Quarantines are a tool utilized by state and federal agencies to slow the spread of a new invasive pest species once detected in a new locality. A quarantine is an official decree to enforce measures that may prevent the entry of pests in new areas or keep them from spreading from areas where they have already established. In Virginia, there are quarantines in place for a few species of insects that could impact the forestry community. These quarantines are regulated and enforced by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
A quarantine went in place for the red imported fire ant in 2009.
The Office of Plant Industry Services, within the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, surveys every year to determine when spongy moth population levels warrant adding new localities to the spongy moth quarantine.
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