Asian Gypsy Moth 2022 season – be prepared for longer Specified Risk P...

Asian Gypsy Moth 2022 season – be prepared for longer Specified Risk Periods and a name change

Published: 22 June 2022

The name of "Asian Gypsy Moth" is under review. Additionally, Canada and the United States have issued a joint notice amending the risk periods.

** ASIAN GYPSY MOTH IS NOW KNOWN AS FLIGHTED SPONGY MOTH COMPLEX **

Not all countries have introduced the new name yet, but BIMCO has decided to standardise on Flighted Spongy Moth Complex, abbreviated to FSMC.

Female Moth

Male Moth

Larva (caterpillar)

Asian gypsy moth may be a name of the past as the Entomological Society of America ( ESA) has decided to remove “Gypsy moth” as part of its exercise to review and replace insect common names. “Gypsy moth” was considered inappropriate or offensive and a new common name to represent the moth species is under review. Pending the outcome of a new name, BIMCO is updating its AGM section and will now refer to this species using the acronym “AGM” or the scientific names Lymantria dispar asiatica, Lymantria dispar japonica, Lymantria umbrosa, Lymantria postalba and Lymantria albescens when reporting. Do note that the ESA has adopted “ spongy moth” to the species Lymantria dispar and the ESA will “will work to support stakeholders seeking to address the “Asian Gypsy Moth complex” terminology used for international regulatory and outreach purposes. The plans for how to best address the other related species and regulatory complex issues are still in development and do not yet have a planned timeframe for completion.”

Canada and United States issued a joint notice amending the specified risk periods (SRPs) for AGM based on the recommendations of the AGM Expert Group ( EG) of the North American Plant Protection Organization ( NAPPO). They have been extended to take into account of the current climatic conditions where the start and end dates of the periods are now further extended. For example, if a ship is visiting a port in the East Russian region, the specified risk period was from 1 July – 30 September. For the 2022 season, the specified risk period is now starting from 15 June and extended to 15 October so the SRP has been extended for an additional month. This means that any ship that has gone to that region already from 15 June will be caught and will be required to have a AGM-free certificate prior to entering any US or Canadian ports.

For a full update on the above and AGM 2022 updates on other countries, please go to our AGM section as follows:

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