PLANT PEST CONTROL DIVISION 

 Peter C. Kuzmiski, Director 



Preventing the introduction and spread of damaging agricultural plant 

 pests and diseases into the Commonwealth is the primary goal of the Plant 

 Pest Control Division. 



This responsibility is directed towards preventing serious losses to 

 property owners and avoiding nuisances caused by the presence and 

 activities of these pests. The program also authorizes the unrestricted 

 movement of plants and plant products throughout the country, so that 

 producers can participate in fair trade competition. In addition to 

 contributing to the economic benefit of the plant industry, the Plant Pest 

 Control Division helps to assure a higher quality product for the consumer. 



NURSERY INSPECTION 



The detection of plant pests by the inspection of nurseries is 

 necessary and beneficial for several reasons. Many pests have limits to 

 their distribution, thus the prevention of spread on infested or infected 

 plants helps in the containment of the pest. During nursery inspection 

 pests that are capable of causing serious damage may be noted, so controls 

 are suggested and applied before damage occurs. 



Early detection of a pest problem will aid in preventing its spread 

 within the nursery and will permit controls to be applied before the pest 

 reaches serious proportions. This is very important to a nurseryman who 

 ships his plants interstate and runs the expensive risk of having his plants 

 rejected because of the presence of damaging pests. Nursery inspection also 

 guarantees the consumer of purchasing healthy and pest free plants. This 

 year there were 450 nurseries and 85 greenhouses inspected. 



Agents' licenses were issued to 350 applicants. An agent is a person 

 or establishment who buys and sells or takes orders for nursery stock, but 

 does not grow the plants in ground. 



The common pests found in nurseries this year were: aphids, lace bugs, 

 mealy bugs, scales, and leaf chewers. Japanese Beetle 

 populations in the nurseries were less than in the previous year. The 

 White Fly was the predominant pest found in greenhouses. 



The nursery inspection force consisted of six temporary and three 

 permanent inspectors. The work begins on July 1 by law, and usually 

 ends in the first week of September. 



PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATES 



Plant health certificates are issued for plants and seeds destined to 

 other states and to foreign countries. There were 410 certificates issued 

 for the exportation of plants and 408 certificates for the shipping of 

 plant seed to foreign countries. 



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