Montana CAPS Projects for Fiscal Year 2001
PPQ Program Support
Data were uploaded to NAPIS from the 2001 Montana CAPS projects and from APHIS biocontrol
activities. A total of 416 records were added to the data base, representing 1,983 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 responses made. A Montana State
Survey Committee meeting was held May 31, 2001.
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, 2001. A total of 68 samples for 38 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 June 19 to July 24, 2001 by MDA staff. Twenty-one counties were surveyed: Beaverhead, Blaine, Carter, Chouteau, Fallon, Fergus, Glacier, Hill, Judith
Basin, Liberty, Lincoln, McCone, Meagher, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Roosevelt, Silver Bow, Valley,
Wheatland and Wibaux. A total of 96 sites were monitored in the 21 counties. No new counties were
added to the list of those found to have this pest in past surveys. In 2001, the cereal leaf beetle was
detected in: Beaverhead, Fergus, Lincoln and Meagher counties. It was not found in Blaine, Carter,
Chouteau, Fallon, Glacier, Hill, Judith Basin, Liberty, McCone, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Roosevelt,
Silver Bow, Valley, Wheatland and Wibaux counties. Maps were produced to provide a visual record of
the results.
Continuation of Saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima) Detection and Delimitation Survey
Saltcedar has previously been found along waterways in 19 eastern Montana counties. The purpose
of this project is to detect and delimit the extent of saltcedar in Montana. For the 2001 survey, we
originally intended to cover the Missouri River from the western edge of Fort Peck Reservoir to Fort
Benton. We contacted the BLM and found that Kenny Keever, weed coordinator for the Missouri Breaks
National Monument, surveyed that stretch of river in 2000. A few saltcedar plants were found and treated
during the BLM survey, and no further infestations in those areas were detected in 2001. We moved our
survey the Marias River from its confluence with the Missouri up to the Tiber Reservoir (Lake Elwell).
On July 12, 2001, Diana Cooksey and Shana Driscoll performed a visual survey for saltcedar via
helicopter. We covered the entire Marias River below the Tiber Reservoir, the entire south side of the
reservoir, and about 19 km upriver from the reservoir. We found only one plant during the survey, located
approximately 15 km upriver from the confluence with the Missouri, in Chouteau County. The plant was
about 9 ft. tall with a spread of about 5 ft., and in full flower on July 12. Kenny Keever and Craig Ferris,
Chouteau County weed supervisor, chopped it down, treated the stump with herbicide, and removed all
plant parts in early August 2001. Mr. Ferris plans to continue monitoring of the area, including riverbanks
downstream, for seedlings and other plants. Plans for the 2002 survey include coordinating closely with
other groups in Montana performing saltcedar surveys, and surveying rivers to the West, where saltcedar
has not yet been detected.
Japanese Beetle Trapping Program
MDA staff members recovered data from 151 Japanese beetle traps in Cascade, Flathead, Gallatin,
Jefferson, Lake, Lewis & Clark, Missoula, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow, Sweet Grass and Yellowstone
Counties during the time period from May 29 until October 1, 2001. No Japanese beetles or suspects
were trapped.
Golden Nematode Detection Survey
MDA conducted a Golden Nematode Survey in October 2000. 63 soil samples were collected from
seed potato growing regions around the State, in nine counties: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Chouteau, Deer
Lodge, Flathead, Gallatin, Lake, Liberty and Madison. Samples were analyzed at the University of Idaho
for golden nematode, Columbian root knot nematode, soybean cyst nematode, potato rot nematode,
Meloidogyne hapla, M. javanica and a number of other nematode species. All samples tested negative
for all species.
Gypsy Moth Survey
The Montana Department of Agriculture placed and recovered a total of 265 gypsy moth traps during
the period from June to October, 2001. 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 which
surveyed 50 traps in 2 counties, the US Forest Service, which recovered a total of 318 traps in 33
counties, and USDA-APHIS-PPQ, which reported data from 456 traps in 32 counties. Overall, 44
Montana counties were surveyed: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade,
Chouteau, Custer, Dawson, Deer Lodge, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley,
Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis & Clark, Lincoln, Madison, McCone, Meagher,
Mineral, Missoula, Park, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Powell, Ravalli, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud,
Sanders, Silver Bow, Sweetgrass, Teton, Valley and Yellowstone. One suspect trapped in Glacier
County by the US Forest Service was confirmed positive.
Exotic Trapping
MDA staff members set eight traps in Broadwater, Cascade, Flathead, Lake, Lewis & Clark, and
Ravalli counties for detection of the Khapra beetle during the time period from early May until September
10, 2001. No Khapra beetles or suspects were trapped.
MDA staff members checked 356 bee hives in Broadwater, Custer, Lewis & Clark, Lincoln,
Missoula, Phillips, Ravalli and Yellowstone counties for detection of the small hive beetle during the time
period from June 1 until October 10, 2001. There were no positive finds.
MDA staff members monitored 25 traps in Flathead, Lake, Lewis & Clark, Missoula, Ravalli and
Sanders counties for detection of the pine shoot beetle during the time period from late May to September
28, 2001. There were no positive finds.
Plum Pox Virus Surveillance Program
MDA participated in the National plum pox virus survey. Data were collected from Montana
nurseries in late June, 2001. Leaf samples from 103 members of Prunus species were sent to the
AGDIA Laboratory for ELISA testing. All samples tested negative for plum pox.
