E-Journal of Entomology and Biologicals

Some Santa Maria strawberry growers experienced heavy infestations of whiteflies last year and there are already reports of infestations in some fields this year.

Petals, sepals, and developing fruit damaged and darkened from freezing temperatures (Photos by Surendra Dara) Fruit deformation as a result of low temperatures which affect pollination. Smaller achenes are formed and uneven development of the tissue around them results in misshapen fruit.

Novaluron (Rimon 0.83 EC, Chemtura USA Corp, Middlebury, CT) is a popular insecticide used by the strawberry growers for managing nymphal stages of the lygus bug.

Small, but damaging pest. Female (top), male and female in copulation (middle), and mature nymph (bottom) of Bagrada bug.

It was in last January when I first wrote about the invasive pest Bagrada bug (Bagrada hilaris). It was only reported in Imperial, Riverside, and Orange Counties at that time.