Montana CAPS Projects for Fiscal Year 2000
PPQ Program Support
Data were uploaded to NAPIS from the 2000 Montana CAPS projects and from APHIS
biocontrol activities. A total of 429 records were added to the data base, representing 1,609
observations. Pest information and maps were provided in response to requests from cooperating
agencies and individuals. Questions related to "established" status have been considered and responded
to. A Montana State Survey Committee meeting was held August 9, 2000.
Karnal Bunt Survey and Data Management
The Montana portion of the USDA Karnal Bunt Survey was performed by the Montana
Department of Agriculture (MDA) during August and September, 2000. A total of 85 samples for 33
counties were collected, with the greatest number of samples coming from the counties with the largest
wheat production. All test results were negative for Karnal bunt.
Wheat test analysis data for Karnal bunt received from the Montana Karnal Bunt Survey were
entered into NAPIS after tests were processed by the Plant Pest Diagnostic Clinic of the Kansas State
Department of Agriculture, Topeka, Kansas. Data were coded, checked for discrepancies, and any
errors found were corrected.
Cereal Leaf Beetle Export Inspection Survey
The cereal leaf beetle survey was conducted from May 30 to July 14, 2000 by MDA staff.
Twenty-five counties were surveyed: Beaverhead, Blaine, Carter, Cascade, Choteau, Deer Lodge,
Fallon, Fergus, Glacier, Hill, Judith Basin, Liberty, McCone, Meagher, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera,
Powell, Roosevelt, Silver Bow, Teton, Toole, Valley, Wheatland and Wibaux. A total of 85 sites were
monitored in the 25 counties. The cereal leaf beetle was detected for the first time in: Beaverhead,
Choteau, Judith Basin and Meagher counties. It was also found as in at least one prior year in Cascade,
Deer Lodge, Fergus, Powell and Teton counties, but not in Blaine, Carter, Fallon, Glacier, Hill, Liberty,
McCone, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Roosevelt, Silver Bow, Toole, Valley, Wheatland and Wibaux
counties. Maps were produced to provide a visual record of the results.
Exotic Trapping
MDA staff members set 28 traps in Cascade, Flathead, Lake, Lewis & Clark, Missoula, Ravalli
and Sanders counties for detection of the pinewood nematode during the time period from June 23 until
October 8, 2000. There were no positive finds.
MDA staff members set 28 traps in Flathead, Lake, Lewis & Clark, Missoula, Ravalli and Sanders
counties for detection of the European pine shoot moth during the time period from June 23 until
October 8, 2000. Three suspects caught in Sanders County were confirmed to be positive.
MDA staff members set 155 traps in Flathead, Gallatin, Lake, Lewis & Clark, Missoula, Ravalli,
Sanders, Silver Bow and Yellowstone counties for detection of the Japanese beetle during the time
period from May 23 until October 5, 2000. No Japanese beetles or suspects were trapped.
Gypsy Moth Survey
The Montana Department of Agriculture placed and recovered a total of 235 gypsy moth traps
during the period from June to October, 2000. Nine NAPIS records were entered for the eight
counties surveyed by MDA: Flathead, Lake, Lewis & Clark, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Powell and
Sanders. Cooperating in the gypsy moth survey were Montana Department of Natural Resources and
Conservation (MT-DNRC) which surveyed 64 traps in 2 counties, the US Forest Service, which
recovered a total of 303 traps in 32 counties, and USDA-APHIS-PPQ, which reported data from 466
traps in 29 counties. Overall, 47 Montana counties were surveyed: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine,
Broadwater, Carbon, Cascade, Choteau, Custer, Dawson, Deer Lodge, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin,
Glacier, Golden Valley, Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis & Clark, Liberty, Lincoln,
Madison, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River,
Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Richland, Rosebud, Sanders, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweetgrass, Toole,
Treasure, Wheatland, Wibaux and Yellowstone. One suspect trapped in Park County by USDA-APHIS-PPQ was confirmed positive.
Cereal Leaf Beetle Biological Control
MDA spent a second year developing its western Montana insectary near Creston MT for
Tetrastichus julis, a cereal leaf beetle parasite currently being raised in Huntley, Montana for biological
control purposes. Parasitism detected at the western insectary during 2000 was minimal, with
improvement expected in 2001.
Meadow Hawkweed Complex Identification/Training and Delimitation Survey
This study examined classification nomenclature, available data and distribution for the three exotic
members of the meadow hawkweed complex, which have been declared noxious weeds in Montana
and surrounding states. Accurate field identification is complicated by the existence of numerous native
yellow-flowered hawkweeds, and by hybridization of the exotic species. Currently most of the exotic
hawkweeds have been found in northwest and west-central Montana, with the greatest frequency of
occurrence in Mineral County. Other counties where they have been documented include: Glacier,
Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Missoula, Pondera and Sanders. Thirty-six positive records were added to
the NAPIS database, with 3 additional records pending the availability of a new species code.
Saltcedar Detection and Delimitation Survey
Faculty members and students in the Montana State University Department of Land Resources and
Environmental Sciences took part in an experiment in fall saltcedar recognition and mapping using aerial
GPS survey equipment from a helicopter on October 26, 2000. It was found that previously-mapped
saltcedar sites could be navigated to, but were recognizable from the air in the fall only when flying quite
low. Efficiency of this method did not approach that obtained when surveys were made at saltcedar
flowering time.
Based upon an accumulation of data collected over the past four years, the magnitiude of the
saltcedar infestation in Montana is much greater than estimated prior to the surveys.
Plum Pox Virus Surveillance Program
MDA participated in the National plum pox virus survey. Data were collected from Montana
nurseries in early June. Leaf samples from 103 members of Prunus species were sent to the AGDIA
Laboratory for ELISA testing. All samples tested negative for plum pox.
