Plant Industry - Plant Protection Section

• Ash Whitefly Control provides nurserymen, homeowners, and stone fruit growers with an effective and inexpensive means of controlling this pest of ornamental and production fruit trees. See: Ash Whitefly - NCCES Ornamentals and Turf Insect Note #113

• Gypsy Moth Control maintains the health of NC forests. In addition to the gypsy moth trapping and treatment program, a fungus Entomophaga maimaiga has been released in NC.

• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Predator Rearing is a cooperative project with USDA-Forest Service and APHIS.  Predators are not available for distribution to the general public; all beetles reared are released on public lands by the Forest Service.

• Imported Fire Ant Control benefits all residents by targeting this nuisance pest in pastures, roadsides, and parks.  The parasitic flies Pseudacteon tricuspis and P. curvatus have been released and become established in NC. For more information on the imported fire ant program of NCDA&CS and quarantine areas, see: Red Imported Fire Ant Program.

• Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles (Harmonia axyridis) have proven to be both a blessing and nuisance in NC. During the growing season they feed on pests in various crops, ornamental plants and trees. In the fall they become a nuisance when they move to overwintering sites, often houses, churches or other buildings.

• Biosurveillance for Emerald Ash Borer using Cerceris fumipennis, a ground-nesting wasp is in preliminary stages.

• The Quarantine Facility is specially designed for working with exotic pests.  Space may be available for lease to researchers.