Armed Forces Pest Management Board

Spotted lanternfly season has begun in Massachusetts a full month earlier than last year, with experts pointing to sustained heat as the driver. This invasive damages grapevines, hops, fruit trees, and hardwoods, and is now confirmed in 19 states plus DC.

https://www.westernmassnews.com/2026/05/20/spotted-lanternfly-season-begins-again-mass-heres-what-look-out/

MaineHealth's Vector-Borne Disease Lab is leading multiple 2026 studies on ticks and the pathogens they carry, including a five-year NIH-funded post-treatment Lyme disease study with Tufts University aimed at identifying biomarkers for persistent symptoms

https://www.mainehealth.org/news/2026/05/mainehealth-vector-borne-disease-lab-showcases-research-tick-borne-illness

USDA has confirmed two new cases of New World screwworm in Texas (a calf and a dog). As we continue response efforts, including sterile fly releases and strict movement controls, we urge all personnel to remain vigilant.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-confirms-two-additional-cases-new-world-screwworm-united-states

Texas confirmed its first human West Nile virus case of 2026 in a Harris County resident diagnosed with neuroinvasive disease, the most serious form. Health officials urge eliminating standing water and using repellent as mosquito season ramps up.

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/dshs-confirms-first-west-nile-case-texas-2026

Tick submissions to SUNY Upstate's testing lab increased 145% between 2024 and 2025, with experts predicting an early and heavy tick season. Over 1 in 3 ticks tested carry disease. A reminder to check yourself and your gear after outdoor activity.

Upstate tick expert predicts early, heavy tick season expected in Central New York | Upstate News | SUNY Upstate A big jump in ticks sent to Upstate’s lab—and the unusual rise of lone star, dog ticks—signals expanding risks for residents across the Northeast

Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management (IPPM) is vital for biodiversity, but implementation remains difficult. For military entomologists, this highlights the gap between conservation and mission-critical vector control.

Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management: Why a Good Idea Still Struggles in Practice IPPM offers solutions to manage pests while protecting pollinators, but it remains more of a guiding principle than an operational framework.

📢 Hiring: Research Entomologist
Join the USDA-ARS in Kerrville, TX! Focus on high-priority research for New World screwworm, ticks, and biting flies affecting livestock and wildlife.

📍 Kerrville, TX
💰 $89K - $192K
📅 Closes June 10, 2026

Apply here: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/868235100/preview -duties

USDA has applied to register NovoFly, a genetically engineered biopesticide targeting New World screwworm, for use in a wide-area sterile insect program to prevent the pest from spreading northward from Mexico into the U.S. Comments due April 27.

Pesticide Product Registration; Emergency Exemption Request and Application for a New Active Ingredient This document announces the Agency's receipt of and solicits comment on an application from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to register a new pesticide product containing an unregistered pesticide, NovoFly male- only genetically engineered (GE) New World screwworm (NWS) in...

The FY26 Tick-Borne Disease Research Program is funding innovative research to prevent, detect, and resolve Lyme disease and other tick-borne conditions for service members, veterans, their families, and the public.

https://cdmrp.health.mil/tbdrp/default

USDA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers broke ground on a new sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base, TX, advancing domestic Sterile Insect Technique capacity against New World Screwworm. Target: 100M flies/week by Nov 2027, scaling to 300M/week.

USDA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Break Ground on New Texas Sterile Fly Production Facility Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.