Items
of Interest:
Pathogen
Alert: Late Blight of Potatoes and Tomatoes (Jun
29, 2009)
Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach
Project.
Late blight, a destructive disease caused
by Phytophthora infestans, is a pathogen
of tomato and potato plants that has recently
been found in several states in the Northeast,
including Maine, New York and Pennsylvania.
This is a serious, destructive disease that
can spread quite rapidly when conditions
are right, infecting an entire field within
days. If you think you have seen late blight
of potato and tomato, you can report
it,
or call the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural
Resources Plant Pest Hotline at 617-626-1779.
Asian
Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program
Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach
Project.
The Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis, "ALB"),
a pest of hardwood trees including maple, birch and horse chestnut, was recently
discovered in Worcester, Massachusetts. This is the first detection of the
invasive pest in Massachusetts.
The Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) is expanding the
Asian
longhorned beetle (ALB) quarantine area
(PDF | 1.4 MB) to
include additional portions of Worcester
County, Massachusetts.
If you think you have seen
this beetle, we encourage you to submit a report and photos, or
you can call the toll-free hotline
at 1-866-702-9938. |
