KY FY22 Asian Defoliator Survey 1S.0118

According to the Kentucky Division of Forestry, Kentucky has one of the most diverse hardwood species mixes in the nation, second only to Florida. A 2004 study by the University of Kentucky estimated the economic impact of state parks at $317 million. Many state parks have campgrounds which are popular destinations for both in-state and out-of-state visitors. In addition to the tourism aspect of Kentucky’s forests, Kentucky’s forest and wood industry is extremely important to the state. Since 2015, the Kentucky forest sector has remained stable, ranging from a total economic contribution of $13.67 billion in 2015 to $13.25 billion in 2017. This survey will allow us to target 5 moth pests of concern to Kentucky''s forests in terms of the ecology, the economic importance of the lumber industry, and the economic importance of tourism and the parks system. To ensure excellent coverage statewide, five University of Kentucky employees will conduct this survey in 20 sites across the state. We will target high-risk sites in this survey that may include forested sites with high traffic, military bases, ports, commercial sites, rest areas, and sites with shipping container movement. The trapping survey is designed to detect five Lepidopteran pests: Asian Gypsy Moth, Japanese Gypsy Moth, Rosy Moth, Hokkaido Gypsy Moth, and Casuarina Tussock Moth. Surveyors will visit each location 5 times to set the traps, change the lures according to protocol, take moth samples, and remove the traps. Trap placement from spring 2022 to fall 2022 will encompass the life cycles of the target insects. The establishment of any of these pests would have large negative impacts on the state’s valuable forests. Accomplishment reports will be completed and submitted in the timeframe specified in the agreement and all data will be uploaded to the NAPIS database. Prior Experience We received PPA 7721 funding to conduct the Asian Defoliator Survey for the first time in FY19. Traps targeting 5 moths pests were set in 20 forested parks across the state. 91 samples were submitted and all were negative for target pests. In FY20 survey, traps were set in 20 forested sites statewide. 93 samples were submitted and all were negative for target pests. The FY21 survey is currently underway with 5 trap set in each of 20 forested parks statewide. In FY22, we will set some traps in highly-trafficked forested sites, but we also plan to survey other types of high-risk sites that may include military bases, ports, and commercial sites with container movement. The FY21 midyear accomplishment report is not due until December 1, 2021; therefore, I attached the FY20 final accomplishment report. For every year of funding, we have submitted a midyear and final report outlining our accomplishments, demonstrating how much of the state was impacted by this survey, the number of samples collected, etc.