Regulatory Pest Management - College Of Agriculture & Natural Resources

environment are not present in the new area, allowingthe pest to flourish. Any organism that is introducedThe objective of regulatory pest management to a new, non-native location, and is likely to causeis to prevent the introduction and/or spread of economic or environmental harm or harm to humanpests through the application of various pest health is called an exotic pest.management techniques such as pest exclusion,It is important to distinguish between naturaldetection, eradication, mitigation, and publicspread and artificial spread of pests.education. Achieving this objective requires limitingNatural spread is movement that the pest ismovement of commodities and materials, and treatingcapable of without assistance of people. Somecommodities, materials, and the environment.pests may be capable of moving only short distancesAn organism can become a regulated pest when iteach year, while others may spread long distancesinterferes with:by the movement of wind, water, and birds or other Health.wildlife. In general, quarantines are not effective at Comfort.controlling the natural spread of pests. For example, Leisure.winged insects and some pathogens can be spreadgreat distances on wind currents. Some soil-borne Aesthetic satisfaction.pests can be transported over long distances in Recreation.water. Natural barriers such as oceans, deserts, and Stability of existing biological systems.mountain ranges can slow natural spread. Agricultural and material production.Artificial spread of pests is the movement ofOrganisms that may be considered pests include:pests by people via aircraft, buses, ships, trains, Insects.trucks, and automobiles. Modern shipping methods Fungi.can allow pests to travel quickly and arrive at their Bacteria.destination in a viable condition. Preventing theartificial spread of pests is a primary objective of Viruses.regulatory pest control programs. Nematodes.REGULATORY PEST MANAGEMENT Weeds.Vertebrate animals.Other organisms as defined by the FederalInsecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act(FIFRA) as amended.It is not possible to intercept every exotic pest.Introductions can occur by way of infested or infectedagricultural commodities imported into the country.Regulatory pest management measures may be takenif: The pest poses an actual or expected threat. The objective is reasonably attainable. The economic gains outweigh the costs ofapplication of control measures.PEST INTRODUCTION AND SPREADAn organism that is not a serious pest in itsnative environment can become a devastating pestwhen introduced into a new environment. Often thenatural controls that are present in the pest’s nativeChapter 12Pests can be transported to new locations throughboxes or crates used for shipping many differenttypes of products.Regulatory Pest Management

Pests can also be found in non-agricultural productssuch as within boxes or crates used for shippingmany different types of products. The emerald ashborer was likely introduced through infested palletmaterial. Ships can introduce pests such as the zebramussel through the dumping of ballast water. Shipsinfested with pests such as Asian gypsy moth couldhave adults moths fly from the ship toward lights onshore without ever docking at a port.Regulatory programs are designed to reduce themovement of infested materials to a low level so thatthe likelihood of an exotic pest becoming establishedwill be minimal, but they are not a guarantee ofprotection.POPULATION DYNAMICSTo evaluate the seriousness of an exotic pestthreat, it is necessary to understand the environmentalrequirements of the introduced pest. The environmentwhere the pest has been introduced may be more orless favorable to the pest than its native habitat.The exotic pest may have more or fewer predatorsand parasites in the new environment. The newlocation may be more or less favorable in terms ofenvironmental conditions.Factors in the Establishment of a PestThe arrival of an organism in a new area doesnot guarantee it will successfully establish itself. Anumber of factors determine if the organism willbecome an established pest, including: The introduction must be into an area witha suitable environment. For example, if theorganism is killed by freezing temperatures, itis not likely to become an established outdoorpest in Michigan.The introduction must be into an area with asuitable host. If the new organism feeds onlyChapter 13on species that are not found in the new area, itwill not survive. If the new organism requiresalternate hosts, both hosts must be present in thenew area and occur in the proper sequence forsuccessful establishment of the pest. The introduction must include viable pests insufficient numbers to allow for reproductionand spread.Factors in a Regulatory Control ProgramWhen developing a regulatory control program,many factors should be considered including: Population densities. Reproduction and mortality rates. Age distributions. The pest’s vigor. The potential for growth and spread of the pestgiven the new environmental conditions.Control or eradication programs must evaluateall life stages of the introduced pest to identifyvulnerable life stages. It is necessary to know whateffects factors such as pesticides, parasites, predators,and host resistance have on all life stages of the newpest. A pesticide that only kills one stage of a pestmay decrease a population temporarily but will notdecrease the population over the long term if othermeasures are not taken to control other life stages.Studies of the introduced pest’s life cycle canoften identify critical life stages and other factorsthat are important in producing significant populationchanges. By recognizing these key factors, we candevelop control measures that can have a significantimpact on reducing the population.Researchers and regulators must work togetherto develop an effective exotic pest managementprogram.Regulatory Pest Management

