Plant health survey report for 2023-2024

Every year, we conduct surveys to support plant health in Canada.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) Plant Health Survey Program supports plant health by detecting new pests and by monitoring the spread of established pest populations, forming the basis for sound regulatory decisions. Surveillance data collected by trapping, visual inspection and sampling efforts contribute to policy development and trade negotiations. Plant health surveillance activities also support Canada in meeting the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures.

These survey results are collected between April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024.

Survey results

• Forest pests
  • Emerald ash borer
  • Spongy moth and flighted spongy moth complex
  • Brown spruce longhorn beetle
  • Hemlock woolly adelgid
  • Red pine scale
  • Oak wilt
  • Asian longhorned beetle
• Horticulture pests
  • Japanese beetle
  • Ramorum blight
  • Blueberry maggot
  • Apple maggot
  • Plum pox virus
  • Tobacco blue mold
• Invasive plants
  • Japanese stiltgrass
• Potato pests
  • Potato wart
  • Potato cyst nematode

Forest pests

Emerald ash borer

The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) was first detected in Canada in Windsor, Ontario in July 2002. Since the initial detection, this species has been found in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and parts of Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The primary goal of this survey is to determine whether emerald ash borer is present in areas where it is not known to occur in order to provide information in support of regulatory decisions.

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Method: Visual inspection and traps

Two main strategies were used for emerald ash borer detection in Canada:

• visual inspection of trees
• trapping using green prism traps baited with attractants

Target sites for this survey include areas showing broad-scale ash decline and high-risk sites where the pest is most likely to have been introduced through human activities, such as campgrounds, firewood dealers, rest stops along major transportation corridors, urban areas recently planted with host material, sawmills, and holiday destinations. Traps were also deployed within select urban centers using a grid-based approach.

Results from 677 surveyed sites

Provinces	Number of sites surveyed	Results
British Columbia	88	One adult beetle was intercepted in Vancouver.
Alberta	64	-
Saskatchewan	10	-
Manitoba	62	-
Ontario	92	Detections in Oliver-Paipoonge 2km outside the Thunder Bay regulated area.
Quebec	197	Detections in Carleton-sur-Mer, in the Regional County Municipality (MRC) d'Avignon, Mont-Joli, in the MRC of La Mitis, and in Témiscaming in the MRC of Témiscamingue.
New Brunswick	39	-
Nova Scotia	93	-
Prince Edward Island	16	-
Newfoundland and Labrador	16	-
Canada	677	In 2023, collaborators submitted data for over 200 sites surveyed for this pest, which resulted in one new detection in western Quebec, and additional detections in Carleton-sur-Mer outside the current regulated areas. A report made by a member of the public also resulted in the interception of emerald ash borer in Vancouver. However, no evidence of an active population was confirmed in host trees in the vicinity. Enhanced monitoring of the area will continue in 2024. Additional surveys will be conducted around newly infested areas in 2024 to inform regulatory decisions.

Map of results

The map shows the locations of the 677 surveyed sites for emerald ash borer in 2023, covering all Canadian provinces. The regulated areas for emerald ash borer are shaded with yellow and cover part of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario, and the city of Winnipeg.

There are 491 negative sites shown as green triangles extending the entire area surveyed. Nine red triangles indicate positive sites where the beetle was detected outside the regulated areas, in Gaspésie and Témiscamingue (Quebec) and outside Thunder Bay (Ontario). One orange triangle shows an interception in Vancouver.

Spongy moth and flighted spongy moth complex

The spongy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar), formerly known as the European gypsy moth, is established in Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and in Prince Edward Island. Pheromone-based monitoring surveys are conducted annually in non-regulated areas of Canada. Surveys are also conducted to verify eradication of the insect in areas where eradication programs have been undertaken.

The flighted spongy moth complex (Lymantria dispar asiatica, Lymantria dispar japonica, L. albescens, L. postalba and L. umbrosa) includes related species formerly grouped under the name Asian Gypsy Moth and has been introduced into North America on several occasions, but eradication programs have prevented populations from establishing. This survey is being conducted in support of D-95-03: "Plant protection policy for marine vessels arriving in Canada from areas regulated for AGM (Lymantria dispar, Lymantria albescens, Lymantria postalba, Lymantria umbrosa). The flighted spongy moth complex is defined for regulatory purposes as those subspecies of Lymantria dispar in which the females are capable of sustained directed flight, whereas the spongy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar) females are not capable of flight.

