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SPRO Letters
State Noxious Weed List

National Plant Board

SPRO Letters

SPRO letters are official communication from the APHIS PPQ Deputy Administrator advising State Plant Regulatory Officials of significant and timely changes to phytosanitary regulations or emerging phytosanitary issues. Despite our best efforts, this collection of SPRO letters may not be complete and topical concerns should be addressed through your APHIS PPQ State Plant Health Director (click on the state you are interested in once the APHIS web page loads). If you have a SPRO letter not listed below, please forward the document to the webmaster. SPRO letters are posted without editing. The web committee is still developing policy on posting periods for the SPRO letters.

Click on a category, or scroll down to view lists:

APHIS Personnel Actions | Chilli Thrips | Citrus | Coffee | Emerald Ash Borer | Fruit Flies | Grains | Gypsy Moth | Imported Fire Ant | Import/Export Conditions | Miscellaneous | Nursery Stock | Orchard Pests | Permitting | Phythophthora ramorum | Pine Shoot Beetle | Plum Pox | Potatoes | Rusts, Smuts, and Bunts | Sirex Woodwasp | Swede Midge | Whitefly

APHIS Personnel Actions

March 3, 2008, Selection of Ms. Diane Schuble, National Program Manager for Official Control Programs
January 25, 2008, Selection of New National Program Coordinator for Biocontrol Programs
January 8, 2008, Appointment of Jeffrey Grode to Emergency and Domestic Programs
October 16, 2007, Selection of Dr. Alan Dowdy, Director of Invertebrate and Biocontrol Programs
October 11, 2007, Selection of Joel Floyd, Domestic Diagnostic Coordinator
September 20, 2007, John Bowers Selected as PPQ National Survey Coordinator
September 6, 2007, Cindy Smith Selected as the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
December 4, 2006, Appointment of the Pest Detection Director
April 25, 2006, Selection of New State Plant Health Director for Pennsylvania
March 20, 2006, New Appointment – Bill Dickerson
November 10, 2005, Selection of Directors for the Eastern and Western Regions
March 15, 2005, New Appointment – Jane Levy
March 15, 2005, New Appointment – David Kaplan

Chilli Thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood

November 8, 2005, Detection of the Chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood) in Florida

Citrus

July 22, 2008, Confirmation of Asian Citrus Psyllid in Terrebonne and St. Tammany Parishes, Louisiana, and Expansion of the Quarantine Area , with Federal Order
July 15, 2008, Interstate Movement of Treated Citrus Peel from Areas Quarantined Due to the Presence of Citrus Canker, with Federal Order
July 14, 2008, Confirmation of Asian Citrus Psyllid in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana and Expansion of Quarantine Area , with Federal Order
June 27, 2008, Confirmation of Asian Citrus Psyllid in Tijuana, Mexico
June 24, 2008, Confirmation of Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid in Louisiana, with Federal Order
June 13, 2008, Confirmation of Citrus Greening (CG) in Louisiana
June 5, 2008, Detection of Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphornia citri Kuwayama, in Louisiana
January 29, 2008, Federal Import Quarantine Order for Huanglongbing (HLB) Disease of Citrus and Citrus Variegated Chlorosis (CVC)
January 11, 2008, Expansion of the Quarantines for Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllids
November 16, 2007, Publication of a final rule amending the Citrus Canker Regulations on the Interstate Movement of Citrus Fruit
November 2, 2007, Expansion of the quarantines for citrus greening and Asian citrus psyllids
July 23, 2007, Extension of the Comment Period for the Proposed Citrus Canker Rule Regulating the Interstate Movement of Fresh Citrus Fruit fiom Florida
June 21, 2007, Interstate Movement of Citrus Fruit from Florida
March 21, 2007, Interim Rule on the Interstate Movement of Citrus Nursery Stock
December 14, 2006, Interstate Movement of Calamondin and Kumquat Plants From Florida - Clarification
December 13, 2006, Lime Swallowtail (Papilio demoleus) Detected in the Municipality of Guanica, Puerto Rico
May 3, 2006, Federal Domestic Quarantine Order for Citrus Greening or (Huanglongbing), Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus; Interstate Movement Restrictions of Nursery Stock Hosts of both the Disease and Asian Citrus Psyllid (with attachments)
March 31, 2006, Availability of a Draft Version of the Citrus Plant Health Response Program (CHRP), Availability for Comment and the Appointment of a CHRP National Coordinator
September 16, 2005, New Federal Restrictions to Prevent Movement of Citrus Greening
January 18, 2005, Recent Detections of Citrus Canker Disease in Florida

