The primary objective is to conduct a survey for the tomato leafminer, phthorimea absoluta and old world bollworm, H elicoverpa armigera, which are both category 1 (high impact) pests on the 2026…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services a cooperative agreement valued at $222,910 on September 15, 2026, to conduct statewide exotic pest surveys under the agency's plant health mission.

The recipient will deploy 220 pheromone traps and conduct visual surveys across 120 individual site locations throughout Florida to detect tomato leafminer (Phthorimea absoluta) and old world bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), both Category 1 high-impact pests on the 2026 Objective Prioritization of Exotic Pests model. The survey will also target false codling moth, cotton cutworm, tomato fruit borer, silver Y moth, golden twin spot moth, and potato psyllid across suitable host material including beans, tomatoes, corn, and cotton. Monitoring will continue at previously positive locations in Manatee County related to the 2015 old world bollworm incident to confirm no established population has developed.

Detection of these pests would enable potential eradication or containment efforts, prevent spread beyond Florida, increase grower awareness, and protect agricultural production across Florida and the United States. The period of performance runs from September 15, 2026, through September 14, 2027, with all work performed in Florida.

Activities

Pheromone traps will be deployed and visual surveys conducted throughout the state in suitable host material such as; beans, tomatoes, corn and cotton that target all of the pests listed in the work plan. Overall, the project will survey 120 individual site locations and deploy a total of 220 traps. In addition, the project will continue to monitor traps at the previously positive locations related to the 2015 incident in manatee county to ensure no population of old world bollworm has become established. Deliverables and expected outcomes: results from this survey will let US know if and where tuta absoluta, helicoverpa armigera and other pests of tomato occur in the U.S. Survey and potential detection of these pests would provide the following benefits: potential eradication or containment of pest; prevention of the spread out of florida; increased awareness of listed pests for growers; and protection of agricultural production and other related hosts in florida and the united states. Intended beneficiary(IES): the pests being surveyed for in this project have a wide range of agricultural crops that serve as hosts and which they can significantly damage. Therefore, much of florida's agricultural industry, and that of the nation, could be severely impacted should any of these pests become established in the US. The ability to provide for the early detection of them greatly enhances the opportunity for eradication, mitigation strategies, lower the costs of that mitigation to growers and lessen the impact on international trade. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: N/a. Cost categories: personnel: $129,557.20; fringe benefits: $51,873.40; travel: 7,718.17; supplies: $20,594.53; other: $13,166.70 (vehicle maintenance, outreach materials/printing, shipping)