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Method: Traps

Trapping is performed using sticky traps baited with attractants. Two trapping systems can be used depending on the area's status to survey:

• detection trapping is used to determine if European spongy moth is present in an area currently considered free from the pest
• delimitation trapping is used to determine the extent of a population once a detection has been confirmed.

The two systems use different trapping densities. Trapping is focused on areas where the risk of introduction is greatest, for example: ports, container storage yards, intermodal terminals, industrial zones, tourist destinations, campsites and parks, some transportation corridors, etc.

Results from 13,716 surveyed sites

Provinces	Number of sites surveyed	Results
British Columbia	10,166	Detections: Armstrong (1) Bowser (6) Burnaby (5) Campbell River (4) Cedar (3) Courtenay (5) Cowichan Bay (11) Cowichan Valley (1) Cranbrook (34) Delta (2) Galiano Island (1) Goldstream Millstream (2) Greater Victoria (40) Kamloops (29) Kelowna West (11) Langley (10) Metchosin (2) Nanaimo North (38) Nanaimo South (4) North Saanich (21) Okanagan Falls (1) Port Alberni (1) Quadra Island (7) Qualicum (9) Ruby Lake (1) Salmon Arm (5) Salt Spring Island (14) Saturna Island (1) Sicamous (2) Squamish (6) Surrey (6) Trepanier (1) Tsawwassen (87) Westshore (38)
Alberta	1,628	Detections: Calgary (1) Edmonton (2) Elk Island National Park (1)
Saskatchewan	719	Detections: Esterhazy (1)
Manitoba	654	Detections: Winnipeg (4)
Ontario	126	Detections: Atikokan (4) Black River-Matheson (86) Cochrane (34) Dawson (1) Dryden (1) Fort William 52 (24) Greenstone (18) Iroquois Falls (22) Neebing (124) Nipigon (7) Rainy River (1) Schreiber (9) Shuniah (6) Terrace Bay (7) Thunder Bay (145)
Quebec	126	-
New Brunswick	5	-
Nova Scotia	15	-
Prince Edward Island	5	-
Newfoundland and Labrador	370	Detections: Bay Bulls (1) Clarenville (2) Conception Bay South (1) Grand Falls-Windsor (8) Mount Pearl (1) St. John's (40)
Canada	13,716	In 2023, collaborators assisted by surveying more than 1500 sites. No moths of the flight capable flighted spongy moth complex were found in Canada in 2023, including traps set in Spongy Moth regulated areas of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. Planned treatments in BC include North Saanich, Esquimalt, Gorge-Tillicum, Belmont/Langford Salt Spring Island, Nanaimo, Qualicum Beach, Cowichan Bay, Cranbrook, Kamloops, Kelowna West, Langley and Tsawwassen. Delimitation trapping will continue at all sites where spongy moth was detected in 2024.

Map of results

The map shows the locations of sites that have been surveyed for Spongy moth in 2023 covering all provinces. The regulated areas for this pest are shaded with yellow and cover the entire provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and part of the province of Ontario.

There are 13,176 sites shown as green and red triangles extending the entire area surveyed. Red triangles indicate 320 positive sites where the moth was detected. There were detections in all provinces except Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

Brown spruce longhorn beetle

The brown spruce longhorn beetle (Tetropium fuscum), an introduced wood boring pest, is native to north and central Europe and Japan, where it uses stressed and dying conifers as hosts, most notably Norway spruce (Picea abies). All species of spruce in Canada are at risk. In 1999, the beetle was detected in Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and confirmed to have been present since at least 1990. The brown spruce longhorn beetle is considered to be a pest of quarantine significance in Canada and is regulated under the Plant Protection Act by the CFIA. The entire province of Nova Scotia is regulated for this pest.

