Provide support for diagnostics development, specimen screening and identification, and diagnostics certification at the science and technology pest identification technology laboratory

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded Colorado State University a $398,297 cooperative agreement on September 1, 2026, for diagnostics development, specimen screening and identification, and diagnostics certification at the Science and Technology Pest Identification Technology Laboratory through August 31, 2027.

Work centers on molecular screening of bulk trap samples to prevent the spread of Old World Bollworm from the current infestation around Chicago O'Hare International Airport. As of the end of the 2025 growing season, the laboratory processed more than 150,000 specimens, averaging 30,000 specimens per year, and identified 32 as Old World Bollworm. Screening will continue in fiscal year 2026 across samples from Chicago, field surveys in surrounding states, and port environs surveys nationwide. The agreement also funds continued surveillance and characterization of pesticide resistance genes that have moved from invasive Old World Bollworm into native corn earworm, which have spread through the corn earworm population at prevalence rates ranging from approximately 30 percent to over 70 percent depending on local pesticide exposure. Yellow-legged hornet eradication efforts in South Carolina and Georgia receive support, alongside nationwide surveillance for Tropilaelaps parasitic mites. Scientists will provide diagnostic support for specimens intercepted at ports of entry and develop a diagnostics certification program for partner laboratories to use molecular methods. Work is performed in Fort Collins, Colorado.

This will improve plant protection and QU arantine's ability to identify intercepted insect specimens at ports, react to new threats from invasive agricultural pests, and aid in the responses to old world bollworm, yellow-legged hornet, and new world screwworm. Activities to be performed: this agreement will allow for continued molecular screening of bulk trap samples to prevent the spread of old world bollworm from the current infestation around chicago o'hare international airport. As of the end of the 2025 growing season, the lab processed more than 150,000 specimens, averaging 30,000 specimens per year, and identified 32 as old world bollworm. This work will continue in fiscal year 2026 to screen samples from chicago, field surveys in surrounding states, and port environs surveys around the country. Pesticide resistance genes have moved from invasive old world bollworm into native corn earworm causing crop failures around the country. This agreement will allow for continued surveillance and characterization of the gene which has spread rapidly through the corn earworm population ranging from around 30 percent prevalence to over 70 percent prevalence depending on the pesticide exposure of local populations. Threats to honey BEE colonies from invasive pests have the potential to devastate BEE-pollinated agricultural products valued at $2 0 billion. This agreement will provide support for yellow-legged hornet eradication efforts in south carolina and georgia as well as for nationwide surveillance for tropilaelaps parasitic mites. Scientists at the pest identification technology laboratory will also provide diagnostic support for specimens intercepted at ports of entry, develop a diagnostics certification program for partner labs to use molecular diagnostics, and implement artificial intelligence methods to study whole genomic data sets for invasive pest species. Deliverables and expected outcomes: molecular screening of approximately 40,000 specimens from old world bollworm surveys at chicago o'hare, field crops in surrounding states, and other port environs for the presence of old world bollworm. Molecular screening of 15,000 specimens of corn earworm for the presence of introgressed pesticide resistance genes including detailed analysis of up to 1,500 specimens positive for the gene to determine allele that is present. Molecular confirmations of hornets captured during the yellow-legged hornet response and molecular analysis of nest materials, food pellets, and prey samples to determine the impact and spread of this invasive species and directly support eradication efforts. Screen 500-1000 honey BEE hive samples from around the U.S. For the presence of tropilaelaps parasitic mites. Continue a pilot program for certifying molecular labs to use molecular diagnostic methods for insect pests and certify 3-5 partner molecular laboratories on molecular diagnostic methods. Molecular identification of plant pests from domestic surveys or intercepted at U.S. Ports of entry, as requested by NIS or preliminary ID. Results from AI analyses applied to questions regarding invasive insect genome evolution and predicting invasion biology. Provide molecular diagnostic support to USDA veterinary services for the new world screwworm program. Intended beneficiary(IES): this work will directly support the cooperative agricultural pest survey program, plant protection and quarantine pest detection surveys, plant protection act section 7721 surveys, and the agricultural quarantine inspection program.