Section 20. Purpose of quarantine

The purpose of this quarantine is to help prevent the artificial spread of Thousand Cankers Disease to uninfested areas of the Commonwealth by regulating the movement of articles that are capable of transporting the disease. Thousand Cankers Disease is a disease complex that attacks walnut trees, Juglans spp. The fungus Geosmithia morbida is vectored by the walnut twig beetle, Pityophthorus juglandis, causing small cankers under the bark of the tree. The beetle introduces the fungus while it tunnels beneath the bark. As more beetles attack the tree, the number of cankers increases until they coalesce to girdle twigs and branches, restricting movement of nutrients and eventually killing the tree. Thousand Cankers Disease has become established in the Commonwealth and has the potential to spread to uninfested areas by natural means or through the movement of infested articles.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 28, Issue 09, eff. January 2, 2012.

Statutory Authority

§ 3.2-703 of the Code of Virginia.