Asian Gypsy Moth 2022
Due to the Asian Gypsy Moth’s destructive nature, particularly in countries where the pest is not indigenous, the following countries have specific procedures in place to prevent AGM from entering their fragile eco system:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Canada
- Chile
- New Zealand
- United States
Details can be found below.
Introduction
The Asian Gypsy Moth (“AGM”, including Lymantria dispar asiatica, Lymantria dispar japonica, Lymantria albescens, Lymantria umbrosa, Lymantria postalba) is a highly destructive forest pest that feeds on both deciduous and coniferous trees.
The voracious appetite of AGM larvae (caterpillars) coupled with the ability of the female moth to travel significant distances (as much as 20 nautical miles) can cause widespread defoliation leaving trees weakened and susceptible to disease and other pests.
AGM is found primarily in Asia or Russia with a high risk of AGM egg infestation of vessels calling at ports in Korea, Northern China (north of Shanghai; ports north of latitude 31˚15’N), and in particular the Russian Far East and Japan during the flight season of the female moth.
AGM Flight Season
The main concern to countries attempting to prevent the introduction of the AGM are vessels that have called at ports in an AGM High Risk Area during the “flight season”.
The specific timing of the “flight season” differs from country to country:Argentina
Asian Gypsy Moth Endemic Area (For ports located between 60°N
and 20°N) | Female Flight Season |
Russian Far East (Zarubino, Vostochny,
Nakhodka, Vladivostok, Kozmino, Slavyanka, Nevelsk, Kholmsk, Korsakov, Vanino,
Petropavlovsk- Kamchatskiy) | 15 July to 25 September |
China (All Ports north of 20°N,
including Yangpu (19 43’N) and Macun (19 58’N) ports located on Hainan Island) | 1 June to 30 September |
Korea (Ulsan, Pohang, Mokpo,
Yeosu, Gunsan, Gwangyang, Hadong, Samcheonpo, Boryeong, Daesan, Taean,
Donghae-Mukho, Okgye, Hosan, Busan, Jinhae, Masan, Tongyeong, Jangseongpo,
Okpo, Gohyeon, Incheon, Pyeongtaek- Dangjin) | 1 June to 30 September |
Northern Japan (Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate,
Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures) | 1 July to 30 September |
Western Japan (Akita, Yamagata, Niigata,
Toyama and Ishikawa Prefectures) | 25 June to 15 September |
Eastern Japan (Fukui, Ibaraki, Chiba,
Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi and Mie Prefectures) | 20 June to 20 August |
Southern Japan (Wakayama, Osaka, Kyoto,
Hyogo, Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Kagawa, Tokushima,
Ehime, Kochi, Fukuoka, Oita, Saga, Nagasaki, Miyazaki, Kumamoto and Kagoshima Prefectures) | 1 June to 10 August |
Far South Japan (Okinawa) | 25 May to 30 June |
Australia
| Asian Gypsy Moth Endemic Area | Female Flight Season |
Russian Far East (Ports between 40°N and 60°N and west of 147 °E) | 1 July to 30 September |
Chile
Asian Gypsy Moth Endemic Area (For ports located between 60°N and 20°N) | Female Flight Season |
| Russian Far East | 1 July to 30 September |
China (Ports north of 20°N) | 1 June to 30 September |
| North Korea | 1 June to 30 September |
| Republic of Korea | 1 June to 30 September |
Northern Japan (Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures) | 1 July to 30 September |
Western Japan (Akita, Yamagata, Niigata, Toyama and Ishikawa Prefectures) | 25 June to 15 September |
Eastern Japan (Fukui, Ibaraki, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi and Mie Prefectures) | 20 June to 20 August |
Southern Japan (Wakayama, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, Kochi, Fukuoka, Oita, Saga, Nagasaki, Miyazaki, Kumamoto and Kagoshima Prefectures) | 1 June to 10 August |
Far South Japan (Okinawa) | 25 May to 30 June |
New Zealand
| Asian Gypsy Moth Endemic Area | Female Flight Season |
Russian Far East (South of 60°N and west of 147°, excluding ports in the Kamchatka Peninsula) | 1 July to 30 September |
China (North of 31°15’N) | 1 June to 30 September |
Republic of Korea (all ports) | 1 June to 30 September |
Northern Japan (Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures) | 1 July to 30 September |
Western Japan (Akita, Yamagata, Niigata, Toyama and Ishikawa Prefectures) | 25 June to 15 September |
Eastern Japan (Fukui, Ibaraki, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi and Mie Prefectures) | 20 June to 20 August |
Southern Japan (Wakayama, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, Kochi, Fukuoka, Oita, Saga, Nagasaki, Miyazaki, Kumamoto and Kagoshima Prefectures) | 1 June to 10 August |
Far South Japan (Okinawa) | 25 May to 30 June |
United States and Canada
The specified risk period is for vessels entering ports in high-risk areas during 2022, the bold sections highlighted below are the new risk periods.
