Sirex Woodwasp Letter to the Forest Products Industry and Recommended Protocols
Sirex Woodwasp Letter to the Forest Products Industry
Dear Member of the New York State Forest Products Industry:
In order to help prevent the artificial, human-assisted spread of the European Wood Wasp (Sirex noctilio), the State Departments of Agriculture and Markets and Environmental Conservation are providing the enclosed voluntary "recommended protocols" for the transport and treatment of various pine forest products originally harvested from a known area of infestation in New York State. The recommendations were developed with input from the Empire State Forest Products Association. Sirex is considered an exotic pest that attacks and subsequently kills host pine trees quickly. At least three species of pine located in New York - red pine, Scotch pine, and eastern white pine - are considered hosts.
Detection surveys conducted in the field during 2004 and 2005 confirmed Sirex as present in five New York counties: Cayuga, Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca, and Wayne. The initial find, in the landscape of Oswego County, was the first known occurrence of this forest pest in North America. This year's survey also has found the wasp in Allegany, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Livingston, Monroe, Oneida, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Wyoming, and Yates counties. Sirex also has been discovered in a number of southern Ontario, Canada locations.
In pine plantations in Australia and South America, Sirex can fly upwards of 25 miles per year. Given this relatively slow rate of natural spread, human-assisted spread will be the most likely way that the wasp might move into non-infested parts of the state and states in other regions of the country with valuable pine forest resources.
Other states and provinces are aware of the infestation in New York, and are depending on federal and New York State officials to initiate an appropriate response to reduce the probability of the artificial spread of the pest in pine products transported from New York. As an initial response, the State is providing the forest products industry with recommended protocols .to outline actions that can be taken to avoid accidental transport of the pest out of the infested area of New York.
At this time, the State and federal government are considering regulatory options to limit the spread of Sirex. Adherence to recommendations similar to the ones provided here may be necessary if a formal regulation is developed and adopted in the future by the State or federal government. The information provided in this document is designed to acquaint the forest products industry with the potential requirements of a formal regulation and to provide it with the opportunity to voluntarily implement measures that will safeguard the forest resources of the State and Nation. This can assist the forest industry in being prepared and minimizing disruption to normal business activities.
The Departments of Agriculture & Markets and Environmental Conservation, together with the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will continue to monitor aggressively the situation and report to the industry on new Sirex finds, and consider regulatory and other options necessary to protect our forests and the forests products industry from the invasive pests. Implementation of these recommended protocols will help limit the spread of the Sirex wasp as we learn more about its spread and explore optimal control strategies.
If you would like further information on these protocols, please contact either of the following individuals for further details and technical assistance or interpretation of the recommendations.
Department of Agriculture and Markets:
Robert Mungari (518) 457-2087
Department of Environmental Conservation:
Sloane Crawford
(518) 402-9425
Sincerely,
Robert K. Davies
State Forester
Director
Division of Lands & Forests
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Robert Mungari
Director
Division of Plant Industry
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and Department of Environmental Conservation
Joint Recommended Protocols for Commercial Movement of Susceptible Host Forest Products of Sirex noctilio Fabricus Within and from New York State
August, 2006
Purpose and Goal
To prevent the artificial, human-assisted spread of the European Wood Wasp (S. noctilio) through voluntary use of recommended protocols concerning pine forest product movement and treatment.
Introduction and Rationale for Recommended Protocols
To address the recent introduction of S. noctilio in New York State, the New York State Departments of Agriculture and Markets (DAM) and Environmental Conservation (DEC) consider it beneficial to provide recommended protocols for voluntary adoption by the state's forest products industry that define conditions under which potential susceptible host forest products could move intrastate and interstate and pose no, or minimal, risk of human-assisted spread and distribution of S. noctilio.
Recommended protocols for New York's pine-using industry have been developed based on consultation with the New York forest products industry while additional information is gathered concerning the extent of the infestation within the state and the Northeast, and the characteristics of this pest.
It is important to recognize that there are other states with valuable pine resources not known to be infested or otherwise exposed to S. noctilio. These states are depending on federal and New York state officials to initiate an appropriate response to reduce the probability of the artificial spread of the pest in pine products transported out of New York.
The voluntary and proper adoption of these recommended protocols should reduce the risk of S. noctilio spread until such time as there is a more complete picture of the distribution of this pest in New York, the United States, and North America, and/or the development of other spread control measures.
The protocols address the detection of S. noctilio in 17 New York Counties - Allegany, Cayuga, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Livingston, Monroe, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, Schuyler, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates Counties - during detection and delimiting surveys conducted in the field during 2004-2006. In addition, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has reported to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that S. noctilio was found by CFIA in four Ontario, Canada Counties: Durham, Leeds and Grenville United, Prince Edward, and Waterloo Counties, during detection surveys in the field.
S. noctilio can move up to 25 miles annually, but is also capable of dispersing much longer distances through human-assisted movement of infested host forest products such as logs, timbers, and lumber.
