larvae and adults) between May and November. The results confirmed the presence of Alfalfa Snout Beetles at all previously infested locations with O. ligustici also being detected at 3 new locations (Bedell Rd.- Kemptville, Bisseltown and Tincap).

Soybean Cyst Nematode (Heterodera glycines)

This nematode was first reported from Japan in 1916. In North America, the first observation was in the United States in 1954 and in Canada, introduction was noted in 1987 in Ontario. The only major economic crop severely affected is soybean; damage is done by the feeding activity of the nematode in the root system which can reduce the field crop up to 20% as shown by studies in Ontario. Over 1100 species of plants are reported as potential hosts for Heterodera glycines.

The nematode is completely sedentary except for a small amount of movement by the juveniles and adults males; the pest is carried by the farm machinery, any equipment contaminated with soil, birds and wind.

Details on the directives related to Heterodera glycines can be found at :

  • D-98-01: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/d-98-01e.shtml
  • D-94-17: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/directe.shtml#a94-17

Ontario

Soil samples were collected from 83 sites in Central and Eastern Ontario, focussing on counties not regulated for H. glycines. In 2008, H. glycines was detected in Prescott-Russell County and Stormont County, which is part of the larger amalgamated county of Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry. This follows the 2007 finds in Dundas County, the City of Ottawa and the Regional Municipality of Peel.

Potatoes Surveys

Potato Wart (Synchytrium endobioticum)

The presence of Potato Wart, caused by Synchytrium endobioticum, was first detected in one field of 31.2 ha in Prince Edward Island in October 2000. Subsequently, as part of province wide surveillance activities, potato wart was detected in 5 fields totalling 42.2 ha in 2002, 4 fields totalling 31.6 ha in 2004 and 1 field of 18.2 ha in 2007. Containment and surveillance measures have been, and continue, to be in place to prevent further spread and to determine the extent of the infection. There are currently 11 known infected fields (Index fields) on two separate farm units (123.2 ha) and additionally 62 other fields, including primary contact and adjacent fields (766.3 ha), which have been placed, and remain, under CFIA control. In addition to the fields under notice there are 255 other contact fields, some of which are subject to restrictions on the disposition of the potato crops produced in them.

As part of the continued efforts to contain and eradicate Potato Wart while maintaining market access, CFIA continues to implement a risk based long-term management plan which outlines the ongoing surveillance to be carried out on the various "categories" of potato wart associated fields. In fiscal year 2008/2009 a total of 275 fields, 2264.43ha, were post harvest inspected for the presence of potato wart symptoms. No positive detections of Potato Wart were found through this activity. Six tubers showing suspected symptoms of Potato Wart infection were submitted for lab analysis, all were found to be negative for the presence of Potato Wart. In addition, 1389 soil samples were gathered and analyzed from potato wart associated fields. None of the samples collected tested positive for the presence of Potato Wart.

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

Total Hectares & Number of Fields Subject to Potato Wart Surveillance - PEI Region 2008 Crop Year
Non-Seed Seed Total
1591.369ha 673.061ha 2264.43ha
128 fields 147 fields 275 fields

 

Soil Samples Collected for Potato Wart Analysis - PEI Region 2008
Field Type Number Collected
2007 Index Field 303
Other Contacts to 2007 Index Field 1086
Total Samples Collected 1389

Potato Cyst Nematode (Globodera rostochiensis)

On August 15, 2006, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the detection of the potato pest, Globodera rostochiensis, in a 30-acre field on a farm approximately 20 kilometres east of Montreal, Québec. In 2007, Globodera rostochiensis was detected in two separate seed potato fields in Alberta.

For information on this pest visit the CFIA Golden Nematode page at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/gloros/glorose.shtml


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