The Pest Detection Management team would like to announce the selection of the 2015 CAPS Recognition awards. The following individuals were nominated by their peers and supervisors, and are recognized for their exemplary activities and achievements above and beyond their normal duties in support of the CAPS Program.
‘State Survey Coordinator,North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,Nominated by Phil Wilson’,
‘summary’ => ‘In an effort to reduce costs and increase efficiency in the states survey programs, Jarred undertook the responsibility of coordinating the implementation of new survey technologies in the North Carolina CAPS program. Jarred and his CAPS surveyors successfully demonstrated that the use of iPads and the PDF Maps© application freed surveyors from traditional pad, pencil, and postage in favor of a more efficient means to record and conduct surveys. The CAPS program in North Carolina now has the ability to place traps in every county of the state without carrying a single paper map. Information collected on these devices is tailored to fit each individual survey. Trapping records can be shared between surveyors so overlap can be avoided allowing a more thorough survey profile. General information gathered includes a time and date stamp, commodity surveyed, as well as type of trap set and pest being targeted. Every time a trap is set or a survey site completed, a pin is placed on a georeferenced county map, thereby giving a visual representation as well. All of this information is then sent by email to Jarred for data assimilation. Record accuracy has increased and near real-time data can be transmitted to Jarred the same day that work is completed. Use of this technology has not only simplified the survey process but has also saved time and money, and has freed resources for other endeavors. Jarred also utilized this technology and developed electronic fillable forms for maintaining mileage logs and time sheets. In addition to working closely with CAPS surveyors, Jarred also worked within the Division to help other managers become more efficient with using these electronic forms. The additions that the North Carolina CAPS program has adopted through the use of this technology has made not only that program, but others within the Division, more efficient during a period when program managers are expected to do more with less. The successful implementation of these technologies leaves the days of erroneous calculations, incomplete paper forms, and illegible handwriting behind, and welcomes a new, more efficient way of conducting business. ‘
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‘Domestic Identifier,USDA-APHIS-PPQ,Nominated by Joel Floyd’,
‘summary’=> “Julieta is recognized for her work to prepare and successfully identify the first detection of Helicoverpa armigera, the Old world bollworm, in the United States. This has been one of the top CAPS target pests for many years due to its wide host range, large migrating populations and the damaged caused in many parts of the world. Julieta began helping the CAPS program to prepare for surveys for this pest by developing a Helicoverpa armigera screening aid in 2009 that included field and diagnostic aids. In that same year, with input from Steven Passoa and Mike Pogue, she wrote very detailed instructions to separate H. zea from H. armigera which give, step-by-step, the method for dissecting, clearing, and identify adult H. armigera moths from traps to distinguish from H. zea, the corn earworm. This common widespread US pest is attracted to the same pheromone lure as H. armigera and fills up survey traps. Over the years, Julieta processed many H. armigera survey samples from several states performing the dissections. She also trained individuals in other states on doing the dissections. It is not practical to dissect every moth in samples that have sometimes hundreds of individuals, so in collaboration with other taxonomists, she developed a graduated sampling scheme to be more efficient. In 2014, Puerto Rico had begun H. armigera surveys. Beginning in February through May, she processed 70 samples from Puerto Rico, with anywhere between 1 and 500 moths in a sample, all negative for H. armigera to that point. When APHIS had unofficial indications that H. armigera may be in the Dominican Republic, she began to examine 100% of the sample for those sent that summer. On September 8, 2014, Julieta correctly identified an H. armigera adult from a trap sample taken in August at a bean field in San German, Puerto Rico. She notified PPQ Domestic Diagnostic Coordinator, sent it to the USDA-ARS Systematic Entomology Laboratory where the Noctuidae specialist agreed, and it was finally confirmed with molecular sequencing on September 26th. Since that time, Julieta developed and delivered a comprehensive training program for 3 identifiers and 10 technicians in San Juan, Puerto Rico to process delimitation survey trap samples on the island. This has resulted in efficient processing of trap samples and additional positive confirmations during the delimitation, many from new areas and from various crops in Puerto Rico. She continues to be engaged with a follow-up visit for more training there as well as a quality control check for the identification aspect of the program. More training is planned for cooperators hosted by the University of Florida, which Julieta will deliver.”
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The CAPS Recognition Award consists of a certificate and a Pest Detection silver coin (highly prized and somewhat rare). Jarred and Julieta will be publically recognized and the awards presented during the National CAPS Meeting in December 2015.
The National Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program wishes to recognize outstanding activities and achievements by members of the CAPS community, including State Survey Coordinators, Pest Survey Specialists, State Plant Regulatory Officials, State Plant Health Directors, and other individuals and groups. These individuals or groups (which may include additional cooperators) shall be nominated for work done in support of Pest Detection activities, accomplished in the previous calendar year.
Next year at this time we will be announcing CAPS Recognition awardees for activities and achievements accomplished during 2015. Be aware of the work and distinctions that set your SPHD, SPRO, PSS, SSC, or other individuals and groups apart from the rest, and nominate them for CAPS Recognition next year. More detail appears in the CAPS Recognition Nomination Form and in the National Pest Surveillance Guidelines. The next call for nominations will go out in January 2016.