Bureau of Plant Pest Control 



Peter C. Kuzniiski, Chief 



Nursery Inspections 



The annual inspection of nurseries was completed on 

 September 1, 1988. Five inspectors and a foreman inspec- 

 tor were employed for this work starting on July 1. Our 

 inspection certificates expire on July 1 of each year. New 

 nurseries are inspected subsequent to July 1 as they be- 

 come known. The summer inspection crew consisted of 

 temporary personnel usually recruited from the local 

 colleges or schools, and apphcants must have had courses 

 in entomology or related subjects. 



While no unusual infestations of plant pests were 

 found in the nurseries, the following insects and diseases 

 were found during the summer inspection period: 

 Japanese Beetle, Aphids, White Fly, White Pine Weevil, 

 Spruce Gall, Black Vine Weevil, Pine Tip Borer, Leaf 

 Gall, Leaf Spot and Powdery Mildew. 



Nurseries inspected this year amounted to 310. There 

 were 46 greenhouses inspected and certified. It should be 

 noted that due to both organic and chemical pest controls, 

 pest problems in the nurseries are being kept to a mini- 

 mum. 



Agent's licenses issued to individuals and estab- 

 Ushments numbered 335. The chart below describes the 

 fee system imposed upon the inspection of nurseries and 

 greenhouses, and registration of agents: 



Schedule of Inspection Fees 

 NURSERIES 



Survey and Trapping 



Surveys were conducted for presence of Golden 

 Nematode, Red Steele Disease of Strawberry, and Gypsy 

 Moth on lands around nurseries. Trapping was done for 

 European Chafer outside the known infested area. GN, 

 RS, and EC surveys were negative. The Gypsy Moth was 

 found to be light to none on lands around the nurseries. 



TWo new certification programs were instituted this 

 year: the growing of virus free strawberry plants and Cape 

 American Beachgrass, (Ammophila breviliqulata Fern). 



Collaboration with USDA-APHIS 



Pest detection. Black Stem Rust, Postentry quaran- 

 tine, insect, plant pathogen, soil and snail importations 

 into this state were cooperative activities with APHIS. 

 Forty one sites this year grew plants from foreign 

 countries under Postentry quarantine No. 37. 



Five seasonal apiary inspectors were employed this 

 year under direction of our Chief Apiary Inspector to 

 inspect our honeybees. The inspection period usually 

 starts around May 1 and ends October 31 each year. 

 Honey plants such as Black Locust, Blackberry, Sumac, 

 Basswood, Clover, Purple Loosestrife and Goldenrod 

 secreted enough nectar to ensure an above average crop. 

 Samples of bees were taken and examined for presence 

 of the Tracheal Mite in conjunction with APHIS. 

 Tracheal Mites were found in several colonies owned by 

 two of our migratory beekeepers. There were no mites 

 found in colonies of our hobbyist beekeepers. Over 500 

 samples of adult honeybees have been collected and ex- 

 amined for tracheal mite using a laboratory at the Univer- 

 sity of Massachusetts. Apiary inspectors have been 

 trained and instructed to be on the lookout for Varroa 

 mite and the Africanized honeybee. 



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