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Method: Traps

Panel traps baited with pheromones are used for this survey. Trapping is conducted at 2 types of sites:

• priority sites such as sawmills, pulpmills, campgrounds and ports
• general forested areas

This survey is performed in Eastern provinces to prevent further spread from the known infested areas.

Results from 388 sites surveyed

Provinces	Number of sites surveyed	Results
Quebec	81	The pest was intercepted in Saint-Honoré-de-Shenley in the Beauce-Sartigan regional county municipality. No established populations have been confirmed following the onsite investigation.
New Brunswick	236	The pest was intercepted in Fredericton. No established populations have been confirmed following the onsite investigation.
Nova Scotia	3	-
Prince Edward Island	40	-
Newfoundland and Labrador	24	-
Canada	388	The survey was conducted in 140 municipalities in five provinces. Collaborators assisted by surveying more than 30 sites. The interception in Saint-Honoré-de- Shenley is the first time this pest has been found in the province of Quebec. Additional delimitation surveys will be conducted in 2024 around these interceptions to gather more information and to inform regulatory decisions.

Map of results

The map shows the locations of sites that have been surveyed for Brown spruce longhorn beetle in 2023, covering the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. The regulated area for this pest is shown in yellow and covers the entire province of Nova Scotia.

There are 386 negative sites shown as green triangles extending the entire area surveyed. Two red triangles indicate positive sites where the beetle was intercepted in Quebec and New Brunswick.

Hemlock woolly adelgid

The Hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) is a destructive pest of susceptible species of hemlock (Tsuga spp.). Native to India, Japan, Taiwan, China and western North America, it was first reported in North America in British Columbia in 1919, and occurs in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. The pest was first detected in the eastern United States in 1951. Since this time, it has steadily spread and is now reported from 21 eastern states. In the eastern U.S., It has resulted in significant mortality of both eastern hemlock, (T. canadensis) and Carolina hemlock, (T. caroliniana) and threatens the existence of these 2 species in many locations. In Canada it has been detected in western Nova Scotia and in southern Ontario.

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Method: Visual inspection

This survey was conducted between November and June to visually assess hemlock trees for signs and symptoms of attack. Given that the pest is most likely to spread through natural dispersal (wind, water, birds and small mammals) and through infested nursery stock, target sites included nurseries importing hemlock, urban parks and greenspaces, hemlock forest stands within 100 km of the U.S. border and/or infested counties in Canada, and hemlock forest stands along migratory bird routes.

Results from 265 sites surveyed

Provinces	Number of sites surveyed	Results
Ontario	107	The pest was detected at 2 sites: one site in the municipality of Lincoln, and another site close to Nanticoke in Haldimand county, near Lake Erie.
Quebec	27	-
New Brunswick	46	-
Nova Scotia	72	The pest was detected in 2 additional counties: Hants and Halifax counties.
Prince Edward Island	13	-
Canada	265	Additional monitoring in 2024 will help inform regulatory decisions, with increasing emphasis on building community science networks through collaborative monitoring initiatives.

Map of results

The map shows the locations of site that have been surveyed for hemlock woolly adelgid in 2023, covering Eastern Canadian provinces: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. The regulated areas for this pest are shaded with yellow and cover part of the Niagara peninsula in Ontario, and the southern peninsula of Nova Scotia.

There are 261 negative sites shown as green triangles extending the entire area surveyed. Four red triangles indicate positive sites where the pest was detected outside the Regulated Area in Haldimand county and in the municipality of Lincoln in Ontario, and in the Hants and Halifax counties in Nova Scotia. The map also shows four red dots indicating the location of previous detection in Ontario in 2022, in Hamilton, Pelham and near Grafton.

Red pine scale

The red pine scale (Matsucoccus matsumurae) is a destructive pest of susceptible species of pine that is native to Japan and introduced into China, South Korea, Europe, and the United States. It was first reported in North America in 1949 in Connecticut, but has since spread to Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Red pine scale kills red pine (Pinus resinosa) trees of all ages within a few years of infestation.

