CAPS (Cooperative Agricultural Pest Surveys) Survey Project

This Work Plan reflects a cooperative relationship between the University of Kentucky Research Foundation (the Cooperator) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ). It outlines the mission-related goals, objectives, and anticipated accomplishments as well as the approach for conducting a Soybean Commodity Survey, a Corn Commodity Survey, a Forest Pests Survey, and a Nursery & Retail Survey and the related roles and responsibilities of the parties [e.g., APHIS role(s) and Cooperator role(s)] as negotiated. Kentucky has a thriving parks system. The state has 52 state parks including 24 recreation state parks, 17 resort parks (more than any other state), and 11 historic state parks. A 2012 article on www.kentucky.com stated that Kentucky State Parks generate approximately $48 million in annual income which is nationally the third highest revenue of all state parks systems (after California and New York). Kentucky’s state parks have the most lodge and conference facilities of all state parks systems in the nation. A 2004 study by the University of Kentucky estimated the economic impact of state parks at $317 million. It is estimated that over 3 million people visit Kentucky’s state parks each year (www.kentucky.com). Many of the state parks have campgrounds which are popular destinations for both in-state and out-of-state visitors. Campgrounds are high-risk areas in terms of the introduction of forest pests and state and national parks are high-risk areas in terms of points of potential establishment of exotic pests; therefore, we will perform a bundled survey focusing on Kentucky state parks to protect Kentucky’s forests and preserve an important source of tourism revenue for the state. According to the Kentucky Division of Forestry, Kentucky has one of the most diverse hardwood species mix in the nation, second only to Florida. 48% of Kentucky is forestland, with 75% of the forestland as the oak-hickory forest type (www.forestry.ky.gov). In addition to the tourism aspect of Kentucky’s parks system, Kentucky’s forest and wood industry is extremely important to the state. In 2012, that industry added $9.9 billion to the economy and employed over 51,000 Kentuckians (KY Forest Economic Impact Report 2012-2013). More recently, the Kentucky Division of Forestry estimates over 3,500 forest industries in the state that contribute nearly $12.8 billion of revenue. Kentucky is in the top three hardwood timber producers nationally and leads the southern United States in sawlog and veneer production. White oak, red oak, and yellow poplar are the top three species of lumber produced (www.forestry.ky.gov). The pests for which we will survey are pests of trees so establishment of any of the pests could impact the tourism, ecology, and economy within the state greatly. Nursery & Retail Survey: The nursery industry has a large economic impact in the state of Kentucky. A report from the Kentucky Horticulture Council states that in 2012, cash receipts for wholesale and retail sales for nursery, greenhouse, and sod products totaled between $50 and $70 million. In 2019, Kentucky had 429 licensed nurseries in the state and 921 licensed nursery dealers (data from Office of the State Entomologist). Many moth pests attack popular trees and ornamentals that are sold in Kentucky’s nurseries, so this trapping survey will safeguard this economically important industry. We will also conduct a visual survey for imported fire ants which are another economically important pest which has infested Tennessee. Survey 1: Soybean Commodity Survey The survey will take place in the western region of the state which is identified by USDA-NASS (http://www.nass.usda.gov) as having the greatest amount of soybean acreage planted. We will conduct a trapping survey designed to detect four Lepidopteran pests: Silver-Y Moth (Autographa gamma), Golden Twin Spot Moth (Chrysodeixis chalcites), Egyptian Cottonworm (Spodoptera littoralis), and Old World Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera). The establishment of any of these insects would have large negative impacts on the state’s soybean industry. The surveyor will also conduct a visual survey for Yellow Witchweed (Alectra vogelii) during each visit to the field. We will obtain permission from soybean growers to place pheromone traps in their fields and estimate that 10 soybean fields will be included in the survey. One trap designed to capture each pest will be placed in each location. We will collect survey data detailing the presence/absence of these pests in soybean fields. As with most other exotics, early detection leads to easier and less costly eradication. The surveyor will also conduct a visual survey for yellow witchweed monthly when visiting the field to monitor traps. One University of Kentucky lab technician living in western Kentucky will conduct this survey. The surveyor will set the traps, change the lures according to protocol, monitor, and remove the traps. Trap placement from early summer to fall of 2020 (months of survey vary depending on time of planting) will encompass the life cycles of the target pests according to the survey guidelines. Survey 2: Corn Commodity Survey We will identify farmers willing to participate in this survey and will implement a trapping survey designed to detect five Lepidopteran pests: Silver Y Moth (Autographa gamma), Old World Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), Cotton Cutworm (Spodoptera litura), False Codling Moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta), and Spotted Stem Borer (Chilo partellus). Spotted stem borer was recently added to the pest list for the Corn Commodity