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Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) Confirmed in Mainland U.S.

CALIFORNIA, May 4, 2007- 

Light brown apple moth adultsLight brown apple moth egg masses (image by HortResearch, New Zealand) Light brown apple moth larva (image by HortResearch, New Zealand)

On March 16, 2007, Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM), Epiphyas postvittana, was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Alameda County, California. APHIS and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) are conducting detection and delimiting surveys to determine the area of infestation in the State of California. As of today, LBAM detections have occurred in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties.

This is the first detection of LBAM in the mainland United States; the pest was reported in Hawaii in the late 1800s. LBAM has a very large host range and has been recorded on over 200 plants. If left uncontrolled, LBAM could cause damage to many different kinds of plants, including stone fruits, pome fruits, grapes, citrus, flowers, and nursery stock. LBAM is now considered to be a transient pest that is actionable, and we are pursuing control options, including eradication.

In order to prevent the dissemination of LBAM to other areas in the United States, APHIS is establishing a quarantine to restrict interstate movement of certain articles to prevent the spread of LBAM. This quarantine will encompass all LBAM-affected counties of California and the entire State of Hawaii. The statewide quarantine of Hawaii is necessary because of the lack of data on the distribution of LBAM within the State.

In California, LBAM-affected counties are quarantined through a two-tiered approach that regulates the interstate movement of host articles from quarantined areas based on inspection verifying pest-freedom. In Hawaii, the interstate movement of host articles is regulated uniformly across the entire State based on inspection verifying pest freedom.

Under IPPC standards, the light brown apple moth is considered to be a pest that is transient: actionable and under surveillance in the United States.


Contacts: Osama El-Lissy, Director, PPQ, Emergency Management: (301) 734-8247
Helene Wright, State Plant Health Director, California: (916) 930-5500

 

Links for more information:
California Department of Food and Agriculture
USDA APHIS