Montana CAPS Projects for Fiscal Year 2002 Summary
PPQ Program Support
Data were uploaded to NAPIS from the
2002 Montana CAPS projects. A total of 331 records were added to the data base,
representing 1,603 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 in Helena, June 10, 2002
at the USDA-APHIS-PPQ Office.
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, 2002. A total of 85 samples for 36 counties were
collected. Samples ranged from one per county to eleven in the largest
wheat-producing county. All test results were negative for Karnal bunt.
Wheat test analysis data for Karnal
bunt received from the Montana Karnal Bunt Survey were processed and results
were entered into NAPIS by the United States Department of Agriculture in Olney,
Texas.
Cereal Leaf Beetle Export Inspection Survey
The cereal leaf beetle survey was conducted from June
20 to July 11, 2002 by MDA staff. Nineteen counties were surveyed: Blaine, Carter,
Chouteau, Daniels, Fallon, Glacier, Hill, Judith Basin, Liberty, McCone, Petroleum, Phillips,
Pondera, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Toole, Valley, Wheatland and Wibaux. A total of 72
sites were monitored in the 19 counties. No new counties were added to the list
of those found to have this pest in past surveys. In 2002, the cereal leaf
beetle was not detected in any of the 19 counties surveyed. Maps were produced
to provide a visual record of the results.
Japanese Beetle Trapping Program
MDA staff members recovered data
from 160 Japanese beetle traps in ten counties: Cascade, Flathead, Gallatin,
Lake, Lewis & Clark, Missoula, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow and Yellowstone
Counties during the time period from June 1 until September 27, 2002. On July 1,
traps at Billings airport caught the first Japanese beetle to be recorded in
Montana. Four more beetles were trapped in the same vicinity during the trapping
period. Further trapping in 2003 will target this area aggressively.
2002 Saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima) Detection and Delimitation Survey
Saltcedar
has previously been found along waterways in 20 eastern Montana counties. The
purpose of this project is to detect and delimit the extent of saltcedar in
Montana. On July 17, 2002, Elizabeth Roberts and Shana Driscoll performed a
visual survey for saltcedar via helicopter. They covered portions of the
Missouri, Teton and Sun Rivers. No positive finds of saltcedar were identified
on 165 river miles surveyed. Although this method has been proven to identify
mature plants, ground-truthing efforts are also needed to check for the presence
of seedlings or plants in the juvenile stages. A possible plan for 2003 is to
survey the Missouri River, starting at Townsend and to continue to the upstream
terminus of the 2002 survey. Plans for the 2003 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.
Exotic Trapping
MDA staff members set a total of 44
traps in Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli and Sanders
counties for detection of the apple maggot during the time period from late June
until October 1, 2002. No positive finds or suspects were trapped.
MDA staff members surveyed Flathead,
Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli and Sanders counties for detection of
the apple ermine moth between June 27 and October 1, 2002. A total of 26 traps
were monitored. There were no positive finds.
MDA staff members monitored 25 traps in
Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli and Sanders counties for
detection of the cherry bark tortrix during the time period from late June to
October 1, 2002. There were no positive finds.
Gypsy Moth Survey
The Montana Department of
Agriculture placed and recovered a total of 275 gypsy moth traps during the
period from June to October, 2002. NAPIS records were entered for the nine
counties surveyed by MDA: Flathead, Granite, 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 319 traps in 33
counties, and USDA-APHIS-PPQ, which reported data from 440 traps in 32 counties.
Overall, 49 Montana counties were surveyed: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine,
Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Dawson, Deer Lodge,
Fallon, 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. No
positive finds were made.
Cereal Leaf Beetle Biological Control
A new western Montana insectary was
established at Ronan. Second year TJ production exceeded 50% parasitism. A
region-wide training and field day was held. Parasites were spread to several
Montana sites and to surrounding states and Canada, via field day visitors.
Plum Pox Virus Surveillance Program
MDA participated in the 2002 national
plum pox virus survey. Data were collected from Montana nurseries in late June,
2002. Leaf samples from 103 members of Prunus species were sent to the
AGDIA Laboratory for ELISA testing. All samples tested negative for plum pox.
