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

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the California Department of Food and Agriculture a cooperative agreement valued at $135,000 on July 1, 2026, to implement cotton seed bug (CSB) survey operations in California under the USDA's New Pest Response Guidelines.

CDFA will conduct cotton boll sampling in up to 10% of commercial cotton acreage and visual inspection of 100% of okra acreage across all cotton and okra growing counties throughout California. Surveys will occur late August through mid-October, targeting high-risk areas at field perimeters where artificial spread risk is highest. Samples will be submitted to CDFA's laboratory for analysis. The survey will provide early detection information on CSB distribution to inform USDA, CDFA, and the cotton industry eradication response efforts. Deliverables include documentation that the 10% cotton survey goal and 100% okra visual inspection were achieved, quality control verification of the boll survey methodology, and a final report mapping field sites visited per county with sample type and count.

Period of performance runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Work is performed throughout California.

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 california department of food and agriculture (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 . Cost categories: personnel: $53,860; fringe benefits: $23,764; supplies: $ 13,399; travel: $14,290; other: $1,758 (rent for 3 months); indirect costs: 27,929