CHAPTER1REVIEW QUESTIONSChapter 1: Introductionto Regulatory PestManagementWrite your answers to the following questions andthen check your answers with those in the backof the manual.1. What is the objective of regulatory pestmanagement?4. Which statement is true regarding the spread ofpests?A. Artificial spread occurs when pests move bywind, water, birds or other wildlife.B. A primary objective of regulatory pestmanagement is to prevent the natural spreadof pests.C. Shipping is a relatively slow means oftransportation; therefore, pests are rarelybrought in on ships.D. It is not possible to intercept every exoticpest.5. What are the three factors that favor theestablishment of an exotic pest?2. Which statement is true regarding regulatedpests?A. Regulated pests include insects and vertebrate6. Why is it important to have a thoroughanimals but not bacteria or fungi.understanding of an introduced pest’s lifeB. Pests that interfere with public health orcycle when setting up a regulatory pest controlrecreation may become regulatory pests butprogram?not those that interfere with aesthetics.C. All exotic pests are regulatory pests.D. Regulatory measures to control a pest may betaken if the pest poses an actual or expectedthreat.3. What is the definition of an exotic pest?Chapter 14Regulatory Pest Management

CHAPTER2Elements of a RegulatoryProgramSuccessful plant and animal pest control dependsLEARNING OBJECTIVESon the successful blending of many skills. Regulatorypest management programs use several differentAfter completely studying this chapter, you strategies which may include: Identification of risk.should: Understand the basic strategies of regulatory Prevention of entry. Survey and detection.pest management. Eradication. Retardation of spread.INTRODUCTIONThe public agricultural agencies in the United Mitigation of losses.States have a mission to protect agriculture, theAs a pest becomes established one strategy isenvironment, and citizens from the economic andgenerally replaced by the next strategy.environmental harm caused by pests. PreventingThroughout the program the following arepests while also providing for equitable andimportantcomponents:orderly domestic and international trade is a majorchallenge. Pest diagnostics and record-keeping.The goal of a pest prevention program is Public information and education.to prevent the introduction, colonization, andestablishment of pests that would cause significant IDENTIFICATION OF RISKagricultural, environmental, and/or societal harmBefore prevention strategies are initiated, pestin an area where the pest does not already occur. prevention agencies must be able to:The program must efficiently and effectively: See the possibility for harm. Identify pest harm. Determine the probability for harm. Assess pest risk. Take appropriate avoidance measures. Manage pest risk.Chapter 25Regulatory Pest Management

A pest risk analysis is used to determine the other border inspection agencies in the examinationprobability for harm. Regulatory agencies look at the of passengers, baggage, and vessels of transport.pests already present in the area; the life cycles and Certain agricultural products are restricted fromhost ranges of quarantine pests of concern; when, entry unless accompanied by documentation to verifywhere, why and how harm could occur and to what freedom from pests. Other agricultural products aredegree; how the pest could be introduced; and the prohibited from entry when disinfestation techniqueslikelihood of colonization and establishment.are not available or are not effective at controllingThe pest risk analysis may identify a quarantine potentially harmful pests.pest. An organism may become a quarantine pestif: It is a pest. It could cause significant harm. It is likely to be moved artificially into or alreadyexists in the endangered area and is being orwould be officially controlled. It could survive in the endangered area. The risk could not be reduced to an acceptablelevel by means other than regulation.Inspections help prevent the introduction of pestsinto new areas.Quarantines in and of themselves are generallynot 100% effective at excluding exotic pests.However, a quarantine can be effective at reducingthe incidence of pest introduction and reduce anyincidents of introduction to a manageable populationthat can be eradicated.Damage caused by introduced pests can bedevastating as seen in this forest defoliated by gypsymoth.Once the risk is identified, the cost(s) associatedwith preventing the probable level of harm areevaluated to determine if the cost is worth thebenefits. If the effort is determined to be worth thecost, then a pest prevention program is initiated.PREVENTION OF ENTRYThe primary strategy to exclude pest entry isthrough the use of quarantines. Quarantine inspectionprograms at ports of entry are designed to preventthe introduction and establishment of pests into theUnited States. Inspectors work cooperatively withChapter 26SURVEY AND DETECTIONFor effective management of exotic and invasivepests to occur, we must first be aware of the existenceof the pest. Early detection and rapid response areessential to an effective and cost-efficient pest controlprogram. Often, non-native pests become establishedwithout anyone noticing. The public may not expressconcern until the pest is widespread and is causingvisible problems. By this time, control measures canbe costly and largely ineffective.Survey and detection is also important whenpests penetrate the pest exclusion barrier and becomeestablished. The goal of pest detection is to discoverinfestations while they are still small enough toeliminate. Several types of surveys and detectiontrapping programs are conducted to accomplishthis.Regulatory Pest Management

