[MAIPC] FW: NEW! NAISMA Newsletter - May 2017

Tue May 23 19:57:20 PDT 2017

Biocontrol Update
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Classical Weed Biocontrol Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Meeting Summary- Ft. Collins, Colorado: April 4-5, 2017
By Carol S. Bell Randall, USFS Northern and Intermountain Regions, Entomologist 

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Classical Weed Biocontrol Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meeting held on April 4 and 5, 2017 started with an update on existing weed biocontrol agent petitions in the APHIS permitting process. Of the 15 classical weed biocontrol agent petitions TAG recommended for release since 2012 two permits were granted (biocontrol agents for Cape Ivy and Arundo), four petitions have completed Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 Interagency Cooperation with US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and APHIS is completing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, six are in the USFWS ESA process, and APHIS is getting ready to hand two petitions over to USFWS for ESA Section 7 review.

USFWS is continuing to work through their weed biocontrol agent petition ESA backlog. Jeff Herod is now permanently assigned to classical weed biocontrol permit ESA Section 7 reviews. Jeff was redirected temporarily to help USFWS respond to another higher priority issue, but was given permission to work weekends on the biocontrol backlog. The higher priority project will be concluding in May, 2017 and Jeff is optimistic his weed biocontrol backlog will be resolved soon. 

Other topics covered at the TAG meeting included updates on ongoing weed biocontrol development projects (gorse, knotweed, flowering rush, Russian knapweed, Old World climbing fern, garlic mustard, etc.). There was also a discussion of M. crucifer on houndstongue and Diorhabda on salt cedar.

One disconcerting development was there were no new weed biological control agent petitions for 2017.  This might be understandable given the slow pace of permitting, but a very real need exists for additional biological control agents to address invasive plant concerns in the USA.

US Fish and Wildlife Service Update on Section 7 of Endangered Species Act Impacts from Bio Control
By Jeffrey Herod, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Branch of Environmental Review

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Ecological Services Program was contacted a year ago by the NAISMA Bio Control Committee to discuss the status of environmental reviews for APHIS technical advisory group (TAG) approved petitions for new biocontrol agent releases. USFWS was able to provide a short-term solution to complete the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultation process for TAG approved biocontrol agents by acquiring Mr. Jeffrey Herod on a temporary work detail.  

USFWS worked with researchers, APHIS, and stakeholders to gather information and complete the Section 7 consultation process. USFWS completed the four consultations and provided its concurrence with APHIS’ determinations. USFWS provided concurrence on the fact that the action is not likely to adversely affect listed species. USFWS provided a concurrence letter in April 2016 for arundo leafminer (Lasioptera donacis) which is a biocontrol of giant reed (Arundo donax).  In August 2016, USFWS delivered a letter for the leaffeeding moth (Hypena opulenta) to control the invasive swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum spp) and a letter for the gall mite (Aceria drabae) to target hoary cress (Lepidium draba, L. chalapense, L. appelianum). In December 2016, the USFWS provided a concurrence letter for the gall weevil (Rhinusa pilosa) for biological control of yellow toadflax (Linaria spp.).  

Mr. Herod now has a permanent position in USFWS Branch of Environmental Review and is the lead for national consultations on the biological control of weeds. The USFWS and APHIS are currently consulting on additional biocontrol projects: invasive knotweeds (Fallopia japonica, F. sachalinensis, and F. x bohemica), Gorse (Sericothrips staphylinus), common crupina (Ramularia crupinae), Hawkweed (Cheilosia urbana), and two projects for the Brazilian peppertree (Pseudophilothrips ichini).   

From: Belle Bergner [mailto:bbergner at naisma.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2017 11:00 AM
To: Belle Bergner <bbergner at naisma.org>
Subject: NEW! NAISMA Newsletter - May 2017

Greetings,

In case you didn't see the latest NAISMA newsletter that was released last week, click here <http://mailchi.mp/220cfa78a01a/naisma_may2017>  or copy and paste this link into your browser: http://mailchi.mp/220cfa78a01a/naisma_may2017.

I invite you to send me updates that I can post on NAISMA's Facebook page <https://www.facebook.com/NorthAmericaNAISMA/>  about your invasive species management challenges and successes. By posting on our Facebook page, we can have more timely communication and share resources for the benefit of invasive species management.

I hope everyone is having a great spring!

-- 

Belle Bergner

Executive Director

 <http://www.naisma.org/> NAISMA

2025 N. Lake Dr.

Milwaukee, WI 53202

p: 414.967.1350

See you at the 2017 Annual Meeting <http://www.naisma.org/annual-conference> , October 23-26, 2017 at the Nugget Hotel and Casino in Reno, NV!

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