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

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the State of Washington Department of Agriculture $245,658 in a cooperative agreement effective May 1, 2026, to conduct delimiting surveys for Lymantria dispar (gypsy moth) and implement early detection and eradication programs across Washington State.

The recipient will install and monitor L. dispar traps in delimiting grids around prior-season moth captures, deploy additional grids mid-season in response to detections during active moth flight, remove traps, and analyze results. Phenology modeling will guide trap deployment and removal timing to ensure monitoring extends through the end of adult flight. The work includes outreach to Washington property owners and the general population through informational door hangers placed during trap installation and pest identification cards. Quality control measures will verify trap placement and distribution follow established guidelines. The anticipated deliverable is early detection of L. dispar populations present in the state, enabling WSDA to identify introduced populations and implement rapid response plans to prevent establishment.

Performance runs through April 30, 2027, at Washington locations. The obligated budget allocates $103,805 to personnel, $30,944 to fringe, $21,975 to travel, and $500 to supplies. No sub-recipients are identified at award. The intended beneficiaries include Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), WSDA, and industry exporters.

Activities

A) 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; B) 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 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, washington state department of agriculture (WSDA), industry/exporters. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: none known. Financials: personnel = $103,805; fringe = $30,944; travel = $21,975; supplies = $500