MARCH 28, 2005
ISCA TECHNOLOGIES SUCCESSFULLY SYNTHESIZES THE SIBERIAN MOTH PHEROMONE FOR USDA-APHIS

In September 2004, ISCA Technologies, Inc. (Riverside, CA) was awarded a contract by USDA-APHIS to develop and test the scale-up synthesis of the siberian moth pheromone, and synthesize 200 grams of two key compounds of the pheromone blend.

The siberian moth, Dendrolimus superans sibiricus, is a major defoliator of coniferous forests in its native Urals, Siberia, and the Far East. In the fir-dominated forests of Central Siberia there were 10 outbreaks since 1873, in 1935-1947, 1950-1959, 1962-1969, 1978-1985 and 1989-1997 defoliating 0.7, 2.6, 0.9, 0.1 and 1.1 million ha respectively. These forests all died, either directly from the defoliation or from the increasing attacks of the fir sawyer beetle or fire.

Victor C. Mastro, Director of USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) center says : “If the siberian moth gets into the northern United States and Canada, the gypsy moth would pale by comparison. The siberian moth is probably one of Russia's top three pests in economic damage. We want to identify and block the routes it could take to get into this country."

The first line of defense against the moth's invasion is to track the insect's whereabouts and population sizes in its native habitat, and at possible ports of entry and habitats in the United States. The siberian moth pheromones synthesized by ISCA will be used in pheromone traps by USDA-APHIS for monitoring the pest.

Dr Agenor Mafra-Neto, CEO of ISCA Technologies says : “We are proud that USDA-APHIS has awarded us with the contract to synthesize the siberian moth pheromones, and we are proud to play a part to safeguard North American habitats from destructive invasive pests. This contract, and the subsequent successful synthesis of the pheromones by ISCA’s synthetic chemists, reinforces our stature as a leading company for the R&D and custom synthesis of insect semiochemicals and other fine chemicals.”

About USDA-APHIS-PPQ

The mission of USDA-APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine is to safeguard agriculture and natural resources from the risks associated with the entry, establishment, or spread of animal and plant pests and noxious weeds. Fulfillment of its safeguarding role ensures an abundant, high-quality, and varied food supply, strengthens the marketability of U.S. agriculture in domestic and international commerce, and contributes to the preservation of the global environment.

Acknowledgements

Victor C. Mastro, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Yuri N. Baranchikov, Institute of Forestry, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Science, Krasnoyarsk 660036, Russia
Jerome A. Klun, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Insect Chemical Ecology Laboratory
Iral Ragenovich. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection
John H. Ghent, USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection
Judy McBride, USDA Agricultural Research Service Information Staff

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