Oak wilt

Oak wilt (Bretziella fagacearum) is a vascular wilt disease that is capable of killing trees in a single season. It was first recognized as an important forest pest in 1944 in Wisconsin and is now known to occur in 24 states within the U.S. In 2016, oak wilt was confirmed on Belle Isle (Michigan), in the middle of the Detroit River, less than 600 meters from Windsor, Ontario. Oak wilt is spread from diseased to healthy trees through root grafting and by oak bark beetles and sap beetles. All oak species are susceptible to oak wilt, but red oaks are more frequently infected and can die quite quickly. The primary goal of this survey is the early detection of the pest in areas where it is not known to occur.

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Method: Visual inspection

This survey consists of a visual inspection of host trees for signs and symptoms of oak wilt. Surveys focus on areas where oak wilt could have been introduced through human-assisted movement of infected commodities from infested areas. An emphasis is placed on campgrounds where oak firewood may be transported from infected areas, mills or other facilities importing oak logs, disposal sites and areas where recent weather events may have damaged limbs/trees.

Results from 123 sites surveyed

Provinces	Number of sites surveyed	Results
Manitoba	5	-
Ontario	69	The disease was detected at 3 locations: in the city of Niagara Falls, in the Township of Springwater and in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Quebec	33	-
New Brunswick	9	-
Nova Scotia	5	-
Canada	123	The detections in Ontario are the first detections of oak wilt in Canada. Infected and suspected infected trees were removed and destroyed. Additional surveillance was conducted within 400m of each infested site. Additional surveys will be conducted in 2024 to verify eradication efforts, determine whether its present elsewhere in Canada, and to inform regulatory decisions.

Map of results

The map shows the locations of sites that have been surveyed for oak wilt in 2023 in the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. On the map, 120 negative sites are shown by green triangles covering the surveyed area. Three red triangles show the positive sites: in the municipalities of Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake, and in the county of Springwater.

Asian longhorned beetle

The Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) is an invasive insect that attacks and kills a wide variety of deciduous tree species. This beetle was detected for the first time in Canada in September of 2003. An eradication program was implemented and in 2020, the pest was declared eradicated from Canada based on 5 years of negative survey data and in accordance with international phytosanitary standards. Given the constant threat this pest poses to Canada, ongoing national surveillance activities are designed to ensure a high probability of detection in high-risk areas.

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Method: Visual inspection

This survey is conducted through visual inspection of host trees (maple, willow, poplar, birch and elm) looking for symptoms and signs of attack by this beetle. The survey is carried out between September and December when leaves are absent, and the bark of branches located in the canopy is visible. An area-wide grid-based approach is implemented in high-risk areas and includes a variety of landscapes: residential, commercial, and industrial areas, as well as in transportation/utility corridors, forested land, and green spaces.

Results for 1,831 surveyed sites

Provinces	Number of sites surveyed	Results
British Columbia	374	No detections
Alberta	109	No detections
Saskatchewan	10	No detections
Manitoba	31	No detections
Ontario	796	No detections
Quebec	307	No detections
New Brunswick	84	No detections
Nova Scotia	82	No detections
Prince Edward Island	8	No detections
Newfoundland and Labrador	20	No detections
Canada	1,831	Canada is considered free from Asian longhorned beetle.

Map of results

The map shows the locations of site that have been surveyed for Asian longhorned beetle in 2023, covering all Canadian provinces. There are 1,831 negative sites shown as green triangles extending the entire area surveyed.

Horticulture pests

Japanese beetle

The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) has been present in Canada since its first detection in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, in 1939. This pest affects more than 300 plant species, including many economically important plants such as fruit trees, ornamental shrubs and roses, field crops, turf grasses and sod. In 2017, Japanese beetle was detected in Vancouver, British Colombia, and a multi-collaborator eradication program has been ongoing since 2018. The trapping efforts in 2018 resulted in the collection of 8,276 beetles. This number went down, following yearly treatments, to 1,157 (2019), 214 (2020) and 79 (2021). In 2022, a total of 201 beetles were caught, most of them in a new satellite infestation in Port Coquitlam, British Colombia. In 2023, most beetles were again found in the new satellite infestation in Port Coquitlam.