| Asian Gypsy Moth Endemic Area | Female Flight Season |
Russian Far East (Kozmino, Nakhodka, Ol’ga, Plastun, Pos’yet, Russkiy Island, Slavyanka, Vanino, Vladivostok, Vostochny and Zarubino) | 15 June to 15 October |
Northern China (including all ports on or North of 31°15’N) | 1 June to 30 September |
Republic of Korea (all ports) | 1 June to 30 September |
Northern Japan (Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata, Akita and Fukushima Prefectures) | 15 June to 15 October |
Western Japan (Niigata, Toyama and Ishikawa Prefectures) | 1 June to 30 September |
Eastern Japan (Fukui, Ibaraki, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi and Mie Prefectures) | 1 June to 30 September |
Southern Japan (Wakayama, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, Kochi, Fukuoka, Oita, Saga, Nagasaki, Miyazaki, Kumamoto and Kagoshima Prefectures) | 15 May to 30 August |
Far South Japan (Okinawa) | 25 May to 30 June |
Asian Gypsy Moth Characteristics
Male AGMs are greyish brown with a wingspan of 30 to 40 mm. Females are whitish / pale yellow in colour with prominent black marks on the wings and are larger than the male with a wingspan of 40 to 70 mm.
It is unlikely that live AGMs will be encountered by vessels in transit. It is more likely that egg masses will be found.
Female AGMs are active flyers and are attracted to bright lights, therefore AGM eggs may be found in the vicinity of exterior lights and floodlights on vessels. If powerful shore lights are directed towards the vessel, AGM eggs may be found all over the ship and its cargo. Where safe and practicable to do so, external lights on vessels should be switched off.
The larvae normally hatch in early spring and this is therefore considered the high risk period in countries that wish to stop this species becoming established. Consequently, vessels that call in Asia or Russia during the flight season, and then subsequently arrive in port during the hatching period, are of particular concern.
The peak period for egg hatching is in the morning; the dispersing larvae move towards vertical structures, climb rapidly to a high point and are then widely dispersed on silken strands by the wind until they find suitable host trees to feed on, a process known as “Ballooning”.
Inspections
The inspection of vessels for the presence of egg masses, their removal and disposal are the principal tools in preventing AGM becoming established in new regions.
Some destination countries require vessels that have called in high risk countries during the flight season to be inspected and certified free of AGM by a nominated authority immediately prior to departure.
If no signs of AGM infestation are found, the nominated authority will issue the vessel with certification stating that it is free of AGMs; depending on the issuing authority the certificate may be a “Certificate of Inspection of Freedom from the Asian Gypsy Moth” or a “Phytosanitary Certificate”.
If multiple ports in the same country or a number of ports in different countries within the high risk area are visited during the flight seasons, the official inspection should be undertaken immediately prior to departure from the last port in the high risk area during the applicable flight season.
Regardless of any requirement for an official inspection, in order to mitigate the risk of infestation when calling at ports in the high-risk area during the AGM flight season, vessels are advised to:
- Carry out a thorough visual inspection of the accommodation superstructure, decks, deck machinery, holds, cargo and cargo gear immediately prior to departure. Binoculars can be used to inspect difficult to reach areas of the vessel’s superstructure, such as the underside of bridge wings. Similarly, a small mirror attached to a stick may be used to inspect areas that are difficult to see, for example, behind pipework next to the hatch coaming.
- Carry out another thorough visual inspection while on passage to the destination port.
- Scrape off any egg masses that are found. Do not paint over them as this will not kill them. Do not remove them using high pressure water guns as some eggs may be washed over the side and immersion in saltwater does not kill them; there have been cases of AGM eggs floating to shore and continuing to develop and hatch.
- Prior to arrival destroy any egg masses that have been scraped off. Eggs may be destroyed by placing them in alcohol, boiling them in water, freezing them or by incineration.
