In the 2012 President's Budget Request, the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) is terminated. As a result, all resources, databases, tools, and applications within this web site will be removed on January 15, 2012. For more information, please refer to the NBII Program Termination page.
The New Pest Advisory Group (NPAG) assess exotic plant pests that are new or imminent threats to U.S. agriculture or the environment and recommends appropriate actions to the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Deputy Administrator (DA).
Detection of a new exotic plant pest or identification of a pathway for a new pest's introduction begins the process. When this happens, the NPAG assembles a panel of federal, state, and university experts that have knowledge of the pest or pest situation. The NPAG then develops recommendations through literature searches and discussions with the expert panel.
Terrestrial Invasives
Terrestrial invasive species include both plants and animals. Invasive animal species range from ants to starlings to nutria. Invasive terrestrial plants are often major drivers in ecosystem change. Once established in an area they can completely change habitat and, with it, other associated species.
The Cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum Berg.) is a widely used biological control agent of pricklypear cactus in Australia and South Africa. Cactus moth appeared in the Florida Keys in 1989, spreading as far as South Carolina and Alabama. Cactus moth quickly destroys a stand of pricklypear, and is a threat to natural biodiversity, horticulture, and forage in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
The Cactus Moth Detection and Monitoring Network, composed of volunteer monitors from public and private land management units, garden clubs and Master Gardeners to monitor the spread of the moth.
The NBII Program is administered by the Biological Informatics Program of the U.S. Geological Survey
