Country: United States

Title: Corrected Status of 2008 Thaumatotibia leucotreta (False Codling Moth) detection in the United States

Contact:
Deborah L. McPartlan, National Policy Manager, at 301-851-2191

Report:

In late July 2008, APHIS confirmed the detection of an adult male False Codling Moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick), from a trap placed near an orange tree in a suburban area of Port Hueneme, Ventura County, California. This was the first and only detection of FCM in the continental United States. The purpose of this Official Pest Report is to clarify that the current status for T. leucotreta is: “Absent: pest no longer present, confirmed by survey” and thereby correct distribution errors in global pest databases.

FCM attacks different plant species including avocado, pepper, orange, macadamia, guava, peach, pomegranate, cotton, sorghum and maize. Following the detection in 2008, APHIS and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) established delimitation survey areas and extensively surveyed throughout the state to determine the extent of this incursion. There were no additional detections of false codling moth in the state during the delimitation surveys and therefore, the 2008 detection was considered an isolated regulatory incident. California and the United States continue to target this pest in state and national survey efforts. For additional information on FCM surveys visit: http://pest.ceris.purdue.edu/map.php?code=ITBUEUA#.

Under IPPC standards, T. leucotreta is considered a pest that is Absent: pest no longer present, confirmed by survey in the United States.

Posted Date: Sept. 28, 2016, 9 a.m.