ESTABLISHING RISK OF INVASIVE INSECT PESTS IN GREEN YARD WASTE

Identify invasive insect pests of tree fruits found in BC solid waste. Quantify the risk of introduction of potential invasive insect pests of tree fruits from BC to WA through the solid waste transportation pathway. Assess the establishment and spread risk of potential tree fruit invasive insect pests from BC to WA. Compare and match the climatic conditions of solid waste source sites with that of waste processing and receiving sites to assess the risk of tree fruit pest establishment. Sampling of green yard waste is underway in B.C. Shipment of samples will take place at regular intervals over the season. DNA extractions will be conducted over the winter months after field season. eDNA samples will be pooled and sent off for sequencing around February. Primer sets will be designed to amplify diagnostic regions of the COI for all the target species.