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California Department of Food and Agriculture

Media Contacts: Jay Van Rein, CDFA Public Affairs, (916) 654-0462, Larry Hawkins, USDA, (916) 930-5509 , Robert Lilley, San Luis Obispo Agricultural Commissioner, (805)781-5910

California Department of Food and Agriculture
Release #07-085
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LIGHT BROWN APPLE MOTH DETECTED IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

One moth found at nursery in Cambria; surveying and trapping ongoing


SACRAMENTO, October 17, 2007 – A single light brown apple moth has been detected in Cambria, San Luis Obispo County - the first detection of the pest in that county.


The moth was found in a trap at a nursery. Additional trapping and surveying followed the discovery, with no additional light brown apple moths detected to date.  Once the trapping/surveying process is complete, CDFA and the USDA will determine what courses of action would follow, if any.


San Luis Obispo County is the 12th California county with a detection of the pest.  Other counties are Napa, Solano, Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey and Los Angeles. 


The light brown apple moth is of particular concern because it can damage a wide range of crops and other plants including the Central Coast’s prized cypress as well as redwoods, oaks and many other varieties commonly found in our urban and suburban landscaping, public parks, and natural environment.  The list of agricultural crops that could be damaged by this pest includes grapes, citrus, stone fruits (peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, apricots) and many others.  The complete “host list” contains well over 1,000 plant species and 250 crops.  The pest damages plants and crops by feeding on leaves, new shoots and fruit.


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California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Public Affairs
1220 N St., Ste. 214, Sacramento, CA 95814
916-654-0462, www.cdfa.ca.gov