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Method: Traps

This survey is conducted using pheromone traps which were installed in May and remained in the field until October. The traps contain a Japanese beetle attractant which is a combination of a floral lure and a pheromone. In the greater Vancouver area, where eradication is in progress, traps are deployed at various densities, with infested municipalities having the highest density of traps. For other locations in Canada, traps are placed adjacent to, or near importers of sod, soil or nursery stock from Japanese beetle infested areas and include sites such as nurseries, sod farms, golf courses, cemeteries, public parks and gardens, food terminals, truck and rail compounds/terminals, airports and border points.

Results from 5,290 sites surveyed

Provinces	Number of sites surveyed	Results
British Columbia	5,191	A total of 644 beetles were captured in 72 traps: 29 in Burnaby 611 in Port Coquitlam 4 in Vancouver
Alberta	9	-
Newfoundland and Labrador	90	One beetle was captured in St John's
Canada	5,290	We continue to support our collaborators in their effort to eradicate the pest. Trapping efforts will continue in the greater Vancouver area and around new satellite infestations.

Map of results

The map shows the locations of sites that have been surveyed for Japanese beetle in British Columbia in 2023.

There are 5,119 negative sites shown as green triangles extending the entire area surveyed in British Columbia. On the map, 72 red triangles indicate positive sites where the pest was detected in Vancouver, Burnaby and Port Coquitlam in British Columbia.

Ramorum blight

Phytophthora ramorum is a plant pathogen that causes a disease known as Ramorum blight on a wide variety of nursery plants. It has also been associated with a disease of oak, known as "Sudden Oak Death", that was first observed in coastal California in the mid-1990's. Since 2003, Ramorum blight has been detected in a number of retail/wholesale nurseries in the southern coastal area of British Columbia. The primary goal of this survey is to provide information on the national status of this disease in Canadian nurseries. More specifically, monitoring of Ramorum blight is required to support eradication programs and detect new infestations.

Blueberry maggot

The blueberry maggot (Rhagoletis mendax) is an indigenous pest of commercially grown lowbush and highbush blueberries in the Canadian Maritime Provinces. It is currently found in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and parts of Ontario and Quebec. It is not found in Newfoundland & Labrador or in western Canada.

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Method: Traps

This survey is conducted with the use of baited traps which are attractive to male and female blueberry maggot adult flies. Multiple traps are placed within blueberry plantations and wild sites containing host species in areas not regulated for blueberry maggot. Traps are installed prior to the pest's flight period in late June and collected at the end of harvest or fruit drop, in late August or early September.

Results from 81 surveyed sites

Provinces	Number of sites surveyed	Results
British Columbia	28	No new detections outside the known infested areas.
Ontario	17	No new detections outside the known infested areas.
Quebec	12	No new detections outside the known infested areas.
Newfoundland and Labrador	24	No new detections outside the known infested areas.
Canada	81	Regulated areas remain unchanged.

Map of results

The map shows the locations of sites that have been surveyed for blueberry maggot in Canada in 2023, in the provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, Québec and Newfoundland and Labrador. The regulated areas for the blueberry maggot are shaded in yellow and cover the entire provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and parts of Ontario and Quebec.

There are 81 negative sites shown as green triangles extending the entire area surveyed.

Apple maggot

Apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella) is an indigenous pest of apples in Canada. The BC Interior is the last major apple growing area of North America free from this pest. The objective of this survey is the early detection of apple maggot to maintain the pest-free area of the BC Interior. This survey is being conducted in support of policies and programs related to CFIA policy directive D-00-07: "Import and domestic phytosanitary requirements to prevent the introduction and spread of apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh)". In 2015, a single female apple maggot was detected in West Kelowna and in 2016 another single female was detected in the city of Kelowna. Despite increased surveillance from 2016 to 2019 apple maggot has not been detected since 2016.

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Method: Traps

This survey is conducted using sticky red spheres baited with an attractant and placed in host plants between June and September, when adult apple maggot flies are active. Traps are deployed to give an optimal coverage of known pome fruit production areas and associated urban and rural properties with suitable hosts, as well as riparian areas. The survey also includes selected sites that are perceived to be high risk for introduction of the pest.

