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, Gypsy Moth, Light Brown Apple Moth, 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 3,429 pest detection traps were placed in Merced County and inspected a total of 33,308 times during the 2019 trapping season.
2019 Pest Detection Traps Placed & Serviced
Target Pest
Insect Hosts
Traps Placed
Servicing
Asian Citrus Pysllid
Citrus
620
7,692
European Pine Shoot Moth
Pine Trees
3
12
Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter
Nurseries/Urban Areas
392
2,828
Light Brown Apple Moth
Ornamental
288
2,699
European Grape Vine Moth
Grapes
890
12,130
Melon Fruit Fly
Vegetable Gardens
95
976
Oriental Fruit Fly
Fruit Trees
320
1,386
European Corn Borer
Corn
5
42
Gypsy Moth
Shade Trees
107
524
Japanese Beetle
Turf, Rose
100
519
Mediterranean Fruit Fly
Fruit Trees
320
1,386
Mexican Fruit Fly
Fruit Trees
169
2,501
Sweet Potato Weevil
Sweet Potatoes
120
613
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.