- Record details of all visual inspections and the removal and disposal of AGM eggs in the vessel’s deck logbook.
Country Specific Requirements
When proceeding to any of the following countries after having visited the high-risk area during the female flight season, the specific requirements of the destination should be followed:
Argentina
The Argentinian National Service for Health and Agrifood Quality (SENASA) have finalised approval and issuance of a resolution that established national AGM control measures.
SENASA produced the resolution 764/2020 on the 14th October 2020. These control measures have been implemented since the 12th April 2021, details can be found here. Resolution 764/2020 has two annexes, first one has a specified certificate form and the second contains the AGM regulated areas and specific risk periods.
Australia
The latest Department of Agriculture and Water Resources requirements are detailed in the below Industry Advice Notice:
249-2021 – Commencement of Asian Gypsy Moth Vessel Assessment and Inspection Arrangements. (Reviewed on 23rd December 2021)
All relevant vessels will be sent an AGM questionnaire through the Maritime Arrivals Reporting System (MARS), as part of their Pre-Arrival Reporting (PAR) process.
Chile
The Requirements are set out in Resolution 4412/2013 – Phytosanitary Requirements for Vessels Arriving from Areas with Asian Gypsy Moth Presence, as amended by Resolution No.8870/2015 – Modified Phytosanitary Requirements for Vessels Arriving from Areas with Asian Gypsy Moth Presence. Further information can be found on 2 SAG posters.
It should be noted that the 2015 amendment appears to make the AGM requirements apply to all of China north of 20°N (not north of 31°15’N, as per the requirements of other countries with measures in place to stop the introduction of the AGM).
The Club has seen this interpretation of the requirements by the Chilean SAG (Agriculture and Livestock Service), with a vessel which had called at a port in southern China during the flight season being required to produce a phytosanitary certificate.
New Zealand
AGM requirements are set out in part 3 of the Craft Risk Management Standard (CRMS) - Vessels. Further details can be found in the Guidance Document to the CRMS for Vessels, and on the following Biosecurity New Zealand webpage, which includes a link to a list of approved AGM inspection bodies: Hitchhiker pests.
The Ministry for Primary Industries has also published a Fact Sheet to assist Owners and Operators of Commercial Vessels.
USA and Canada
AGM requirements are set out in the Asian Gypsy Moth Notice issued January 2022 jointly by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Specific country requirements can be seen in full here (for Canada) and here (for USA).
National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs), and inspection and certification bodies will need time to convert to the new Specified Risk Periods (SRPs) therefore, for the first year of implementation (2022), a transition between the old and new SRPs will be in place. For example, a vessel that received its certificate while the old SRPs were in place (2021) would not be penalized if it had not returned to a regulated area in the year that the new SRPs came into force (2022). For more information on this, details can be found on North American Plant Protection Organization Position Document.
Inspectors have found that in North American ports there were a high number of AGM egg masses recorded in 2020 and 2021. Therefore, for 2022, extra vigilance should be taken in conducting self-inspections and receiving required certification in AGM regulated areas.
AGM Charter Party Clause
When negotiating charter parties, Members may wish to include the following clause if the vessel could be required to call at ports in the high-risk region during the flight period:
“Should Charterers order the vessel to a port, place, country or area infested by Asian Gypsy Moth ("AGM") or where there is risk of exposure to infestation by AGM as reasonably determined by the Master, Charterers shall take all reasonable steps at their time and expense to ensure that the vessel does not become infested. Without prejudice to this obligation, Charterers shall, at their time and expense, arrange for the appropriate certificate stating that the vessel is free from infestation by AGM, its larvae or eggs to be issued by an appropriate and recognised authority to the satisfaction of the Master just prior to departure from the last port of call within the high risk area during the flight season. Notwithstanding the issuing of such a certificate, Charterers will be responsible for any consequences whatsoever, including but not limited to time, costs and third party liabilities to cargo interests etc., howsoever arising, and the vessel to remain on hire/laytime to count (as applicable) should an infestation of AGM be found or suspected and/or should delays or costs be incurred due to charterers having ordered the vessel to call at a port, place, country or area where the presence of AGM is known or suspected.”
Additional Information
Additional information on the AGM can be found in the: Gypsy Moth Inspectional Pocket Guide.
Members requiring further guidance or assistance should contact the Loss Prevention department.