My Educational Programs / Sessions @ Cultivate

Evaluation of IPM Tools for Box Tree Moth (BTM): Detection, Mating Disruption, Treatment Research, and Biological Control
Tuesday, July 18 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Already under pressure from boxwood blight, a rapidly spreading and deadly plant disease first established in the United States in 2011, boxwood plantings and boxwood producers are now facing a new threat—the invasion of the box tree moth (BTM - Cydalima perspectalis), an invasive insect from East Asia. This presentation will cover the results from two years of field work conducted in Croatia on both detection methods and control using pheromone mating disruption. Key results from research into classical biological control agents in Asia, plus work on regulatory treatments on BTM on ornamental nursery shipments will be discussed. Finally, Simmons will report on work begun during the growing season of 2023 to conduct an operational area-wide control trial using combined applications of mating disruption and Btk to control BTM in infested areas in Western New York.

                



    Dr. Greg Simmons, Entomologist at USDA-APHIS-PPQ  
    Greg Simmons is an entomologist working for USDA-APHIS-PPQ in Salinas, California. His areas of expertise include emergency response, area-wide control and eradication of invasive pests, regulatory entomology, mating disruption, biological control, pest detection, and sterile insect technology. His current work is focused on providing methods development support to the box tree moth (BTM) program and to the California program for control of the citrus pest, Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and Huanglongbing (HLB) to develop tools such as biological control, sterile insect technology, mating disruption, and area-wide IPM and control technologies. He has also worked to support programs against other pests such as the European grapevine moth, pink bollworm, glassy-winged sharpshooter, light brown apple moth, primary screwworm fly, and navel orangeworm. Greg Simmons has a BSc from the University of Washington in botany, an MS in ecology and evolutionary biology, and a PhD in entomology from the University of Arizona.



    USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
    APHIS’ Plant Protection and Quarantine program vigilantly protects agriculture and the environment against pest and disease threats to ensure a diverse natural ecosystem and an abundant and healthy food supply for all Americans. APHIS' work centers around animal and plant health, but our programs also address animal welfare, biotechnology, wildlife damage management, and global trade.

    Address:     2400 Broening Highway Suite 102 Baltimore, MD 21224
    Email:    plantproducts.permits@aphis.usda.gov
    Contact:   Watson, Daryl
    Phone:    410-288-5540   FAX:  410-288-5542

                 



     


               

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