Coffee

September 14, 2007, Detections of Coffee Berry Borer in Puerto Rico

Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis

July 29, 2008, Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) in Wayne County, Missouri
July 11, 2008, Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) in Fairfax County, Virginia, with Federal Order
October 25, 2007, Interception of Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) in West Virginia
October 25, 2007, Interception of Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
August 8, 2007, Quarantine of four counties in Pennsylvania for Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)
June 29, 2007, Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) in Pennsylvania
December 1, 2006, Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)
September 25, 2006, Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Maryland
September 7, 2006, EAB Expanding quarantine area to include the Lower Peninsula of MI
August 8, 2006, Emerald Ash Borer in Illinois
June 26, 2006, Emerald Ash Borer in Illinois
March 13, 2006, Notice of Quarantined Areas
December 1, 2005, Notice of Quarantined Area

Fruit Flies

July 22, 2008, Lemon, Citrus limon, as a host for Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata
July 15, 2008, Anastreph ludens (Mexican fruit fly) – Removal of Quarantined Area in San Diego County, California
April 7, 2008, Anastrepha ludens (Mexican fruit fly) - Quarantined Area in Willacy County, Texas
March 27, 2008, Anastrepha ludens (Mexican fruit fly) - Quarantined Area in Willacy County, Texas
January 28, 2008, Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly)--Quarantined Area Expansion in Los Angeles County, California
December 12, 2007, Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly) - Quarantined Area in Los Angeles County, California
November 30, 2007, Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit Fly)--Quarantined Area in San Diego County, California
November 8, 2007, Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly) - Quarantined Area in Los Angeles County, California
October 26, 2007, Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly) - Quarantined Area in Santa Clara County, California
September 20, 2007, Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly) - Quarantined Area in Solano County, California
April 24, 2007, Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit Fly), Quarantined Area in Webb County, Texas
November 21, 2006, Bactrocera dorsalis (Oriental Fruit Fly), Quarantine Area in Orange County, California
September 12, 2006, Bactrocera dorsalis (Oriental Fruit Fly), Quarantine Area in San Bernardino County, California
July 28, 2006, Bactrocera zonata (peach fruit fly), Removal of Quarantine Area in Fresno and Madera Counties, California
June 2, 2006, Bactrocera zonata (peach fruit fly), Quarantine Area in Fresno and Madera Counties, California
November 30, 2005, Ceratitis capitata (Medfly), Quarantine Area in San Bernardino/Los Angeles Counties California
November 10, 2005, Ceratitis capitata (Medfly), Quarantine Area in San Bernardino County, California
October 20, 2005, Ceratitis capitata (Medfly), Quarantine Area in Santa Clara County, California
October 18, 2005, Ceratitis capitata (Medfly), Quarantine Area in San Bernardino County, California and detections in Santa Clara County, California
October 3, 2005, Ceratitis capitata (Medfly), Quarantine Area in San Bernardino County, California
August 5, 2005, APHIS Lifts Restrictions on Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Medfly) Host Material from Mexico

Grains

July 11, 2008, Detections of Panicle Rice Mite, Steneotarsonemus spinki, in Lajas, Puerto Rico, with Federal Order
November 2, 2007, Panicle Rice Mite, Steneotarsonemus spinki, Eradication Strategy
August 31, 2007, Detections of Panicle Rice Mite, Steneotarsonemus spinki, in Rayne, Acadia Parish, Louisiana
August 7, 2007, Detections of Panicle Rice Mite, Steneotarsonemus spinki, in Lajas, Puerto Rico
July 24, 2007, Detections of Panicle Rice Mite, Steneotarsonemus spinki, in Brazoria County, Texas

