APHIS Cooperators: Confirming New Pests in the U.S. Environment

Last Modified: May 27, 2025

Do you work with APHIS on pest surveys or similar activities? Have you identified a plant pest that could harm U.S. agriculture? We need to confirm it.

APHIS is the U.S. authority for plant health. If you think you've identified a regulated plant pest in the United States, we need to confirm a preliminary pest identification before:

  • The U.S. Government can respond to the detection.
  • The ID can be entered as a new State or county record in the National Agricultural Pest Information System or other federally recognized databases.

Early detection and rapid response are critical to keep pests from spreading. Timely official confirmation is an important part of this. Follow the steps below to request APHIS confirmation of a preliminary pest identification.

Requesting Official Confirmation of a Preliminary Pest Identification

These instructions are for Federal agencies, State and local offices, universities, and other cooperators who made a preliminary pest identification during a pest survey or other APHIS-regulated activity. The public should report plant pests to their State Plant Health Director.