This program is designed to proactively detect pests before they have a chance to establish and cause significant damage. Insect traps are placed throughout the county to catch exotic pests of interest. Early detection and eradication of harmful pests protects California's agricultural industry, home gardens, park and natural resources, and reduces the need for pesticides.

Traps can be found near or on host plants that are attractive to the insect, including a variety of fruit trees, shade trees, and shrubs. About half of our traps are placed on commercial properties such as vineyards, while the other half are placed on residential properties with the permission of the homeowner. A single confirmed pest find will trigger trap delimitation; substantially increasing trap density around the area and may include visual survey of property for these pests. Further finds may trigger pest eradication efforts.

Traps are serviced on weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly intervals. The Melon Fly and Oriental Fruit Fly traps contain a small amount of pesticide, similar to how a flea collar works - The trap will only affect the target insect pests drawn to the lure.

For general questions about traps or pests, please contact the Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899.

If you have a trap on your property and have questions or concerns about the trap placed on your property, please call our department at 1-707-234-6830; please tell us your trap reference number when you call.

European Grapevine Moth

Mendocino County was removed from the European Grapevine Moth (EGVM) quarantine back in 2012, with the last finding back in 2010, but continues to work toward preventing this pest from becoming established in our county. Its larvae are destructive feeders of the interir of grapes. A red delta trap is baited with a female sex pheromone to attract male EGVM. Traps are painly placed on or near grapevines in vineyards.

Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter

Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (GWSS), Homolodisca vitripennis, is an insect pest that can transmit a bacterium, Xylella fastidiosa, that infects grapevines with Pierce's disease, threatening vineyards and the wine industry. A yellow panel trap's bright color acts as a flower mimic. Pests that land on this trap become stuck in sticky glue. Brochure

Fruit Flies

Exotic fruit flies of the genera Bactrocera and Ceratitis pose a threat to agricultural commodities as well as home gardens. Their larval stages cause destruction in over 400 host plants. Their flies primarily enter the state through human transport and activity, so please, Don't Pack a Pest.

Our trapping teams utilize jackson traps, a type of delta trap, that have female sex pheromones for specific fruit flies, including Mediterranean (MedFly), Melon, and Oriental Fruit Fly; Ceratitis capitata, Bactrocera cucurbitae, Bactrocera dorsalis, respectively.

Japanese Beetle

 Japanese Beetles, Popillia japonica, are highly destructive with larvae that feed on turf grass, while adult beetles are generalist feeders on over 300 plant species including flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Traps are placed on turf nearby roses or other flowers, and contain a female sex pheromone and a floral scented wafer to lure adults.

Spongy Moth (Gypsy Moth)

European and Asian Gypsy Moth (EGM & AGM), Lymantria sp., larvae can feed on over 500 host plants, but they are particularly notorius for their destructive hardwood tree defoliation in forests, which could affect the timber industry. In March 2022, the Entomological Society of America (ESA) announced a new common name for European gypsy moth. It is now called the European spongy moth (ESM) due to the insect's distinctive spongy-textured egg masses. Spongy moth delta traps are baited with a female sex pheromone to attract males towards the sticky glue on the trap. They are often placed in areas with frequent travelers such as campgrounds and RV parks, and major thoroughfares.