RATopic1_95 - Geosystems Research Institute - Mississippi State ...

Task 3.2 Distribution of Opuntia in the Region
PI: Victor Maddox
Co-PI: John Madsen, Richard Brown
Collaborators: Randy Westbrooks, USGS NWRC; Joel Floyd, USDA APHIS PPQ; John C. Stewart, USDA APHIS PPQ
Much of the host mapping activity in 2009 was focused
along the Gulf Coast due to the discovery of
cactus moth in southern Louisiana (Figure 1), although
host mapping did occur elsewhere. Host data
from 18 states was collected in 2009, including four
new states, bringing the total number of states with
host data in the CMDMN database to 36 (as of 14
Dec 2009). In 2009, 1399 host data reports were
collected and entered into the Cactus Moth Detection
and Monitoring Network (CMDMN) database.
The largest number of reports entered in 2009 were
negative host reports at 1292 compared to 107 positive
host reports for the same period as of 14 December
2009. On 14 December 2009, there were
10,030 reports in the CMDMN database with 2,678
positive host reports and 7,352 negative reports.
Distribution of Pricklypear Cactus
Victor Maddox
There is still a need for additional host mapping
along the Gulf Coast which, in addition to visual
cactus moth surveys in known infested areas and
volunteer sentinel site activity, will be the focus of
near-future project activities as funding permits in
2010. The entry of numerous negative reports from
the northwestern United States continues and is expected
to be completed in early 2010, adding data
from new areas like the Great Basin Desert and Fish
Lake National Forest (Figure 2).
Figure 1. Cactus moth was discovered in the southern Louisiana
bayous in Mid-2009. The blue dots on the CMDMN database map
south of New Orleans indicate the location of the infestation. Red
dots indicate locations with cactus but without the moth. This discovery
has prompted increase activity in southern Louisiana.
Figure 2. The entry of numerous negative reports from the northwestern United States is expected to be completed in early 2010 and
will eventually add data from new areas like the Great Basin Desert in Nevada (left) and Fish Lake National Forest (right) in Utah.
2009 USGS Annual Report 22 Mississippi State University’s Geosystems Research Institute