Plant health survey report for 2024-2025

ISSN: 2563-0261

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 were collected between April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.

Survey results

• Forest pests
  • Emerald ash borer
  • Hemlock woolly adelgid
  • Oak wilt
  • Brown spruce longhorn beetle
  • Spongy moth and flighted spongy moth complex
  • Invasive alien forest insects
• Horticulture pests
  • Ramorum blight
  • Japanese beetle
  • Plum pox virus
  • Blueberry maggot
  • Apple maggot
  • Tobacco blue mold
  • Oriental fruit moth
• Potato pests
  • Potato wart
  • Potato cyst nematode
• Contact us

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 parts of Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, in Winnipeg (Manitoba), and in Vancouver and Burnaby (British Columbia). 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.

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.

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 2023 oak wilt was detected for the first time in Canada, at three locations in Ontario. An active management plan was implemented to support eradication of the disease at these locations. 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.

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. In 2024, it was detected in Quebec, in the Beauce-Sartigan regional county municipality. 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.

Spongy moth and flighted spongy moth complex

The spongy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar), formerly known as the European gypsy moth, is established in Ontario, Quebec, 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 flighted spongy moth. The flighted spongy moth complex is defined for regulatory purposes as including those subspecies of Lymantria dispar in which the females are capable of sustained directed flight, whereas the spongy moth females are not capable of flight.

Invasive alien forest insects

The invasive alien species forest insect survey is a pathway-based survey designed to detect a broad range of wood borers and bark beetles. The survey focusses on forests near urban areas where the risk of invasive alien insect introductions via international wood packaging and dunnage is greatest. The primary goal of this survey is to detect new introductions of non-indigenous species not known to be present in Canada. The invasive alien forest insect survey provides an early warning of the presence of potentially invasive insects in Canada as well as valuable information on the diversity of Canada's insect fauna.

Horticulture pests

Ramorum blight

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. Additional surveys are also conducted to support eradication activities following a new detection.

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. The number of beetles caught went down, following yearly treatments, to 1,157 (2019), 214 (2020) and 79 (2021) before increasing to 201 (2022) and 644 in 2023. In 2024, a total of 574 beetles were caught in British Columbia, including detections in two new municipalities, Kamloops and Abbotsford. However, no beetles were detected in the City of Vancouver in 2024 for the first time since the eradication effort began.

A small population of Japanese beetle were also detected in the City of St. Johns, Newfoundland. Unlike previous years, these beetles were detected in the environment rather than at greenhouses or nurseries.

Plum pox virus

Plum pox virus (Potyvirus plumpoxi) 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. This survey is being conducted in support of policies and programs related to D-99-07: Policy for importation from the United States and domestic movement of plum pox virus susceptible prunus propagative plant material.

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.

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: Phytosanitary requirements to prevent the introduction and spread of apple maggot. 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.

Tobacco blue mold

Tobacco blue mold (Peronospora hyoscyami f.sp. tabacina) is a serious disease of solanaceous plants including tobacco, peppers, tomato and eggplant. It was reported for the first time in North America in 1921, in the States of Florida and Georgia. In Canada it was first reported in Ontario in 1938. This disease has never been reported from British Columbia. Survey activities for this pest are conducted to confirm British Columbia's pest-free status for the exportation of peppers.

Oriental fruit moth

The oriental fruit moth is native to China and Korea. It was first detected in Ontario in 1925. The oriental fruit moth likely spreads to other countries in cocoons on dormant trees or in infested fruit. The principal host is Prunus (peach, nectarine, apricot, plum, cherry). In Ontario, apple (Malus) and pear (Pyrus) can also be infested when they are grown in proximity to peach orchards. The pest was intercepted in British Columbia in 2019 and again in 2022. In both cases a single moth was caught. Follow-up surveillance did not detect any evidence of establishment of this pest in British Columbia. This survey is done to maintain the pest-free status of British Columbia.

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 (PEI) 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 restricted fields in PEI. 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 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.

Contact us

For any questions regarding CFIA's plant protection surveys, contact cfia.surveillance-surveillance.acia@inspection.gc.ca.