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Pest Detection Program
This program provides the second line of defense (behind pest exclusion) against exotic pests through the early detection of new introductions before they become widely established. This early pest detection is accomplished through visual survey and the use of detection traps. Pest detection also supports pest free status required by other states and foreign countries which receive Merced County product.
Visual survey is conducted at high risk locations in Merced County which include: orchards and apiary yards which receive bees from locations suspected of being infested with exotic weeds and Red Imported Fire Ants; roadside rights-of-way for weed infestations; roadside rest area for weed, insect and disease infestations; and crop production areas for new infestations of special concern to the State.
The Agricultural Commissioner conducts pest detection trapping throughout the County for: Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Oriental Fruit Fly, Melon Fly, Mexican Fruit Fly, Japanese Beetle, Spongy Moth, Invasive Shot Hole Borer, Sweet Potato Weevil, Khapra Beetle, Asian Citrus Psyllid, European Corn Borer, and European Pine Shoot Moth. The Agricultural Commissioner also maintains pest detection traps for Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter, which is technically considered a Pest Management program. In addition, the California Department of Food & Ag conducts pest detection trapping in the County for Cotton Pink Bollworm (considered a Pest Eradication Program). Merced County's goal is to detect harmful pests before they become established, so that eradication is biologically and economically feasible. A total of 2,041 pest detection traps were placed in Merced County and inspected a total of 28,237 times during the 2022 trapping season.
| 2022 Pest Detection Traps Placed & Serviced | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Pest | Insect Hosts | Traps Placed | Servicing |
| Asian Citrus Pysllid | Citrus | 620 | 6,595 |
| European Pine Shoot Moth | Pine Trees | 2 | 9 |
| Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter | Nurseries/Urban Areas | 991 | 3,733 |
| Invasive Shot Hole Borer | Shade Tree | 4 | 38 |
| European Grape Vine Moth | Grapes | 668 | 5,667 |
| Melon Fruit Fly | Vegetable Gardens | 109 | 1,057 |
| Oriental Fruit Fly | Fruit Trees | 305 | 4,604 |
| European Corn Borer | Corn | 5 | 71 |
| Gypsy Moth | Shade Trees | 98 | 540 |
| Japanese Beetle | Turf, Rose | 99 | 545 |
| Mediterranean Fruit Fly | Fruit Trees | 305 | 4,615 |
| Mexican Fruit Fly | Fruit Trees | 102 | 3,054 |
| Sweet Potato Weevil | Sweet Potatoes | 265 | 1,025 |
If you have found a trap in your tree and would like it removed or if you would like to offer your tree to add a trap, please call us at (209) 385-7431.