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NPAG logo by Heather Hartzog

Mission:

The New Pest Advisory Group (NPAG) assess exotic plant pests that are new or imminent threats to U.S. agriculture or the environment and recommends appropriate actions to the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Deputy Administrator (DA).

Process:

Detection of a new exotic plant pest or identification of a pathway for a new pest's introduction begins the process. When this happens, the NPAG assembles a panel of federal, state, and university experts that have knowledge of the pest or pest situation. The NPAG then develops recommendations through literature searches and discussions with the expert panel.
magnifying glassWho We Are:
The New Pest Advisory Group (NPAG) is part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program. It operates out of the Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory (PERAL), which is part of the Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST). The NPAG is really all of PPQ, but a small core team coordinates activity from the PERAL. The core includes:

Chair:
Brian M. Spears (Entomologist)

Executive Secretary:
Keith Colpetzer (Entomologist)

Support Staff:
Lynn Garrett (Economist)
Tara Holtz (Biologist)
Anthony Koop (Botanist)
Stephanie Kubilus (Ecologist)
Feridoon Mehdizadegan (Plant Pathologist)
Alison Neeley (Entomologist)
Andrea Sato (Plant Pathologist)
Kimberly Schwartzburg (Plant Pathologist)

Data Sheet Preparation:
Robert A. Schall (Plant Pathologist)
PPQ Professional Development Staff Center

Web Site:
Contact NPAG at NPAG@aphis.usda.gov

 NPAG Team

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curious imageExpectations

What can a concerned grower, scientist, industry representative etc. expect from the NPAG (i.e. what will NPAG do)? The NPAG will work with interested and involved parties, survey the literature, gather expert opinion, and make recommendations that are in the best interest of safeguarding American plant resources. Only the PPQ Deputy Administrator (DA) can accept and put the recommendations into effect.

Here are some possible NPAG recommendations. (NOTE: The NPAG only makes recommendations. It is up to one of the PPQ programs to fulfill the recommendations)

  1. Recommend the collection or development of additional information.
    • Conduct a survey to assess geographic range, host range, or damage.
    • Develop methods to detect, identify, control, or eradicate the pest.
  2. Recommend no action.
  3. Recommend an action.
    • Eradicate the pest.
    • Quarantine the infected or infested area.
    • Evaluate biological or chemical control for pest management.
    • Prepare and distribute educational information to the public.
  4. Recommend that PPQ refer options and actions to other institutions, such as affected States or industries.
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USDA LogoNPAG Authority

The Emergency Programs Manual lists various sources of NPAG authority. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/manuals/emergency/pdf_files/EPM.pdf

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cogsa imageThe NPAG Process

sphereClick here to view a flowchart of the NPAG Process

The linked flowchart outlines the NPAG Process. A variety of sources, such as other parts of PPQ, State Departments of Agriculture, the primary literature, and electronic alerts (e.g. the Phytosanitary Alert System and ProMED), notify the NPAG of new pests. When notified, the NPAG determines whether the pest is present or an imminent threat and whether or not it meets the definition of a quarantine pest. If the pest meets this definition, the NPAG prepares a report. The NPAG may convene a teleconference with subject matter experts to gather more information, or they may forward the report directly to the PPQ Executive Team, which includes the DA. This occurs when the organism is controversial or a major pest. The NPAG forwards minor pest reports to relevant groups in PPQ (e.g. National Identification Services or Emergency and Domestic Programs).

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notepad imageSample Data Sheets

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telephone imageTeleconference Information

Possible participants for NPAG teleconferences or meetings-

  • State Plant Health Directors
  • PPQ Regional Directors
  • National Plant Board
  • State Plant Regulatory Officials
  • Pest and/or Commodity Experts from Universities, Museums, State or Federal Governments, Research Institutes, etc.
  • If warranted:
    • Other Federal Agencies (e.g. USDA Forest Service, USDA-Agricultural Research Service)
    • Other State Agencies
    • Scientific Society Representatives

telephone imageWho's Notified About NPAG Issues?

The following people may be notified regarding NPAG pest issues, especially when an NPAG teleconference is held:

  • National Plant Board:
    • Mailing Address :
           Kenneth J. Rauscher
           Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division
           Michigan Department of Agriculture
           P.O. Box 30017
           Lansing, MI 48909
           Telephone: 517-373-4087
           Fax: 517-335-4540
           Email: rauscherk@michigan.gov
    • Physical Address :
           Constitution Hall, 5th Floor
           525 W. Allegan Street
           Lansing, MI 48909
    • Website :
      http://nationalplantboard.org/index.html

  • PPQ State Plant Health Directors (SPHD) of involved states:
  • State Regulatory Officials (SPRO) of involved states:
  • Plant Protection and Quarantine Regional Directors:

  • Permanent NPAG CC List (PPQ Headquarters and Professional Development Center Staff)

  • Pest Experts from Universities, Museums, State or Federal Governments, Research Institutes, etc.

