From the UC Blogosphere...

Bugs Will Rule at UC Davis Picnic Day

There's no doubt about it. Bugs will rule at the 99th annual UC Davis Picnic Day this Saturday, April...

Briggs Hall is a popular place to be on UC Davis Picnic Day. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Briggs Hall is a popular place to be on UC Davis Picnic Day. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Visitors will flock to the Bohart Museum of Entomology. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Visitors will flock to the Bohart Museum of Entomology. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Principal editor/entomologist Steve Dreistadt of UC IPM explains insects to visitors. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Principal editor/entomologist Steve Dreistadt of UC IPM explains insects to visitors. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Ranchers view UCCE test plots during spring range tour

UC Cooperative Extension range research was featured at a field day Saturday in Tehama County, reported Julie Johnson in the Corning Observer.

Josh Davy, UCCE advisor in Tehama County, reviewed test plots were 60 varieties of annual and perennial range grasses were growing. Ken Tate, UCCE specialist, and Leslie Roche, postdoctoral researcher, both in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis, gave an update on their long-term grazing research projects evaluating the effects of multiple grazing treatments. Guy Kyser, UCCE specialist in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis, talked about weeds.

Tony Turri, owner of the ranch that hosted the field day, said he has worked extensively with the UC Cooperative Extension.

"There are a lot of factors and organizations that are trying to harm the cattle industry," he said. "Events such as this are important in our ability to stay in cooperation with each other and provided education and information to keep us in business."

Medusahead, barb goatgrass and yellow starthistle were some of the weeds researchers discussed at the field day.

Targeting the Malaria Mosquito

If you're a research scientist studying the malaria mosquito, or interested in genomics, you'll want to attend a seminar on...

The malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. (Photo by Anthony Cornel)

The malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. (Photo by Anthony Cornel)

Hoop houses sprouting along Santa Barbara County roadways

The "Roadside Attractions" column in the Santa Maria Times today comments on the increasing number of hoop houses seen along Santa Barbara County highways and byways.

Hoop houses, long white tents also known as tunnels, shelter raspberries, the article said.

“There’s been a dramatic increase in berry growing in the county,” said Mark Gaskell, UC Cooperative Extension advisor for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.

Hoop houses essentially serve as mini-greenhouses. Made of plastic stretched over hoops, they control heat and humidity and shelter plants from wind.

Hoop houses help growers regulate the raspberry ripening process so the delicate fruit can reach markets at an opportune time.

Crane Flies: Slender and Long-Legged

Some folks call them "mosquito hawks" or "skeeter eaters" or "blood suckers." They're not. None of the above. Crane flies,...

Crane fly resting on a stucco wall. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Crane fly resting on a stucco wall. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

From above, the crane fly looks like all legs. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

From above, the crane fly looks like all legs. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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