Light
Li ht B
Brown A
Apple
l M
Moth
th
Epiphyas postvittana –
Tortricidae
The California Experience
Tom Smith
California Department
p
of
Forestry and Fire Protection
Forest Pest Management
Life Stages
ADULT
EGGS
LARVA
PUPA
Background
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Generalist Defoliator
Native to Australia
Multiple Generations
Per Year
Established in New
Zealand,
e
d, New
Caledonia, United
Kingdom and Hawaii
USDA Class A
Quarantined Pest
FRUIT
DAMAGE
Hosts (Selected Agricultural)
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Apple
Apricot
Almond
Blackberry
Blueberry
Broccoli
C bb
Cabbage
Carrot
Celery
Citrus
Corn
Grape
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Kiwi
Lichee
Mango
Olive
Peach
Pear
Pl
Plum
Potato
Pumpkin
Radish
Strawberry
Tomato
Hosts (Selected Forests)
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Asters
Alders
Black Locust
Cedar
Poplar
p
Cypress
Douglas Fir
Firs
Holly
Lupines
Manzanita
Oak
Pines
Redwoods
Dieback On A Monterey Pine In New Zealand
Background

In 2006 Traps Were
Set Around
California Looking
For The Light
Brown Apple Moth
And None Were
Found
Background

In March 2007 A
Retired
Entomology
Professor From
The University Of
California Found 2
I di id l IIn A
Individuals
Light Trap In His
Back Yard In
Berkeley, CA (The
1st Report
p
In North
America)
Background
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Subsequent Trap
Catches Found
Moths Throughout
The Central Coast
Including Areas That
H dB
Had
Been T
Trapped
d
The Previous Year
Trap Catches
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Trap
p Catches Found
Moths Throughout
The Central Coast
Of California
Nursery Stock Was
Found Infested
Rapid Spread
Thought To Be By
Movement Via The
Nursery Trade
Background
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The Governor And
The State Department
Of Food And
Agriculture Declare
An Emergency
A Task Force Of
Experts From
Australia, New
Z l d And
Zealand
A d Th
The UC
System Recommend
Eradication
dc o
Concerns
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Huge Host Range And Potential Spread And
Impacts Throughout The USA
Concerns
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Economic Impacts
Due To Quarantines
Within The State,
Between States And
With Other Nations
(C
(Canada,
d M
Mexico,
i
The European
Union)
Concerns
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Potential Increased
Use And Misuse Of
Pesticides By
Homeowners On The
Fruits, Vegetables and
O
Ornamentals
t l In
I Their
Th i
Yards
Concerns
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Several
Rare And
Endangered
Plant
Genera Are
O The
On
Th
Known Host
List
Concerns
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Rare And Endangered
Insects Could Be
Displaced Or Lose
Their Food Sources
That Are Among The
K
Known
Host
H t Genera
G
For The Light Brown
Apple Moth
Concerns
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Salmon Species
May Be Further
Impacted By The
Increased Water
Temperatures
C
Caused
dB
By
Defoliation Of
Riparian Species
Concerns
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Timber Industryy
Concerns:
All California Timber
Species On The
Known Host List
California Timber
Lands Already
Suffering From Other
Exotic Pests (SOD And
Pitch Canker)
Concerns
Potential For Increased
Wildfire Fuel Loads,
Ladder Fuels and Spot
Over Fires
Control Options
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Do Nothing
A i l Spray
Aerial
S
With
Wi h Chemical
Ch i l Pesticides
P i id
Aerial Spray With Bt
A i l Spray
Aerial
S
With Ph
Pheromone Di
Disruption
ti
Ground Sprays
Twist Tie Technology
Attract And Kill Method
Mass Release Of Sterile Moths
Augmentation Release Of Native Egg Parasitoids
Search For Parasites/Predators In Australia
Twist Ties
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Used In
Isolated Sites
With Few Moth
Catches
Ties
Impregnated
With
Pheromone
Large Number
Needed Per Site
Population Reduction
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Mass Trapping
To Locate High
Populations Of
The Moths
Judicious Use Of
Bt
A
Attract
A
And
d Kill
Method
Aerial Sprays
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Begun In Santa Cruz
And Monterey
Counties In 2007 Using
Mating Disruption
Pheromone Flakes
The World Comes To
An End!
(Establishment Of The
“Stop The Spray”
Campaign)
Misinformation From
Activists, The Internet
And The Media
Stop The Spray!
Stop The Spray!
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The AntiAnti-Spray Folks Make Numerous
Allegations:
Health Problems
Bird Kills
Cancer and Autism
Death of Bees
Death of Monarch Butterflies
Other Claims
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State Officials Are In The Pay Of The
Chemical Companies
The Inert Ingredients Are The Real Threat
Experimentation Of Untried Chemicals On
H
Human
Beings
B i
International Conspiracy!
People Demand Alternatives To The
Spraying
p y g Of Aerial “Pesticides”
Media Adds To The Concern
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Newspapers And
TV Report AntiAntiSpray
Allegations As
The Truth And
Will Not Retract
Misinformation
Distrust Of Scientists
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State And Federal
Scientists Are All
Lying And In League
With The Agricultural
And Chemical
Companies
Scientists Are Hiding
The Truth
Yet Scientists Who
Agree With Protesters
Are “Highly
Respected
Respected”
Politics
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Politicians Get
Involved
Legislative Hearings
Bills Proposed To Ban
Any Treatment
G
Governor
Backs
B k Down
D
On Aerial Sprays
Counties Declare
Themselves To Be
Pesticide Free Zones
Courts Involved
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Courts In
Several
Counties Order
A Stop To
Aerial
Treatments
Pending The
Completion Of
An
An
Environmental
Impact Report
Change In Plans
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The State Department
Of Food And
Agriculture Moves
Ahead With Twist Tie
Treatments, Sterile
M th Release
Moth
R l
A
And
d
Augmentation Of
Native Egg Parasites
Present Situation
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Most Of The
Public Is Satisfied
Some Are
Continuing In
Their Efforts To
Stop Any
Treatment Of Any
Sort
Present
Situation
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Light
Brown
Apple
Moth
Continues
To Spread
In
In
California
National Risk High
g
Moral To The Story
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Be Prepared
For A Backlash
Educate The
Public And The
Media
Reach Out To
Everyone And
Keep Them
Informed