Important Foreign Insect Pests Collected on Imported Nurzery Stock In 1919

Abstract

During the year insects were intercepted on plants and plant products arriving from some ninety-three countries, islands, and provinces. Ninety-one coccids identified to the species were collected and many others were intercepted which could be placed in the genus only. During the months of January and February a number of shipments of French nursery stock arrived infested with such insects as the Sorrell Cutworm (Acronycta rumicis L.); the White Tree Pierid, (Aporia crataegi L.), Notolophus antique L., and Calophasia lunula Hufn. The condition of these plants was promptly brought to the attention of the Chief of the Phytopathological Service of France, which resulted in subsequent shipments showing a much less degree of infestation. The Oriental Fruit Moth (Laspeyresia molesta Busck) was found to infest peaches from China; and Emphytus cinctus L. was taken on a number of occasions on Manetti stock from France, Holland, Ireland, and England. Three shipments of pear seedlings from France bore nests of the Brown- Tail Moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea L.); and the European earwig (Forficula auricularia L.) accompanied fuchsias from Germany and special permit material arriving from England and Ireland. The European Corn Borer (Pyrausta nubilalis Hubn.) was taken in a number of shipments of broom corn arriving from Italy and Hungary; and the Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella Saund.) was taken in cotton seed arriving from Hawaii, Mexico, Porto Rico, England, and Dominican Republic. Grapes from the Province of Almeria, Spain were found to be infested with the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata Wied.); and this insect was also collected in apples from France, peppers, chrysophyllum, coffee berries, Jabosa malaccensis, avocados, and rose apples from Hawaii; and sapodillas, mangoes, and guavas from Jamaica were infested with the West Indian Fruit Fly (Anastrepha fraterculus Wied.). The Mexican Fruit Fly (A. ludens Loew) was taken in mangoes and oranges from Mexico; and an unrecognized species of Anastrepha was present in mangoes and plantains from Porto Rico and oranges from Trinidad. Egg masses of the Gypsy Moth (Porthetria dispar L.) were found attached to raw cork arriving from France; and the following wireworms were found in soil accompanying privet plants from Norway: Athous niger L. and Agriotes sputator L. Irish potatoes from Peru were infested with a species of Trypopremnon ; and Mexican grown potatoes used as ships' stores were found to contain larvae of Epicaerus cognatus Sharp, which apparently does not occur in the United States. The latter insect has been found in potatoes arriving at New Orleans, Galveston, and Baltimore. A complete list of the insects and plant diseases intercepted on plants and plant products for the calendar year 1923 will be published elsewhere by the Federal Horticultural Board for the use of plant quarantine officials.