Official Pest Report
Official Pest Reports are provided by National Plant Protection Organizations within the NAPPO region. These Pest Reports are intended to comply with the International Plant Protection Convention's Standard on Pest Reporting, endorsed by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures in March 2002.
Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) – Additional townships in Maine added to quarantine area
Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) – Additional townships in Maine added to quarantine area
Country: United States
Title: Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) – Additional townships in Maine added to quarantine area
Contact:
Terry Bourgoin, APHIS State Plant Health Director, at (207) 848-5199; or Julie Spaulding, National Program Manager, at (301) 734-5332
Report:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has expanded its gypsy moth (GM-Lymantria dispar) quarantine area to include additional townships in Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset Counties in Maine. The GM populations for these areas reached the threshold level to trigger the quarantine between 2008 and 2009.
The Federal Order establishes quarantine areas for these infested areas in order to prevent the further spread of GM. Effective immediately, all interstate movement of GM-regulated articles from Mount Chase, T5 R8 WELS, T6 R8 WELS, and that portion of T3 R8 WELS within the boundaries of Baxter State Park in Penobscot County; Mount Katahdin Township, Nesourdnahunk Township, T3 R10 WELS, T4 R9 WELS, T5 R9 WELS, T6 R10 WELS, Trout Brook Township, and the portions of T4 R10 WELS within the boundaries of Baxter State Park in Piscataquis County; and Bigelow Township and Lower Enchanted Township in Somerset County, Maine, must be handled in accordance with the Federal Order. Federal quarantine of less than the entire state is possible when the state establishes an intrastate quarantine that mirrors Federal requirements for interstate movement. The State of Maine has already established domestic quarantines for these areas.
GM is a 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.
Under IPPC standards, Lymantria dispar is a pest that is present: only in some areas and subject to official control in the United States.
Posted Date: Jan. 10, 2011, 9 a.m.