Detection in New York has been on three species of pine (red, white, and Scotch). Scientific literature indicates that in other parts of the world, the hard pines (2-needle pines) are most preferred.
Susceptible Host Forest Products
The following forest products produced from any pine species (Pinus sp.) are considered susceptible host forest products, but can be moved, with minimal risk, in accordance with the recommended protocols outlined below:
Logs;
lumber (including, but not limited to, beams, cants, decking, fence pickets and rails, pilings, planks, siding, and timbers);
poles;
posts;
pulpwood;
log furniture;
log-home components;
pallets and other solid wood packaging;
Stumps;
wood waste; and
8 year and older pine nursery stock.
Non-Susceptible Host Forest Products (exceptions to Host list above)
The following Pinus sp. products are not considered host forest products:
All lumber products, wood components, and parts less than or equal to one (1) inch thickness.
Wood waste less than less than or equal to one (1) inch thickness.
Infested Area
As of July 31, 2006, the following twenty-nine New York State counties are either confirmed infested, or, for the purposes of these protocols, are considered exposed and are therefore considered to be the infested area:
Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Cayuga, Cortland, Erie, Genesee, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Niagara, Oneida, Ontario, Onondaga, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Seneca, Schuyler, St. Lawrence, Steuben, Tompkins, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates.
Current and accurate updates on infested counties are available by calling the DEC Forest Utilization Program at (518) 402-9415 or the DAM's Division of Plant Industry at (518) 457-2087.
Recommended Protocols for the Intrastate and Interstate Movement of Susceptible Host Forest Products from the Infested Area
To prevent human-assisted movement of S. noctilio, susceptible host forest products should be moved from the infested area only if in accordance with the following recommended protocols.
Movement of Susceptible Host Forest Products:
1. Untreated host forest products originating in the infested area should not move to the non-infested areas of the state or interstate from June 1 - October 31.
2. From November 1 through May 31 untreated susceptible host forest products from the infested area should not be transported to a receiver in the non-infested areas of the state or interstate, unless treatment of such forest products occurs within 30 days of receipt and no later than May 31, or pursuant to the conditions and terms specified by the receiving state.
3. Untreated susceptible host forest products originating in the non-infested areas of the state can move freely year round. However, it is recommended that the shipper maintain records that can confirm the origin of all shipped forest products.
4. Susceptible host forest products where origin cannot be verified or otherwise confirmed, should be treated as though originating from the infested area.
Viable Treatment Methods
Following the application of a viable treatment method as specified in these protocols, the susceptible host forest product should no longer be considered infested and can move freely.
The following methods are considered viable to treat susceptible host forest products:
Heat Treatment (via dry kiln or heat chamber)
Wood packaging material should be heated in accordance with a specific time-temperature schedule that achieves a minimum wood core temperature ºf 56ºC (132.8ºF) for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Follows USDA APHIS PPQ Treatment Manual schedule T404-e-2, T404-b-4 or terms of ISPM 15.
Information on treatment schedules can be obtained through New York State DAM's Division of Plant Industry at (518) 457-2087
Fumigation
Note: Treatment listed below only applicable for forest products less than or equal to 8 inches in diameter or thickness. This method is not an approved method for products greater than 8 inches. Other chemical treatment schedules are currently being researched for forest products greater than 8 inches.
| Temperature | Dosage Rate (lb/1,000 ft³) |
Minimum Concentration Readings (ounces) At: | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 hr | 2 hrs | 4 hrs | 16 hrs¹ | ||
| 70ºF or above | 3 lbs | 36 | 30 | 27 | 25 |
| 40-69ºF | 5 lbs | 60 | 51 | 46 | 42 |
1. If the final reading would occur outside of normal working hours, then the fumigation may be extended to a total of 24 hours, instead of 16. In that case, the 24-hr minimum concentration reading would be 25 (for the initial 3-lb dosage), or 42 (for the initial 5-lb dosage).
2. At 40-69ºF extend the exposure to 20 hours. Use the same minimum concentrations.
3. Use an Ascarite® filter (in addition to a Drierite filter) if the wood is uncured ("green"). Water vapor or other gases may be evolved during the fumigation, which give false (additive) readings on the T/C gas analyzer. The Ascarite® filter must be mounted on the T/C Analyzer when taking concentration readings.
4. Resume use of fans anytime a difference of 4 ounces or more occurs between the highest and lowest reading.
5. Readings more than 5 ounces below minimum at end of exposure negates treatment. For readings less than 5 ounces below minimum at the end of exposure period, add 2 oz/1,000 ft³ for each ounce below minimum and extend exposure for 4 hours.
Information on obtaining or understanding treatment schedules can be obtained through New York State Dept. of Agriculture and Markets Division of Plant Industry at (518) 457-2087
Chemical Pressure Treatment
Chemical impregnation with wood preservative, creosote, or lubricants while under pressure.
Borate/Kiln drying
Combined treatment with borate salt and kiln drying to moisture content below 18%.
Chipping
All chipping processes producing a chip less than 1 inch thickness.
