The cotton seed BUG (CSB), oxycarenus hyalinipennis, is a pest of cotton and other members of the malvaceae plant family, such as okra

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) received a $135,000 Cooperative Agreement award 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 July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The award funds implementation of a comprehensive statewide survey for the cotton seed bug (Oxycarenus hyalinipennis), an invasive pest of cotton and related Malvaceae plants including okra that has been detected in California since 2019. CDFA will conduct cotton boll sampling on up to 10% of commercial cotton acreage and visual inspections of 100% of okra fields across all cotton and okra-growing counties throughout California during late August through mid-October, with sampling efforts concentrated on high-risk perimeter areas. All samples will be submitted for CDFA laboratory analysis to support early detection and rapid response capabilities.

The deliverables include an early detection system for the cotton seed bug in California's commercial cotton fields and a final report documenting field sites visited by county, types and numbers of suspect insect detections, and confirmation that survey methodology efficacy was achieved through sample collection targets and quality control verification. This surveillance initiative directly supports USDA, CDFA, and the cotton industry's pest management objectives by establishing baseline distribution data and enabling swift eradication response if the pest is detected in commercial production areas.

Activities

Cdfa's integrated pest control branch has developed survey methods based off the USDA's new pest response guidelines (NPRG) for CSB, which includes: conduct cotton boll sampling in cotton plants in all cotton growing counties throughout the state of california, conduct visual inspection of cotton and okra plants in all cotton and okra growing counties throughout the state of california, the survey will take place late august through mid-october and focus on high-risk areas towards the perimeter of the fields where risk of entry from artificial spread is highest. Cdfa will survey up to 10% of commercial cotton and do a visual inspection of 100% of okra fields in all cotton and okra growing counties throughout california. Samples will be submitted for cdfa laboratory analysis. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the survey will provide information on the distribution of CSB, as well as allow the USDA, cdfa, and the cotton industry to provide an early detection system for CSB finds in commercial cotton fields in california. Efficacy of the sampling methodology is confirmed by the number of samples collected, verifying the survey met the 10% survey goal, 100% visual inspection of okra acreage, and the success of the quality control checks of the boll survey. A final report will provide a chart showing field sites visited per county and the type and number of suspect insect detections. Intended beneficiary(IES): CSB causes damage to cotton plants by feeding on the oils of the seeds which decreases seed quality and germination. Furthermore, increased economic losses occur when CSB is crushed during ginning, as they lower its quality and stain the cotton lint. California cotton was worth approximately 287 million dollars in 2021. CSB has also been reported to feed on other plants, including dodder (cuscuta campestris), and various fruits, including apricot, peaches, and grapes.subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: N/a