New World Screwworm Networked Detection, Identification, and Surveillance System | SBIR

OUSD (R&E) critical technology area(s): Applied Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, Integrated Network Systems-of-Systems, Chemical/Biological Defense, Sensors

Objective: Develop and demonstrate a real-time, networked pest detection, identification, and surveillance technology that provides actionable New World Screwworm (NWS) detection and identification accuracy, system reliability, low maintenance, and long and unattended operation.

Description: New World Screwworm (NWS or Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae infest the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. NWS is prevalent in South America and the Caribbean, and it is estimated that re-entry of NWS into the United States could cost US cattle producers $732 million per year [USDA, 2025]. Screwworm flies lay eggs in open wounds. The eggs hatch into maggots (larvae) that eat live tissue, causing a worsening, often painful and foul-smelling wounds [CDC, 2025].

Wildlife and free-ranging animals are an important pathway for New World Screwworm to spread, making surveillance beyond livestock essential [Arizona, 2026]. However, the current state-of-the-art for NWS detection and tracking being used at the US Southern Border involves three types of traps (sticky fly traps, liver-baited net traps, and gator traps), all of which require manual servicing, fly collection, and fly delivery to a laboratory [USDA, 2026a] [USDA, 2026b]. The state-of-the-art lure to attract NWS flies to a trap is Swormlure-5 [Hickner, 2023], a synthetic bait based on a mix of volatile organic and volatile sulfur compounds; however, such baits are not specific to NWS and can lure other species [Hickner, 2023]. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has deployed over 100 NWS-specific traps and lures across high-risk areas of U.S. Border States and is leveraging thousands of fruit fly/insect traps all along the Southern Border. Suspected NWS samples are forwarded for official confirmation to the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, the national reference lab responsible for screwworm diagnostics [USDA, 2026c].

Thus, a real-time, autonomous, persistent, networked NWS detection, identification, and surveillance system is necessary for accurate and timely tracking and forecasting of the movement of the New World Screwworm. Such a system must operate reliably in rugged, remote regions lacking power and communications infrastructure by leveraging on-board data processing and machine learning analysis. This can enable on-board insect identification (e.g., using low-power, localized optical, acoustic, electrical, and/or chemical sensing) and eliminate the need for manual sample collection and laboratory diagnostics. Furthermore, these devices must form resilient, low-bandwidth ad-hoc networks to transmit real-time, highly compressed detection telemetry, enabling NWS movement forecasting and biosecurity intervention even in remote and disconnected environments.

Phase I

This is a Direct to Phase II topic only: The Government expects that the small business has accomplished the following in a Phase I-type feasibility effort and developed a prototype NWS Distributed Detection System to address, at a minimum, the basic requirements of the stated objectives above. For this Direct-to-Phase II SBIR, a technical report containing Phase I Feasibility Documentation is required to demonstrate that Phase I feasibility has been met. The Phase I Feasibility Documentation must contain a detailed description of the technical plan, milestones, and data substantiating that they have designed and field-tested a functional, low-power Distributed Detection System prototype outside of the SBIR program. This feasibility report must provide empirical data verifying that the physically demonstrated sensor platforms can successfully isolate and identify target insects, while operating on strict energy budgets and seamlessly transmitting synchronized threat data across a coordinated wireless network.

Phase II

The goal of this SBIR Direct to Phase II effort is to develop and validate an effective and efficient networked NWS monitoring device. Thus, the DP2 effort will develop, integrate, validate, and demonstrate the following:

• A scalable, networked NWS detection, identification, and surveillance system suitable for areal coverage as large as national borders
• Improved NWS lure over Swormlure-5
  • Greater NWS selectivity
  • Increased lure attraction range to reduce the number of traps needed
  • Volatility consistent with a one-month maintenance interval
• Improved NWS trap design
  • No dependence on sticky coatings
  • Unattended trap/device operation, including advanced pest identification that does not require manual insect collection and laboratory analysis
  • Remote user communications with the trap/device and communications between traps/devices
• On-board detection, identification, and surveillance hardware and software
  • Single or multi-sensor design, e.g., capacitive, optical, and/or optoacoustic
  • High NWS Probability of Detection/Probability of False Alarm (Pd/Pfa) to provide for actionable decision making
  • Capability to distinguish between NWS and related species such as Cochliomyia macellaria
  • Capability to distinguish between marked sterile and non-sterile NWS
  • Remotely upgradable code
  • Enables NWS movement forecasting
  • Capability to handle multiple pests via code update
• Low maintenance
  • Battery life of a minimum of 3 months, assuming low NWS prevalence and a strong user-device and device-device network signal
  • Required maintenance (e.g., lure refreshment) interval of two weeks or longer
  • Simple, rapid maintenance procedure
• Lightweight, easily deployed, low cost
  • Approximately 15 cm x 15 cm x 15 cm, 600 g

The performer must have access to an ACL-3 test facility. The system demonstration must be conducted at TRL 6 using a prototype system in a relevant environment. DP2 will also require commercialization and transition planning along with technology development. Throughout the phase, the proposers must collaborate with commercial and government end-users to refine operational requirements and deployment scenarios of their developed solution. Manufacturing and scaling plans for production must also be developed before the end of the Phase. The final report must also include technology transfer documents outlining planned opportunities for commercial and government applications.

DP2 Base milestones for this program should include:

• Month 1: Identify the candidate sensor technologies, lure chemistries, and device physical design.
• Month 3: Initial test results for various sensor and lure combinations integrated into a device. Finalize the device sensor(s) and lure chemistry options. Develop the prototype device design and device test plan.
• Month 6: Assemble at least four prototype devices and collect initial test results for the prototype devices, individually and networked. Begin battery life and lure longevity testing.
• Month 9: Collect initial NWS Pd/Pfa results against unrelated and related insects (e.g., Cochliomyia macellaria).
• Month 12: Refine the sensor subsystem for improved NWS detection and identification. Initial networked system demonstration, including remote user-device and device-device connectivity and remotely upgradable code.

DP2 Base deliverables should include:

• Month 1: Sensor and lure candidate(s) selection and design of experiments report.
• Month 3: Sensor and lure test results report, and device design and test plan.
• Month 6: Report describing test results for individual and networked devices.
• Month 9: Report describing NWS detection and identification results against unrelated and related insects. Included updates to sensor design and lure technologies.
• Month 12: Phase II feasibility report documenting device and system design, testing and validation, performance to date, manufacturing and scaling plans, and commercialization/transition plan.

DP2 Option 1 milestones should include:

• Month 15: Design scale-up to pilot plant quantities.
• Month 18: Prototype system demonstration in a relevant environment.

DP2 Option 1 deliverables should include:

• Month 15: Report documenting pilot plant design and operations.
• Month 18: Report on field demonstration results

DP2 Option 2 milestones should include:

• Month 21: Scale-up to pilot plant quantities.
• Month 24: Final performance testing and commercialization plan

DP2 Option 2 deliverables should include:

• Month 15: Report documenting pilot plant design and operations.
• Month 18: Final report on system design and performance, and commercialization/transition plan.

Phase III dual use applications

Successful development of an NWS distributed detection and surveillance system will have significant applications in both military and commercial sectors. The most direct DoW application involves force protection disease vector control. In addition, the distributed insect detection technology may expand to non-agricultural/disease prevention applications such as insect swarm behavioral changes as a proxy for human activities. If the pest sensor/ID device can be made multifunctional in terms what it senses (e.g., movement/vibration or a chemical moiety), applications can expand farther into areas such as vehicle detection or an electronic “sniffer”. The key commercial application is agriculture protection for both crops and livestock, which also overlaps with National Security.

References

1. [USDA, 2025] US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. New World Screwworm Ready Reference Guide – Historical Economic Impact, January 2025. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/nws-historical-economic-impact.pdf
2. [CDC, 2025] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New World Screwworm, What You Need To Know, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/new-world-screwworm/media/pdfs/2025/09/NWS-What-You-Need-to-Know-cleared-508.pdf
3. [USDA, 2026a] US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Fly Trapping: A Critical Tool for Detecting New World Screwworm, June 2026. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/factsheet-nws-fly-traps.pdf
4. [USDA 2026b] US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Surveillance, July 1 2026. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/surveillance.
5. [USDA, 2026c] US Department of Agriculture, San Angelo Strike Team Uses Baited Sticky Lure Traps to Track Screwworm Activity in Texas, June 27, 2026. https://www.dvidshub.net/image/9777097/san-angelo-strike-team-uses-baited-sticky-lure-traps-track-screwworm-activity-texas.
6. [Hickner, 2023] Paul V. Hickner et al. A new formulation of screwworm fly attractant with reduced hazardous chemicals and transport restrictions, J. Med Entomol, 2023.
7. [Arizona, 2026] University of Arizona. U of A secures $3.74 million to strengthen Arizona's preparedness for New World screwworm, June 30 2026. https://news.arizona.edu/news/u-secures-374-million-strengthen-arizonas-preparedness-new-world-screwworm.

Keywords

New World Screwworm, NWS, sensor, lure, pest, identification, network, detection, surveillance, monitoring

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