Skip Maine state header navigation

Agencies | Online Services | Help

Skip First Level Navigation | Skip All Navigation

Home > Pest Survey & Management > CAPS

Pest Survey (CAPS)

exotic pestsThe Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) is a national pest detection program funded through a cooperative agreement between the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS). The goal of the program is to provide an early warning system for pest detection and response that is critical for safeguarding our nation's agricultural and natural resources. Typical surveys target exotic and invasive pests and pests of export significance.

State cooperators (including personnel in the State Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources agencies, the University of Maine, and Cooperative Extension) and USDA personnel conduct pest surveys throughout the State of Maine.  Data collected from these surveys are organized and stored in the National Agricultural Pest Information System (NAPIS) database, which is accessible to the public and provides a wealth of information on exotic pests and pests of export significance.  

Survey activities in Maine for 2008 will focus on the following pests:

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)
European Larch Canker (Lachnellula willkommi)
Exotic Wood Boring and Bark Beetles (NAPIS)
Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)
Old World Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera)
Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden Oak Death)
Pine Shoot Beetle (Tomicus piniperda)
Siberian Silk Moth (Dendrolimus superans sibiricus)
Silver Y Moth (Autographa gamma)
Summer Fruit Tortrix Moth (Adoxophyes orana)

For information on Maine CAPS surveys conducted previously, go to the Archive website.

To read more about the national CAPS program, please visit the USDA-APHIS site.