Resource Search

ARS researchers are building a “new foundation for biology,” by sequencing, cataloging, and characterizing the genomes of all of Earth’s living organisms. The ARS component of the initiative is focused on the Ag100Pest Initiative, a program that is producing genome assemblies for over 170 arthropod pests of greatest agricultural concern in the U.S.

Arthropod pests of U.S. field crops, livestock, bees, trees, rangeland and stored products as well as foreign pest species considered potential invasive threats to U.S. agriculture are included. Beyond genomes, Ag100Pest teams will develop best practices that will benefit the entire arthropod genomics community.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists have already intercepted a dozen significant and potentially destructive pests this year at various ports of entry in Florida as part of the agency's all-encompassing efforts to safeguard American agriculture.

Unknown pests pose a significant risk in agriculture due to a lack of knowledge in controlling the pests and the extent of damage they can cause to crops. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entomologists recently classified eight pests discovered by CBP agriculture specialists in Florida as first-in-the-nation interceptions and another pest as a new species.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists throughout the United States are busy inspecting cut flower shipments ahead of Valentine’s Day in order to protect the nation from agricultural and floral pest risks.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations discovered 90 giant African land snails in a traveler’s luggage at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on June 30, 2024. The passenger had arrived from Ghana. The snails were seized and were “humanely euthanized,” the CBP says. The release says euthanizing the snails was necessary “to ensure they did not enter the ecosystem and cause havoc to U.S. agriculture.” 

A recent moth interception by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is now considered to be the first encounter of the species since 1912.

Agriculture specialists play a vital role at our nation’s ports of entry by preventing the introduction of harmful exotic plant pests and foreign animal diseases into the United States. Learn more about how CBP agriculture specialists work in Protecting Agriculture.

Center staff design and publish comprehensive mobile applications that engage users with invasive species, forest health, natural resource and agricultural management. Previous apps were designed for specific areas of the U.S. Two new apps are available for reporting invasive species throughout the U.S.:

• EDDMapS app  - the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System app will allow invasive species reports to be submitted from a smartphone while outdoors. Anyone can report an invasive species sighting, submit photos, provide sighting details, and document a negative survey. In addition to its reporting function, the app contains information on the top invasive species including common names, scientific names, general descriptions, habitats, and reference photos to aid with identification.
• EDDMapS Pro app - designed for professionals; includes the ability to download offline map data if users are going to be in areas where internet coverage may not be available.

The CIB is an inter-institutional Centre of Excellence established in 2004 within the DSI-NRF Centres of Excellence Programme. Its members undertake research on the biodiversity consequences of biological invasions, largely through post-graduate student training. The principal aims of the Centre’s work are to reduce the rates and impacts of biological invasions by furthering scientific understanding and predictive capability, and by developing research capacity.

The Centre for Invasive Species Solution is a national collaborative research, development and extension organisation, formed to tackle the ongoing threat from invasive species. Initially focusing on vertebrate pest threats.