Gypsy Moth, Lymantria dispar

June 27, 2008, Quarantine of Pierce Pond Township and Township T3-R4-BKP-WKR in Somerset County, Maine, for Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar), with Federal Order
May 30, 2008, Quarantine of Floyd and Franklin Counties, Virginia, for Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar), with Federal Order
March 25, 2008, Quarantine of Fayette County, West Virginia, for Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar), with Federal Order
October 5, 2007, Quarantine of new areas of Maine for Gypsy Moth (GM) (Lymantria dispar), with Federal Order
September 25, 2007,
May 3, 2007, Quarantine of St. Joseph County, Indiana, for Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar), with Federal Order
April 19, 2007, Quarantine of Cook, DuPage, and McHenry Counties, Illinois, for Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar), with Federal Order
March 16, 2007, Quarantine of Montgomery County, Virginia, for Gypsy Moth (GM)
February 16, 2007, Quarantine of additional areas of Maine for Gypsy Moth (GM) (Lymantria dispar), with Federal Order
August 9, 2006, Quarantine of Craig, Giles, and Roanoke Counties, and the Cities of Salem and Roanoke, Virginia, for Gypsy Moth (GM) (Lymantria dispar), with Federal Order
June 5, 2006, Quarantine of Monroe County, West Virginia, and Franklin and Delaware Counties, Ohio, for Gypsy Moth (GM) (Lymantria dispar)
February 15, 2006, Quarantine of Seneca County, Ohio, for Gypsy Moth (GM) (Lymantria dispar)
March 14, 2005, Notice of Quarantined Areas, WI, WV

Imported Fire Ant

May 10, 2006, Regulatory Decision Regarding Imported Fire Ant (IFA) Queens in Granular Urea Fertilizer Shipments
April 7, 2006, Quarantine of Polk and Perry Counties, Arkansas, for Imported Fire Ants (IFA) (Solenopsis invicta Buren, S. richteri Forel, and hybrids of these species)
November 8, 2005, Best Management Practices for Control of Imported Fire Ants (IFA) on Migratory Beehives and Bee Equipment

Import/Export Conditions

May 30, 2008, Federal Import Quarantine Order for the Climbing Ferns Lygodium microphyllumand Lygodium flexuosum
February 08, 2008, Approval of U.S. Irradiation Facilities for Phytosanitary Treatment of Commodities
May 31, 2007, Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM), Lymantria dispar, Vessel Certification Requirements for Japan
April 20, 2007, Correction - Implementation of Irradiation Preclearance Program for Indian Mangos on Grapes from Chile
February 1, 2006, Plant Pests in Marked Regulated Wood Packaging Material
January 24, 2006, Increase in Treatment Duration for Brevipalpus chilensis on Grapes from Chile

Miscellaneous

May 11, 2006, USDA Launches New Electronic System to Streamline Export Process
April 4, 2006, Publication of a Proposed Rule in the Federal Register to Establish Criteria for Special Need Requests Under the Plant Protection Act
March 20, 2006, Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), Pest Detection and Management Programs Staff Name Change
May 17, 2005, Name Change Effective Immediately -- Safeguarding Intervention and Trade Compliance to Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance
May 6, 2005, Plants for Planting Workshop

Nursery Stock

December 10, 2007, Detections of Red Palm Mite (Raoiella indica) in Palm Beach County, Florida
December 15, 2006, Red Palm Mite (Raoiella indica) Technical Working Group Formed
May 11, 2006, Presence of Archips xylosteanus Linnaeus (Zhang 1994), Variegated Golden Tortrix (Lepidoptera/Tortricidae) on Memorial University Campus, St. Johns, Newfoundland

Orchard Pests

April 28, 2008, Federal Domestic Quarantine Order for Light Brown Apple Moth, Epiphyas postvittana, Interstate Movement Restrictions (with attachments)
November 20, 2007, Federal Domestic Quarantine Order for Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM), Epiphyas postvittana; Interstate Movement Restrictions (with attachments)
September 17, 2007, Federal Domestic Quarantine Order for Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM), Epiphyas postvittana; Interstate Movement Restrictions
May 2, 2007, Federal Domestic Quarantine Order for Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM), Epiphyas postvittana; Interstate Movement Restrictions
March 22, 2007, Light Brown Apple Moth in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California
July 1, 2005, Regulatory Response to Detections of False Codling Moth by California Inspectors in South African Citrus Update
June 24, 2005, Regulatory Response to Detections of False Codling Moth by California Inspectors in South African Citrus

Permitting

September 8, 2006, Implementation of ePermits System
February 9, 2006, Organism Permitting Review - Findings and Recommendations (430k)

