Leek Moth in New York State

A Message from the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets (July 2010)

Leek moth (Acrolepiopsis assectella), a pest of leeks, onions and garlic was found in Clinton County in July 2009. Additional occurrences have been confirmed for 2010 in Clinton County and St. Lawrence County. These finds are thanks to the efforts of the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) staff in Clinton County and St. Lawrence County. Leek moth is an invasive that is native to Europe and has been present in Canada since 1993. The Department of Agriculture and Markets has been surveying for this pest since 2001 and is concerned by these recent finds. We'd like to share what we know and ask for your assistance in deciding our next steps.

Situation
Extension staff found leek moth in four home garden locations in Clinton County in 2009. Horticultural Inspectors from NYSDAM and officers with the United States Department of Agriculture deployed traps in Clinton and Franklin Counties following these finds. CCE-Clinton County helped service these traps. No moths were caught in these traps. This year, 2010, leek moth was found again in one of the same Clinton County home gardens. It has since been found and confirmed in St. Lawrence County. These finds are in home gardens and detected because of the damage caused to the green leaves. CCE-Clinton County and CCE-St. Lawrence County have deployed leek moth traps provided to them by NYSDAM.

Last year's detection was the first in the United States. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has been watching for this pest since it was first found in Canada in 1993. NYSDAM trapped for the adult moths in onion production areas of the state in 2003, 2004 and 2005. In 2001 and 2002 Carolyn Klass of CCE coordinated trapping in the state. No leek moths were found during these five years of trapping. United States Customs and Border Protection staff has intercepted plants with leek moth coming across the border from Canada, and with assistance from NYSDAM Horticultural Inspectors, has increased efforts to identify and intercept infected plants.

Extension Role
CCE is a vital partner in the early detection of this and so many pests. Your connection with both home gardeners and production agriculture makes you an important first link in pest detection. New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is working to determine how far this pest has spread into New York. Please submit samples for identification to Cornell University's Entomology Diagnostic Laboratory.

We would appreciate being made aware of any new county detection. Ken Carnes is our State Survey Coordinator and is the person to contact regarding new finds. Ken's email is kennoth.carnes@agmkt.state.ny.us. Dr. Anthony Shelton, at the New York State Agriculture Experiment Station, is working to determine management options available to growers. This information will be available for public distribution to help address home owner and grower needs.

Next Steps
The NYS Department of Agriculture is reviewing next steps regarding this new pest. The information provided regarding detections will help. We are working closely with USDA APHIS in considering our options. We welcome any comments and/or feedback from growers and others. Please feel free to contact Kevin King, Division of Plant Industry at 518-457-2087, if you have any questions or concerns.