It is important for regulatory staff to be awareof pests that occur in their area and to investigatesituations where they find plants, insects, diseases oranimals that they do not recognize as belonging in thearea. Inspectors who see unusual plant damage ormortality should attempt to determine the cause of thedamage. Problems of an undetermined nature couldbe caused by a non-native pest. Where previouslyunknown pests are found, the information mustbe reported to the appropriate regulatory agency.Inspectors should submit a sample of the pest and/orpest damage when possible and provide completedocumentation regarding the situation.ERADICATIONIf prevention is not successful and an introductionoccurs, the immediate objective of the controlprogram is to eradicate the pest. Eradicationgenerally means using all available viable options,which often includes the application of pesticides.Other pest control measures may include eliminationof the pest’s food source in the limited area where theoutbreak has occurred, or changing the pest’s habitatso that the pest can not survive. Mass trapping canbe a useful tool in helping reduce populations. Useof mating disruption techniques such as spreadingflakes impregnated with pheromones can be anotherOnce an exotic pest is found, additional visual useful tool.surveys and/or trapping programs are performed todetermine if an infestation exists; and, if so, howextensive it is. Surveys help determine the feasibilityof eradication. Surveys are also needed to identifythe areas where eradicative treatments and quarantinemeasures need to be applied.Eradication can be drastic as this removal of treesinfested with Asian longhorned beetles in Chicagoshows.Eradication efforts must be implemented quicklyand decisively to achieve the goal of eliminatingthe pests. The goal of eradication can be difficultto achieve because small populations of the pestSurvey and trapping programs help identify the scope can sometimes survive the eradication efforts inof the infestation and indicate where treatments and numbers not easily detected by surveys. Over time,quarantine measures should be taken.these small populations can reproduce and may causesignificant damage or spread through artificial meansUniversity researchers and extension agents, to a variety of areas. It is important to monitor forpest control advisors and operators, farmers, and the the presence of the pest after the goal of eradicationpublic support formal detection surveys and trapping is thought to have been achieved to assure that theprograms by reporting unusual pests, diseases, and pest has actually been eliminated.abnormalities discovered in the normal course oftheir business or private activities.Chapter 27Regulatory Pest Management

RETARDATION OF SPREAD ANDMITIGATION OF LOSSESIf the pest becomes firmly established anderadication is not feasible, the next practice is toslow or prevent the spread and to mitigate losses.Quarantines can be effective at slowing the spreadof pests. Inspections and pest control treatmentsmay help to reduce the spread. Treatments to slowthe spread of the pest and to mitigate losses in theinfested area might include: The use of pesticides. The release of parasites or predators. The release of sterile mates. The removal of the host. The use of varieties that are resistant to thepest.PEST DIAGNOSTICS AND RECORDKEEPINGTimely and accurate pest diagnostics is extremelyimportant for a successful pest prevention program.Specimens and samples collected in the performanceof the exclusion and detection work need to bequickly identified by trained personnel. Recordkeeping is also very important because interceptionand detection records are essential for making validand meaningful pest pathway studies, risk analyses,and quarantine evaluations.Chapter 28PUBLIC INFORMATION ANDEDUCATIONEffective pest prevention programs require aneducated and supportive public. The public mustknow what quarantine restrictions exist and why theyexist in order to be motivated to comply with themand to support funding for them.An educated and supportive public is extremelyimportant to slow the spread of pests and preventintroductions. Inspecting a toy for gypsy moth eggs(left) and firewood

application of control measures. PEST INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD An organism that is not a serious pest in its native environment can become a devastating pest when introduced into a new environment. Often the natural controls that are present in the pest's native environment are not present in the new area, allowing the pest to flourish.