A new website trys to educate people on the dangers of moving firewood. The website can be found here.

The National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) has developed an educational program for crop consultants, county extension educators, and for those who monitor the health of crops.  These programs provide training for "First Detectors" - people who are trained to have a heightened awareness to the potential for exotic pests or diseases.  Their training sessions and online training modules provide a good resource for people interested in acting as First Detectors.  You can find more information about the program at the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory or can jump directly to the NPDN Training Site for First Detectors. 

Tom Harrington (Iowa State University) and Stephen Fraedrich (USDA Southern Research Station) have recently published a description of the fungus causing Laurel wilt and have named it Raffaelea lauricola.  The article in the April-June issue (104) in Mycotaxon will soon be available online.  Until the article is released, you can see the press release about this naming at Iowa State University and Science Daily.

A new pesticide has been registered for control of Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipenis).  It shows some promise for controling the borer in areas where EAB is already present but the trees are apparently healthy.  More testing will be done to reinforce these findings.  You can find details about this innovation in the press release.

In the wake of introduced speices wreaking havoc in varoiu areas of the country, some states have begun to regulate the movement of firewood.  New York has just issued an emergency regulation to limit the movement of firewood to 50 miles from where it is harvested.  They have a very nice Frequently Asked Questions seciton explaining the rules and the reasoning behind it. 

The National Plant Diagnostic Network Training and Education Committee will be creating presentation materials that may be used to educate First Detectors such as master gardeners, garden clubs and homeowners about certain pests. Many of these species are exotic or newly introduced.

To help this effort, we are putting out a call for images on the following insect species.

• African Citrus Psyllid (Trioza erytreae)
• Arrowhead scale (Unaspis yanonensis)
• Asian Ambrosia Beetle (Xyleborinus saxeseni)
• Asian Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar dispar)
• Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)
• Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius)
• Sweetpotato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci biotype Q)
• Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys)
• Cassava mealybug (Phenococcus manihoti)
• Chilli Thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis)
• Coffee mealybug (Planococcus lilacinus)
• Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)
• Diaprepes Root Weevil (Diaprepes abbreviatus)
• Egyptian Cottonworm (Spodoptera littoralis)
• Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)
• European Crane Flies (Tipula spp.)
• Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)
• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae)
• Japanese wax scale (Ceroplastes japonicas)
• Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)
• Old World Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera)
• Pine Shoot Beetle (Tomicus piniperda)
• Potato psyllid (Russelliana solanicola)
• Red Palm Mite (Raoiella indica)
• Redbay Ambrosia Beetle (Xyleborus glabratus)
• Sirex Woodwasp (Sirex noctilio)
• Spodoptera litura
• Sugarcane silk floss aphid (Ceratovacuna lanigera)
• Suni Bug (Eurygaster integriceps)
• Swede Midge (Contarinia nasturtii)
• Viburnum Leaf Beetle (Pyrrhalta virburni)
• Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata)

If you have some images of these species that you think would be useful, please let me know. We'll add the images to the Bugwood Image Database and forward copies to the individuals working on particular species presentations.

Effective immediately, Plant Protection and Quarantine is issuing a Federal Import Quarantine Order (see below) restricting the importation of Lygodium microphyllum (Old World climbing fern) and Lygodium flexuosum (maidenhair creeper).  The restrictions apply to any parts capable of propagation, including spores and leaves (fronds) of these climbing fern species.

FEDERAL IMPORT QUARANTINE ORDER:

Lygodium microphyllum and Lygodium flexuosum

 May 30, 2008

The purpose and goal of this Federal Order is to prevent the entry from all foreign countries into the United States of two harmful noxious weeds, Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. (Old World climbing fern) and Lygodium flexuosum (L.) Sw. (maidenhair creeper).  This Federal Order is issued pursuant to Section 412(a) of the Plant Protection Act of June 20, 2000, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 7712(a), which authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the importation or entry of any plant, plant part, noxious weed or article if the Secretary determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the entry of a plant pest or noxious weed into the United States.

This action is necessary because the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has determined that these climbing fern species are harmful noxious weeds that pose a serious environmental and economic threat to the United States.  Recently, APHIS learned of commercial interest in importing Lygodium microphyllum as cut flower greenery.  Fertile Lygodium leaves contain reproductive structures filled with spores that may be windblown, spreading the plant into uninfested areas.  Additionally, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has requested that APHIS regulate Lygodium microphyllum to support Florida control efforts and Lygodium flexuosum, to prevent its introduction.

Within the United States, Old World climbing fern is only known to occur in the State of Florida where it is currently regulated and controlled.

Maidenhair creeper is not known to occur in the United States.  These climbing ferns spread prolifically, climbing and scrambling over vegetation, creating a fire hazard, smothering native plant communities and causing other harmful environmental and economic impacts.

 In order to prevent the entry of Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. and Lygodium flexuosum (L.) Sw., the APHIS Administrator has determined that it is necessary to no longer allow the importation of plant material capable of propagation, including nursery stock, spores, and leaves (fronds) of these climbing fern species, unless authorized by a PPQ permit for specified research in containment.  Due to the seriousness of the potential for the spread of these very harmful noxious weeds, this Federal Order is effective immediately upon issuance.

Prohibited Plant Species:

Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. (Old World climbing fern) and Lygodium flexuosum (L.) Sw. (maidenhair creeper).

We do get image use request from all over the world.  Occasionally, we get a copy of the material the pictures get used in.  Here is a recent use of an image in a Norwegian Newspaper.  If I was up on my lanuguages, I'm sure that I would find it to be a great article on Pine Wilt Nematode.

The National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) has released an online crop biosecurity training course on April 1, 2008. County extension agents, crop consultants, Master Gardeners, and others interested in assisting in the protection of U.S. agricultural and natural areas should complete the training. Topics covered include: the Mission of the NPDN, Monitoring for High Risk Pests, Diagnosing Plant Problems, Submitting Diagnostic Samples, Photography for Diagnosis, and Disease and Pest Scenarios. Participants receive the First Detector newsletter, pest alerts, and state/regional pest information of interest in some instances.

First Detectors are an important first line resource for the early detection of exotic pests. In addition to the online training, the NPDN offers numerous local training sessions. Visit the NPDN Training Site to search for face-to-face and/or hands-one training in your local area. In some states, advanced, special topic training may be available once core content has been completed.

General questions about First Detector training, including how to conduct training in your state, can be directed to national coordinator, Amanda Hodges

Customs and Border Protection has enough work to do monitoring cargo to catch incidental introductions of exotic pests.  Unfortunately, there are individuals who often miss the big picture and think that some of these critters might make a good pet!  MSNBC posted an article recently about one such interception.