Survey. Based on models, it appears that this pest could establish in Kentucky; therefore, we added it to the survey for 2018 and 2019 and will continue to survey for it in 2020. The establishment of any of these insects would have large negative impacts on the state’s corn industry. We will collect survey data detailing the presence/absence of these pests in corn fields. As with most other exotics, early detection leads to easier and less costly eradication. The survey will take place in the western region of the state which is identified by USDA-NASS (http://www.nass.usda.gov) as having the greatest amount of corn acreage planted. We will obtain permission from farmers to place pheromone traps in their fields and we estimate a total of 15 cornfields will be included in the survey, all in western Kentucky. One trap designed to capture each pest will be placed in each location. One independent contractor will be hired to conduct this survey in western Kentucky. She will set the traps, change the lures according to protocol, take moth samples, and remove the traps. Trap placement from late spring/early summer to fall of 2020 (exact timing depending on weather and planting) will encompass the life cycles of the five target insects according to the survey guidelines. Survey 3: Forest Pests Survey This is a trapping survey is designed to detect four Lepidopteran pests and two Coleopteran pests from the Oak Commodity CAPS list since 75% of Kentucky’s forestland, a total over 9.3 million acres, is an oak-hickory forest type (statistics from forestry.ky.gov). These six pests are as follows: Rosy Moth (Lymantria mathura), Oak Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea processionea), Oak Splendour Beetle (Agrilus biguttatus), Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana), False Codling Moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta), and Oak Ambrosia Beetle (Platypus quercivorus). Many of these pests also feed on maple trees which are abundant in Kentucky’s forests as well. Several pests included in the survey in previous years (Variegated Golden Tortrix, Green Oak Tortrix, and Gold Spotted Oak Borer) were removed from the priority pest list; therefore, we have replaced those with other pests of concern. Light Brown Apple Moth has poplar and oak as hosts, False Codling Moth and Oak Ambrosia Beetle both have oak as a major host. The establishment of any of these insects would have large negative impacts on the state’s forest ecosystems as well as the tourism and lumber industries. As with most other exotics, early detection leads to easier and less costly eradication. Five currently-employed University of Kentucky Office of the State Entomologist (OSE) employees, including the State Survey Coordinator, will conduct this survey in approximately 20 forested parks across the state. They will set one trap per pest in each location, change the lures according to protocol, take insect samples, and remove the traps. Trap placement from late spring/early summer to fall of 2020 will encompass the life cycles of the target insects according to the survey guidelines. Survey 4: Nursery & Retail Survey We will identify nurseries willing to participate in this survey and will implement a trapping survey designed to detect five Lepidopteran pests: Summer Fruit Tortrix (Adoxophyes orana), Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana), False Codling Moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta), Oak Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea processionea), and Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis). The establishment of any of these insects would have large negative impacts on the state’s nursery industry since major hosts of these moths include some of the most popular plants sold in nurseries including maple, apple, poplar, pear, oak, lilac, cherry, elm, etc. A couple of pests typically included in this survey, Green Oak Tortrix and Variegated Golden Tortrix, were removed from the pest list; therefore, we have replaced those with Light Brown Apple Moth which has many typical nursery plants as a hosts and Box Tree Moth that feeds on boxwoods which are very popular in Kentucky. We will collect survey data detailing the presence/absence of these moths in nurseries. As with most other exotics, early detection leads to easier and less costly eradication. We will obtain permission from 10 nurseries to place pheromone traps in/on the perimeter of their nurseries. One trap designed to capture each pest will be placed in each location. The nurseries will be located across the state. We will also conduct a visual survey for Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta, Solenopsis richteri, Solenopsis invicta x richteri) in each nursery monthly when we check the moth traps. Some nurseries in this survey will be located in western Kentucky which is at high risk for fire ants since they are established in western Tennessee. All nurseries will be surveyed for fire ants since they could be accidentally brought in on nursery stock. One lab technician living in western Kentucky and one independent contractor will conduct this survey in western Kentucky. OSE personnel located in Lexington, KY, including the State Survey Coordinator, will conduct the survey in central Kentucky nurseries and one OSE employee living in eastern Kentucky will survey a nursery in that part of the state. Surveyors will set the traps, change the lures according to protocol, take moth samples, and remove the traps. Traps will be placed in the nurseries from late spring/early summer to fall of 2020 to encompass the life cycles of the target pests. They will also conduct the visual survey for imported fire ants each month.