DRAFT

Whitefly Taskforce:

Q – Biotype

May 26, 2005

Mission Statement

To facilitate the national discussion of the Q-Biotype of the whitefly,Bemisia tabaci, in order to prevent or minimize the pest’s potential effects on various industries within American agriculture.

Introduction and Background

The Q-Biotype of theBemisia tabaci whitefly is now the most prevalent type inthe Mediterranean basin. It is resistant to many of the insecticides that areeffective against the previously dominant B-Biotype. The Q-Biotype hasgreatly complicated insect management in the Mediterranean basin, significantly increasing the use of insecticides. In December 2004, whitefly specimens of the Q-Biotype were collected from a retail market in Tucson, Arizona. Industry leaders subsequently met with members of the scientific community and federal and state regulatory officials in April 2005, in Phoenix, Arizona, to explore options for dealing with the Q-Biotype of the whitefly. As a result, industry leaders have requested that USDA-APHIS coordinate the formation of an ad hoc taskforce to address relevant issues in dealing with the pest.

The Ad Hoc Whitefly Taskforce is now being formed under APHIS leadership to facilitate communication and cooperation among industry representatives, the research community and crop protection industry, and federal and state regulatory agencies. It will provide a flexible framework within which these groups can cooperate in responding to this pest. Members of the taskforce will work together to effectively address and avoid the potential problems posed by Q-Biotype whitefly; in particular, the economic damage that could potentially affect all industries if this pest were to become established and to develop resistance to insecticides.

Taskforce Organizational Structure

Facilitated by APHIS, the taskforce has three primary components, including industry representation, technical expertise, and federal and state interagency working group. Representatives from the potentially impacted industries – including floriculture, nursery, cotton, and vegetables – play a critical role in communicating industries’ needs, concerns, and insights, as well as assisting in setting the overall objectives of the taskforce and helping in securing the resources necessary to achieve the stated objectives. Technical experts with relevant expertise from various universities, state and federal agencies, and private organizations, share information and identify technical plans and needs to affected states and industries, including the most effective control technologies for achieving the overall objective of preventing or minimizing the pest’s potential effect on impacted industries. National Plant Board representatives and state regulatory officials and program managers develop and implement sound operational plans designed to achieve the overall objective of preventing or minimizing the pest’s potential effect in respective states or regions.

USDA-APHIS

Designated staff from the Pest Detection and Management Programs (PDMP) staff of USDA-APHIS will coordinate and facilitate the overall activities of the taskforce. Serving as chairperson of the taskforce, the PDMP designated staff will be responsible for coordinating with industry leadership, the technical advisory committee, and the interagency working group in identifying the overall goals and objectives of the taskforce. In addition, the chair will be responsible for tracking and monitoring the activities of the various committees and working groups, and informing the industry leadership of progress, challenges, and possible solutions. More specifically, the chair will responsible for:

1.Ensuring that potentially impacted industries are adequately represented on the taskforce;

2.Organizing and facilitating meetings and teleconferences for the taskforce;

3.Providing and maintaining a cooperative atmosphere within and among the committees and working groups; and

4.Facilitating the efforts of the industry, agencies, and other organizations as they identify the resources necessary and resolve issues in achieving the taskforce’s goals and objectives.

Industry Leadership

Representatives from potentially impacted industries, including floriculture, nursery, cotton, vegetables, and others, working together, will play a critical leadership role in identifying the overall goals and objectives of the taskforce. The goals and objectives should include short and long-term practical solutions that help affected industries, as a whole, in combating the pest in the most effective and efficient manner. In addition to providing the overall guidance to the taskforce, the industry leadership group will be responsible for the following:

1.Identifying industry representatives to participate in conference calls;

2.Communicating industries’ concerns, needs, and opportunities to the taskforce;

3.Enumerating specific priorities to be addressed by the technical and regulatory committees;

4.Identifying and helping to secure resources needed to support taskforce activities;

5.Establishing and maintaining open and transparent lines of communication within the framework of the taskforce;

6.Effectively communicating taskforce findings and recommendations to constituent industry members; and

7.Working within their respective industries, establish grower education and communication programs.

Technical Committee

Technical experts with the disciplines and relevant expertise will work together to provide the technical information necessary to meet the goals and objectives of the taskforce. This technical committee will:

  1. Assess and validate information concerning the Q-Biotype ofBemisia tabaci in the United States and elsewhere;
  1. Developand recommend the most technologically feasible means to prevent/limit the spread and mitigate the potential damage to U. S.agriculture that may result from the Q-Biotype; and
  1. Develop and recommend the most technologically feasible means to minimizeeconomic losses to U. S. agriculture that could potentially result from the Q-Biotype.

Facilitated by a chair and a co-chair, the committee shall form subcommittees or working groups with the appropriate discipline and expertise to address specific scientific issues, including:

1.Detection and survey;

2.Diagnostics;

3.Management;

4.Communication, education, and outreach; and

5.Practical biology and ecology investigation.

Interagency Working Group

Representatives from the National Plant Board, state regulatory officials, and APHIS-Plant Protection and Quarantine from potentially impacted states and regions will work together in designing and implementing the necessary operational plans to prevent or minimize the pest’s effects on the various industries. Coordinated by a chair and a co-chair, the working group will take into consideration the following issues relative to the plan:

1.Industry concerns and needs;

2.Economic implications of the pests;

3.Technical recommendations;

4.Practical options to limit the spread/impact of Q-Biotype whitefly; and

5.Assist in registration of needed insecticides.

“Q-Type Taskforce Draft2 5_26_05.doc”

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