Phytophthora ramorum

May 16, 2008, Phytophthora ramorum (ramorum blight, ramorum dieback, sudden oak death): Listing and Regulation of Plants Recently Reported with P. ramorum
May 15, 2008, Phytophthora ramorum (ramorum blight, ramorum dieback, sudden oak death): New Real-time PCR System for Molecular Diagnosis of P. ramorum.
March 5, 2008, Phytophthora ramorum (ramorum blight, ramorum dieback, sudden oak death): Listing and Regulation of Plants Recently Reported with P. ramorum
December 11, 2007, Phytophthora ramorum (ramorum blight, ramorum dieback, sudden oak death): List and Regulation of Plants Recently Reported with P. ramorum
August 22, 2007, Phytophthora ramorum (ramorum blight, ramorum dieback, sudden oak death): Listing and Regulation of Plants Recently Reported with P. ramorum
February 27, 2007, Phytophthora ramorum Interim Rule
February 15, 2007, Phytophthora ramorum Quarantine Lifted at Tiffany Creek Preserve, New York
September 21, 2006, Phytophthora ramorum (ramorum blight & dieback, sudden oak death); Listing and Regulation of Plants Recently Reported with P. ramorum (with attachments)
July 17, 2006, Phytophthora ramorum (ramorum blight & dieback, sudden oak death); Listing and Regulation of Plants Recently Reported with P. ramorum (with attachments)
April 5, 2006, Establishment of the Potentially Actionable Suspect Sample (PASS) System to Enhance Diagnostic Procedures for the Phytophthora ramorum Program
March 14, 2006, Phytophthora ramorum (ramorum blight & dieback, sudden oak death); Listing and Regulation of Plants Recently Reported with P. ramorum (with attachments)
February 10, 2006, Phytophthora ramorum (ramorum blight & dieback, sudden oak death); Listing and Regulation of Plants Recently Reported with P. ramorum (with attachments)
November 15, 2005, Listing and Regulation of Plants Recently Reported Associated (with attachments)
September 14, 2005, Revision of Associated Regulated Articles (nursery stock); Additions to APHIS List of Hosts and Plants Associated with P. ramorum
August 3, 2005, Revision of Associated Regulated Articles (nursery stock); Additions to APHIS List of Hosts and Plants Associated with Phytophthora ramorum; Interim Application of Emergency Federal Order dated 22 December 2004 Regarding Newly Listed Plants

Pine Shoot Beetle, Tomicus piniperda

June 16, 2008, Quarantine of Greene County, Indiana, for Pine Shoot Beetle (Tomicus piniperda), with Federal Order
January 23, 2008, Quarantine of Rock Island and Mercer Counties, Illinois, for Pine Shoot Beetle (PSB) (Tomicus piniperda), with Federal Order
November 20, 2007, Quarantine of Entire State of New Jersey for Pine Shoot Beetle (PSB) (Tomicus piniperda), with Federal Order
November 19, 2007, Quarantine of Switzerland County, Indiana, for Pine Shoot Beetle (PSB) (Tomicus piniperda), with Federal Order
September 6, 2007, Quarantine of Putnam and Westchester Counties of New York for Pine Shoot Beetle (PSB) (Tomicus piniperda), with Federal Order
June 29, 2007, Quarantine of Dutchess County, New York, for Pine Shoot Beetle (PSB) (Tomicus piniperda), with Federal Order
February 8, 2007, Quarantine of Additional Counties of Maine for Pine Shoot Beetle (PSB) (Tomicus piniperda), with Federal Order
February 2, 2007, Quarantine of Cumberland County, New Jersey, for Pine Shoot Beetle (PSB) (Tomicus piniperda), with Federal Order
September 18, 2006, Quarantine of Entire State of Iowa for Pine Shoot Beetle (PSB) (Tomicus piniperda), with Federal Order
August 9, 2006, Quarantine of Morris and Somerset Counties, New Jersey for Pine Shoot Beetle (PSB) (Tomicus piniperda), with Federal Order
June 26, 2006, Quarantine of Dubuque and Scott Counties of Iowa for Pine Shoot Beetle (PSB) (Tomicus piniperda) (with attachment)
June 26, 2006, Quarantine of Entire State of Michigan for Pine Shoot Beetle (PSB) (Tomicus piniperda) (with attachment)
June 26, 2006, Quarantine of Ross, Scioto, Jackson, and Highland Counties of Ohio for Pine Shoot Beetle (PSB) (Tomicus piniperda) (with attachment)
May 1, 2006, Quarantine of the States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island for Pine Shoot Beetle (Tomicus piniperda) (with attachment)
February 28, 2006, Quarantine of Entire State of Wisconsin for Pine Shoot Beetle (with attachment)
December 13, 2005, Notice of Quarantined Area - PA
November 17, 2005, Notice for Change of Date for Implementation of Parallel Quarantine - NJ
October 18, 2005, Notice of Quarantined Area - NJ
September 16, 2005, Notice of Quarantined Area - MN
July 13, 2005, Notice of Quarantined Area - IL
June 21, 2005, Notice of Quarantined Area - WI
June 1, 2005, Notice of Quarantined Area - IN
May 27, 2005, Notice of Quarantined Area - NY
May 17, 2005, Notice of Quarantined Area - PA
May 16, 2005, Notice of Quarantined Area - WI
April 7, 2005, Movement of White Pine Logs and Bark by Limited Permit
January 1, 2005, Notice of Quarantined Area - MN