Results from 444 surveyed sites

Provinces	Number of sites surveyed	Results
British Columbia	444	No new detections in the pest free area and outside the known infested areas. The pest free area in the interior of British Columbia is considered free from apple maggot.

Map of results

The map shows the locations of sites that have been surveyed for apple maggot in British Columbia, Canada, in 2023. There are 444 negative sites shown as green triangles extending the entire area surveyed.

Plum pox virus

Plum pox virus is a serious plant disease that affects many stone fruit species within the genus Prunus, including peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, almonds and some ornamental varieties. Although it does not kill trees, it reduces the marketability of the fruit, causes early fruit drop in infected trees and drastically reduces fruit yields. Plum pox virus is present in the Niagara area.

Tobacco blue mold

Tobacco blue mold (Peronospora hyoscyami f.sp. tabacina) is a serious disease of solanaceous plants including tobacco, peppers, tomato and eggplant. Tobacco blue mold is only reported from Eastern Canada, although there was one report of the disease in Washington State in the 1950's. This pathogen is not known to overwinter in Canada but may be blown in as spores from the Southeastern US.

Invasive plants

Invasive plant survey priorities are established by the Invasive Alien Species and Domestic Plant Health Programs at the CFIA. For more information on these survey results or methods, contact the Invasive Alien Species and Domestic Plant Health Programs Section.

Japanese stiltgrass

Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) is an invasive plant found in a variety of habitats, including forests, wetlands and disturbed areas. This plant's prolific seed production and rapid growth helps it dominate entire habitats, edging out native vegetation. As it spreads, Japanese stiltgrass displaces nesting sites for birds and other wildlife. Economically, Japanese stiltgrass may also cost producers due to control costs and productivity losses. Native to Asia, this plant has been introduced into the United States and is found in Ohio, Pennsylvania and along the US Atlantic coast. Seven populations have been confirmed in southern Ontario: two in Elgin County, two in Norfolk County, one in Waterloo region, and two in Niagara region. It has not been found in any other locations in Canada.

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Method: Visual inspection

This survey prioritizes areas where seeds may have been dispersed from the known infestations. Suitable locations may include pastures and fields, rails, recreational and naturalized tourist areas, parks, shaded roadside ditches, forests, woodlands and disturbed areas, particularly those with known deer populations. Visual inspections are conducted within a 200 m radius of preselected sites. Suspect plants are collected and sent to our laboratories for identification.

Results from 17 sites surveyed

Provinces	Number of sites surveyed	Results
Ontario	17	Two new detections were identified. One in Norfolk County and one in Niagara Region The newest positive detections were identified through reports from the public. The CFIA is working with collaborators on the management of Japanese stiltgrass in Ontario.

Map of results

The map shows the locations of sites that have been surveyed for Japanese stiltgrass in Ontario, Canada, in 2023. There are 17 negative sites shown as green triangles extending the entire area surveyed. Two red triangles show new detections in 2023, one in Norfolk County and one in Niagara Region. The map also shows five orange triangles where detections occurred between 2019 and 2022.

Potato pests

Potato wart

Potato wart disease, also known as potato canker, is caused by Synchytrium endobioticum, a soil-borne fungus. Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is the only cultivated host. The fungus attacks the growing points on the potato plant, such as eyes, buds and stolon tips. The fungus can remain dormant in the soil for more than 40 years as resting spores. In Canada, potato wart is present in Prince Edward Island and in Newfoundland and Labrador. The purpose of this survey is to monitor for the presence of Synchytrium endobioticum outside of Newfoundland and Labrador and PEI restricted fields. This survey is in addition to any sampling and analysis associated with potato wart restricted fields in PEI.

Potato cyst nematode

Golden nematode and pale cyst nematode are two species of potato cyst nematode (PCN) that are quarantine pests in Canada. If left unmanaged, they can reduce yields of potatoes and other host crops such as tomatoes and eggplants by up to 80 percent. These pests infest the soil and are very difficult to eradicate because they can persist, dormant in the soil, for several decades. They do not pose a risk to human health. Both of these quarantine potato cyst nematodes have been confirmed in 65 countries worldwide, including the United States and Canada.