Country: United States

Title: Establishment of New Quarantine Areas in Virginia for European Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) - United States

Contact:
Bernetta Barco, APHIS State Plant Health Director, (804)771-2042, or Weyman Fussell, GM National Program Manager, (301)734-5705

Report: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed that the population levels of European gypsy moth, in Bland and Pulaski Counties, and the City of Radford, Virginia, have reached the threshold levels to trigger the establishment of quarantine areas. The gypsy moth (GM) populations for Bland and Pulaski Counties, and the City of Radford, reached this level in late 2008.

Effective immediately, all interstate movement of GM regulated articles from Pulaski and Bland Counties along with the City of Roanoke must be done in accordance with the attached Federal Order. Due to parallel intrastate regulations established by Virginia, Federal regulation of less than the entire state is possible.

GM is an introduced highly destructive insect of approximately 300 species of trees and shrubs. The GM program prescribes conditions for the interstate movement of regulated articles from GM quarantine areas. This Federal-State partnership has worked successfully to prevent establishment of GM outside of the quarantine area due to human-assisted movement of the pest.

For more information regarding gypsy moth, visit the following website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/gypsy_moth/

Under IPPC standards, Lymantria dispar is a pest that is present in some parts of the United States, specifically all or part of 19 States and the District of Columbia.
 

Posted Date: March 11, 2009, 9 a.m.