California's Most Wanted Insect Pest

The Department operates Entomology and Plant Pathology Laboratories, which seek to protect consumers by identifying exotic insects (and other invertebrates), invasive weeds and plant pathogens entering Los Angeles County through truck, ship, airfreight, and parcel delivery operations. The laboratories provide rapid and accurate identifications to support the Pest Detection and Pest Exclusion programs and offer identification and information services for Los Angeles County residents, schools, governmental agencies, growers, nursery and pest control operators. Overall, the laboratories process over 8,000 pest specimens submitted annually.

If you would like to submit samples for identification or analysis, please use the following forms:

1. Insect and other invertebrate specimen submission form
2. Plant disease diagnosis/Plant & mushroom specimen submission form

Requests for pest identification are accepted for specimens originating in Los Angeles County only.

Visit our website for pest information at acwm.lacounty.gov/scripts/pestpdf.htm