Conduct delimiting surveys that identify the locations of introduced individuals and incipient populations of lymantria dispar

The State of Washington Department of Agriculture (WSDA) received a $160,000 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025), effective May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026. The award funds delimiting survey activities designed to detect and prevent the establishment of Lymantria dispar (gypsy moth) in Washington State. WSDA will install and monitor traps in delimiting grids around previous moth capture locations, deploy additional survey grids in response to mid-season detections during active moth flight, and analyze results using phenology modeling to optimize trap deployment timing and ensure compliance with placement guidelines.

The deliverables include early detection of L. dispar populations through systematic surveying activities and public outreach efforts to property owners and Washington State residents using informational door hangers and pest identification cards. These survey and detection efforts will enable WSDA to implement rapid response eradication programs and prevent the establishment of incipient populations. The intended beneficiaries include APHIS, WSDA, and agricultural industry exporters. No subrecipient activities were identified at the time of award.

Activities

Survey: install L. Dispar traps in a delimiting grid around moth captures from the previous two trapping season, monitor traps for presence/absence of target pest, remove traps, and analyze results. Deploy additional delimiting grids midseason in response to detections during active moth flight; a) outreach: conduct outreach to property owners and the general population of washington state using informational door hangers when placing traps on private property and an informational pest card. Deliverables and expected outcomes: a) phenology modeling will be used to plan monitoring and removal activities to ensure, to the best of our ability, that traps remain deployed until adult flight has ceased for the year; B) quality control measures have been put in place to ensure trap placement and distribution follows the appropriate guidelines; C) the anticipated result of the survey is early detection of L. Dispar present in washington state. The delimiting surveys allow washington state department of agriculture (WSDA) to identify introduced populations and implement a rapid response plan to ensure L. Dispar does not become established in the state. Intended beneficiary(IES): PPQ, WSDA, industry/exporters. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: none known