Plum Pox

July 18, 2006, Plum Pox Virus Detected in Niagara County, New York

Potatoes

July 14, 2008, Candidatus Liberibacter spp. as putative causal agent of Zebra Chip of potatoes
August 28, 2006, Federal Domestic Quarantine Order for Potato Cyst Nematode Globodera pallida (PCN); Interstate Movement Restrictions and Detection Survey
July 14, 2006, Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN), Globodera pallida, Update

Rusts, Smuts, and Bunts

May 2, 2008, Establishment of Gladiolus Rust (GR) Quarantine for Commercial Gladiolus Farms in Hendry County, Florida
April 7, 2008, Gladiolus Rust (Uromyces transversalis (Thum.))
October 9, 2007, Diagnostics for Asian Soybean Rust, Phakopsora pachyrhizi
September 25, 2007, Chrysanthemum White Rust (Puccinia horiana P. Henn) Found in Connecticut
August 17, 2007, No Regulatory Action Required for Orange Rust of Sugarcane, Puccinia kuehnii, in Florida
July 25, 2007, Detections of Orange Rust of Sugarcane, Puccinia kuehnii (W. Krüger) E.J. Butler, in Palm Beach County, Florida
April 13, 2007, Correction/Clarification: March 29, 2007, Gladiolus Rust SPRO
March 29, 2007, Gladiolus Rust (Uromyces transversalis (Thum.))
March 8, 2007, Chrysanthemum White Rust (CWR) in California
September 26, 2006, Chrysanthemum White Rust Found in Pennsylvania
April 20, 2006, Gladiolus Rust (Uromyces transversalis (Thum.))
March 30, 2005, Chrysanthemum White Rust (CWR): Limited Infestation in California
October 28, 2004, Chrysanthemum White Rust
October 5, 2004, Chrysanthemum White Rust

Sirex woodwasp, Sirex noctilio (Fabricius)

March 3, 2008, Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Sirex woodwasp) in Sanilac County, Michigan
November 9, 2007, Detection of Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) (Sirex woodwasp) in Cortland County, New York and On-going Biocontrol Efforts in the State
November 7, 2007, Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Sirex woodwasp) in Monroe County, Pennsylvania
September 14, 2007, Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Sirex woodwasp) in Elk County, Pennsylvania
August 27, 2007, Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Sirex woodwasp) in in Erie County, Pennsylvania
August 22, 2007, Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Sirex woodwasp) in Chemung, Herkimer and Tompkins Counties in New York
August 7, 2007, Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Sirex woodwasp) in McKean County, Pennsylvania
July 16, 2007, Detection of Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Sirex woodwasp) in Macomb County, Michigan
December 13, 2006, Detection of Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) (Sirex woodwasp) in Broome, Hamilton, Cattaraugus, Steuben, and St. Lawrence Counties in New York
September 1, 2006, Detection of Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) (Sirex woodwasp) in Bradford County, Pennsylvania
September 1, 2006, Detection of Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) (Sirex woodwasp) in Chautauqua and Madison Counties in New York
August 8, 2006, Detection of Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Sirex woodwasp) in Tioga County, Pennsylvania
August 8, 2006, Detection of Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) (Sirex woodwasp) in Allegany, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Oneida, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Wyoming, and Yates Counties in New York
November 14, 2005, Detection in Seneca and Wayne Counties, New York
August 5, 2005, Detection in Cayuga, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties in New York
March 2, 2005, Detection of the European wood wasp, Sirex noctilio (Fabricius) in New York

Swede Midge, Contarinia nasturtii (Kieffer)

February 28, 2007, Swede Midge (Contarinia nasturtii) in New York State
February 3, 2006, Swede Midge (Contarinia nasturtii) in New York State

Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci

May 31, 2005, Q-Biotype of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci