Attend our training to become an invasive shothole borer monitor!
Invasive shothole borers (ISHB) are wood boring beetles that attack many native and non-native trees in Southern California. These beetles bore tunnels into trunks and branches where they grow a fungus they use as food. The fungus causes a disease called Fusarium Dieback. Trees infected with Fusarium Dieback show branch dieback, canopy loss, and may eventually die. Infested trees become sources of beetles that can spread to surrounding hosts. This pest can also spread long distances through infested green waste and firewood, affecting new areas.
How you can help: Get trained, become an ISHB Monitor, and help us gather infestation data! In previous editions of the program, we learned that trained volunteers can identify ISHB-infested trees with 96% accuracy. This high accuracy of volunteer observations allows us to include the data collected through this program directly into the ISHB statewide distribution map. Knowing where beetles have spread will assist scientists, municipalities, and many other conservation agencies plan for management. Also, detecting infestations in their early stages allow for better chances of successful management. Your participation is needed to detect infestations throughout southern California.
Training for Monitors: You can become an ISHB monitor trained by scientists from UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. California Naturalists, Project Learning Tree Educators, and Master Gardeners are especially encouraged to attend, but curious minds of all ages are welcome.
Dates:
4/19/2024 12pm-2pm. Online training - zoom.
Cost: Free.
Training Requirements:
- Registration is required.
- Attendance to online session is required.
- Attendance to one in-person session is required.
- Completion of the 1-hour free online eXtension Invasive Shothole Borer training is required.
- Monitors must create or already have a free account on iNaturalist.
- After the training, monitors must upload at least 5 observations to the UC ANR ISHB Monitoring Project on iNaturalist using the correct protocols ( UC ANR Invasive Shothole Borer Monitoring Project iNaturalist Guide ).
Note: Past participants of this program may choose not to attend the online session, but in-person session is required. Please make sure you contact us and let us know beforehand if you will not attend the online training.
AGENDA:
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Pre-training assignments: Complete 1-hour free online eXtension Invasive Shothole Borer training and make an account on iNaturalist. |
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Online session: Location: Virtual Zoom meeting. The meeting access information will be sent to registrants prior to training. 4/19/2024 12pm-2pm. Online training - zoom. Speakers will cover how this project fits into the big picture of efforts to manage emerging tree pests in California. There will be a short review of ISHB identification, look-alikes and tree species identification, and then an overview of how to use iNaturalist for this project. |
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In person training: Participants may choose which field training to attend, all sessions cover the same material. Attendance at one of the sessions is mandatory. 4/20/2024 10am-12pm. Pioneer Park, Anaheim. 4/21/2024 10am-12pm. Old Agoura Park, Agoura Hills. 4/26/2024 10am-12pm. James Huber Park, Eastvale. 4/27/2024 10am-12pm. Girsh Park, Goleta. 4/28/2024 10am-12pm. Poinsettia Park, Carlsbad. 5/4/2024 10am-12pm. Location TBA, San Jose. Speakers will review ISHB symptoms and iNaturalist collection protocols ( UC ANR Invasive Shothole Borer Monitoring Project iNaturalist Guide ), observation of infested trees and filed identification of signs and symptoms, and troubleshooting based on their experiences with the practice observation. |
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Deadline for iNaturalist observations: After the training, monitors must upload at least 5 observations to the UC ANR ISHB Monitoring Project on iNaturalist using the correct protocols ( UC ANR Invasive Shothole Borer Monitoring Project iNaturalist Guide ). 5/28/2024 end of day |
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Results: After volunteer data has been evaluated, results will be shared will all participants. See results from March 2023 ISHB monitors training. |
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Stay tuned for additional events! |
For questions about this project, please contact Hannah Vasilis.
Registration
Please register here by 4/18/2024. If you register late, you may not receive the zoom link for the online training prior to the event.
Contact
Questions or more information about the training can be directed to:
Hannah Vasilis - Statewide ISHB Survey and Trapping Coordinator