If warranted, the following groups/area specialists may be called:

Groups:
  • American Nursery and Landscape Association - Requires approval from the NPAG Chair.
  • Other Industry Representatives - Requires approval from the NPAG Chair.
  • Scientific Society Representatives
Area Specialists:
  • Insects (Class Insecta): Joe Cavey (PPQ)
    • Beetles (Order Coleoptera):
      • Families Bostrichidae, Meloidae, and Scarabaeidae: Chuck Brodel (PPQ)
      • Families Byrrhidae, Coccinellidae, Elateridae, Lyctidae, Platypodidae, and Scolytidae: Natalia Vandenberg (ARS)
      • Families Cerambycidae and Curculionidae: Steven Lingafelter (ARS)
      • Family Chrysomelidae: Alexander Konstantinova (ARS)
    • Bugs (Order Hemiptera):
      • Aphids and Phylloxerans (Superfamily Aphidoidea): Gary Miller (ARS)
      • Armored Scales and Whiteflies (Families Diaspididae and Aleyrodidae): John W. Dooley (PPQ)
      • Cicadas and Hoppers (Suborder Auchenorrhyncha): Stuart Mckamey (ARS)
      • Scale Insects and Psyllids (Superfamilies Coccoidea and Psylloidea): Douglass Miller (ARS)
      • True Bugs (Suborder Heteroptera): Thomas Henry (ARS)
    • Butterfiles and Moths (Order Lepidoptera):
      • Case Bearing Moths and Relatives (Superfamily Gelechioidea): David Adamski (ARS)
      • Families Geometridae, Noctuidae, Notodontidae, and Saturniidae: Steven Passoa (PPQ)
      • Plume and Snout Moths (Superfamilies Pterophoroidea and Pyraloidea): Alma Solis (ARS)
      • Tortricid Moths (Family Tortricidae): John W. Brown (ARS)
    • Flies (Order Diptera):
      • Families Anthomyiidae, Asilidae, Braulidae, Phoridae, and Pipunculidae: Chris Thompson (ARS)
      • Fruit Flies (Family Tephritidae): Allen Norrbom (ARS)
    • Grasshoppers, Crickets, and Katydids (Order Orthoptera): David Nickle (ARS)
    • Plant-Feeding Wasps (Order Hymenoptera): Michael Gates (ARS)
    • Termites (Order Isoptera): David Nickle (ARS)
    • Thrips (Family Thysanoptera): Susan Broda-Hydorn (PPQ)
  • Mites: Ron Ochoa (ARS-SEL)
  • Mollusks: David Robinson (PPQ)
  • Nematodes: David Chitwood (ARS)
  • Plant Diseases: Mary Palm (PPQ)
    • Viruses: Ed Podleckis (PPQ)
  • Weeds: Alan Tasker or Polly Lehtonen (PPQ)


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Links of Interest

Pest Alerts/Emerging Plant Pest Information
British Society for Plant Pathology: New Disease Reports
NAPPO Phytosantiary Alert System
Florida Pest Alert (UF)
National Agricultural Pest Information System (NAPIS/CAPS)
European Plant Protection Organization (EPPO Alert List)
National Invasive Species Information Center
National Plant Board-issues including pest alerts
ProMed Plant Disease Announcements
Plant Disease (journal)
TNC Weed Alerts
blue bulletPlant Pathology Resources
American Phytopathological Society online resources (images, common names of diseases, etc.)
Israel Phytoparasitica (online journal)
The Plant Pathology Internet Guidebook
blue bulletNematology Resources
Society of Nematologists
USDA-ARS Nematology Lab
blue bulletMalacology Resources
American Malacological Society
blue bulletEntomology Resources
University of Florida "Featured Creatures" data sheets
North American Non-Indigenous Arthropod Database (NANIAD)
Bugwood Network
Entomology Society of America
North Carolina State University Department of Entomology
Iowa State Department of Entomology
blue bulletWeed Resources
Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
Center for Invasive Plant Management
Federal Noxious Weeds (APHIS)
Invasive Plants of Canada Project
Weed Science Society of America
Weeds Gone Wild
blue bulletOther Resources
Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
APHIS Regulated Pest List (PPQ website)
Center for Integrated Pest Management
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Plant Pest Information
Exotic Forest Pest Information System for North America
PLANTS database
Invasive Species Specialist Group Database and Early Warning System

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contact us image 
Email : npag@aphis.usda.gov
Chair : Brain M. Spears (Email: brian.m.spears@aphis.usda.gov )
Executive Secretary : Keith Colpetzer (Email: keith.colpetzer@aphis.usda.gov)
Webmaster : NPAG (Email: npag@aphis.usda.gov)
Address : USDA, APHIS, PPQ, CPHST, PERAL 1730 Varsity Drive, Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27606.

Page last updated

 August 29, 2006 14:42

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