Asian Gypsy Moth AGM

1
Asian Gypsy Moth(AGM)

• RSPM 33 - Guidelines for Regulating the Movement
  of Ships and Cargoes aboard those Ships from
  Areas Infested with the Asian Gypsy Moth
• Shane Sela
• Chairperson NAPPO Forestry Panel
• 2008 NAPPO Annual Meeting, Guadalajara, Mexico

2
History of AGM

• North American Gypsy Moth (NAGM)/European Gypsy
  Moth established since early 1900s
• Serious quarantine pest for N. Am.
• National regulations to prevent expansion
• Significant differences between NAGM and AGM

AGM Flighted females broader distribution Host
range includes conifers broader impact
NAGM Flightless females Host range focused on
deciduous trees
3
History of AGM

• Late 1980s/early 1990s AGM egg masses were
  intercepted on Russian vessels in west coast
  ports
• Early 1990s - several million dollar treatment
  programs required in west coast urban centers to
  eradicate introductions
• 1998/2002 AGM egg masses detected on vessels
  that had called at ports in Japan

4
History of AGM

• 2003 Egg masses detected on used vehicle from
  Japan
• 2003-08 Egg masses collected from various vessels
  that had called on Japanese/Korean/Chinese ports
• 2007 Publication of distribution information on
  revised taxonomy of pest

5
Surveillance

• Highly effective pheromone trapping broadly used
• Canada 10 000 traps/annum
• U.S. - 250 000 traps/annum
• Ongoing surveillance throughout North America for
  both AGM/NAGM
• Genetic identification (10)

6
Surveillance for AGM - Detections by
State/Province
7
NAPPO Pest Risk Assessment

• Lymantria dispar asiatica and L. dispar japonica
• Native to Asia, including China, Japan, Korea
  Russian Far East to the Urals
• Female are attracted to illuminated objects and
  are capable of flying 30-40 km
• Egg mass overwintering stage consisting of
  600-1000 eggs
• Larva feeds on leaves of gt600 plant species
• Pathways logs, lawn furniture, nursery stock,
  pallets, used cars, shipping containers, hulls
  and riggings of ships

8
PRA - Likelihood of Introduction and Spread

• Very likely
• Several past incursions into North America
• Many interceptions of viable egg masses on
  vessels from Asia
• Abundance of suitable hosts
• Climatic conditions favour establishment
• Aggressive dispersal capacity

9
PRA - Consequences of Introduction

• Very serious
• Defoliation resulting in reduced growth, crown
  dieback, tree mortality, ...
• Costly control measures in production areas
• Impacts to native organisms (both competitors and
  through habitat loss)
• Impacts on international trade (both regulatory
  and direct losses of products)

10
PRA - Conclusion

• High risk to NAPPO countries
• Adoption of specific phytosanitary measures
  required to reduce risks

11
Overview
12
Basis for Regulation

• Regulated pests Lymantria dispar asiatica and L.
  dispar japonica
• Regulated areas Peoples Republic of China,
  Mongolia, Japan, Russian Federation and the
  Republic of Korea
• Regulated articles ships and cargo

13
High Risk Period

• Regulations should be established to account for
  the period of risk
• Highest risk
• Period of female flight in the regulated area, in
  the current or previous year
• Period in which larvae may be dispersed
• Varies by port of call in the regulated area and
  port of call in North America

• Example
• Ships calling on infested ports in the
  spring/summer of 2008 are a risk in
  Seattle/Vancouver in the spring of 2009
• But also a risk to ports in Los
  Angeles/Manzanillio in fall of 2008

14
Potential Risk Management for Certification

• Inspection of the conveyance/cargo and
  certification of freedom
• Systems approaches to exclude and monitor for the
  pest
• Determination of PFAs through monitoring
• Other options as developed bilaterally or
  multilaterally

15
Verification by NAPPO Countries

• Verification of certification
• Potential inspection at first point of entry
• Complying vessels permitted to enter/provision of
  a document of approval to enter
• Recognition of vessels allowed entry by NAPPO
  member countries provided vessel has not returned
  to infested areas during the high risk period

16
Non-compliance

• Conveyance may be refused entry to the member
  country
• Requirements for cleaning and re-inspection

17
Information Sharing

• System of sharing of compliance and
  non-compliance information between members

18
Uncertainties

• Lymantria mathura has been detected on vessels
  from Asia
• A cousin of gypsy moth
• Similar host range and impact
• Not found in North America
• Can cargoes be effectively managed given volumes
  in trade, etc.

19
Next Steps

• Ongoing dialogue with our trading partners
• Comments have been received and are being
  reviewed
• Meetings to clarify requirements
• Review of comments received through consultation

20
Next Steps

• Establishment of country implementation plans
• Harmonized implementation of measures that are
  harmonized practical effective