- Author: Shimat Villanassery Joseph
- Author: Mark Bolda
The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, is an invasive species native to China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. It was first discovered in the United States in 1990s in or near Allentown, PA and distribution of H. halys has grown steadily. Now, it has been reported in 40 states, and the District of Columbia. BMSB is a key pest in tree fruit in the mid-Atlantic region; however, damage from BMSB has also been reported on vegetables, row crops (sweet corn and soybean), ornamentals, and small fruits (caneberry and strawberry) and grapes. Most importantly, BMSBis a serious nuisance because large numbers of adults seek out man-made structures for overwintering.
BMSB adult lays eggs in masses and typically an egg mass consists of ~28 eggs (Fig. 1). There are five immature stages (Fig, 2). In general, adult females are bigger in size than males. Identification of BMSB is not difficult. It has few unique features, which separate it from other native stink bug species in northern central coast of California. BMSB (both adult and nymphs) has two white bands on both antennae on the head and a white band on all the legs as well (Fig 3). These features separates BMSB from native stink bugs, for example, the consperse stink bug (Fig. 4).
In 2013, we monitored BMSB from May to October using the BMSB-pheromone (#10 pheromone), a lure [an aggregation pheromone, methyl (2E,4E,6Z)-decatrienoate of the brown-winged green bug, Plautia stali], and half of a dichlorvos-impregnated kill strip (to retain bugs) in a ground-deployed green-pyramid trap (Fig. 5). Six green-pyramid traps were deployed near caneberry, strawberry and apple orchards in Watsonville, Salinas, and Hollister areas. The lure used in these traps has reported cross attractancy to stink bug species including BMSB. BMSB-pheromone was replaced once in four weeks whereas, lure and kill strip were replaced every two week interval. Traps were serviced every week for stink bug captures. Traps captured few adults of native stink bugs such as consperse stink bug and banasa stink bug early in the season but no BMSB was captured.
Recently, we have intercepted BMSB multiple times from warehouses and automobiles from Santa Cruz and Salinas Valley. Overwintering adults have a unique behavior. In fall, adults seek structures, which are tight, dry and dark including packing or plant materials, pallets, crates (Fig. 6) stored in trailer-trucks parked in the areas that have natural populations of BMSB. They hitchhike and expand their distribution as these trucks move to new territories. BMSBs typically remain in the overwintering structures until the following spring as temperature increases.
BMSB is polyphagous - meaning it feeds on several plant hosts. In mid-Atlantic region, BMSB adults emerging from the overwintering sites find food from natural vegetation in the woody areas. As food become scarce in the woody areas, they move into orchards, row crops or vegetables and this movement could happen on daily basis causing economic damage. Santa Cruz has riparian areas and BMSB could easily find food to survive and establish if introduced multiple times. However, Salinas Valley is pretty much composed of irrigated fields. Thus, it is uncertain how quickly BMSB would establish in our area.
At this point, it is critical that we monitor BMSB in our area and potentially delay its establishment using management tools. We are not sure what impact BMSB would have on small fruits, strawberry, or vegetable production in the central coast areas. Also, please let me know once you find one. You could reach me (Shimat Joseph) or Mark (Mark Bolda by email (svjoseph@ucdavis.edu or mpbolda@ucdavis.edu) or phone (831-759-7359).
For further reading, please find the attached UC IPM pest alert and summary of BMSB research in its native range in Asia.
Acknowledgments
We appreciate the technical assistance provided by Research Assistant, Monise Sheehan, for technical assistance. We also thank the growers for providing space to deploy the traps in their orchards for the research and Tracy Leskey for providing the BMSB pheromone (#10-pheromone) for this project.
- Author: Larry J Bettiga
The wait for the Third Edition of Grape Pest Management is over. The new edition of this popular resource, first published in 1981, consolidates knowledge of the biology and management of pests that affect California wine, raisin, and table grape vineyards, in one comprehensive, highly readable source. Grape production in California had a farm gate value of $4.4 billion in 2012. Because grape pests affect both the quantity and the quality of grapes, the goal of grape pest management is to minimize economic losses through pest management practices.
At nearly 650 pages, the third edition of Grape Pest Management was written to help growers and pest control advisors apply the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is an integrated pest-management approach that combines methods that work better together than when applied separately; thus it remains the most effective, long-term strategy for managing pests. Grape Pest Management can assist growers in implementing the best possible management practices.
|
Publishing Stats: Title: Grape Pest Management Third Edition Chapters: Nine Sections Photographs: 766; Illustrations: 49 Bug Boxes: 45 Pages: 623 Format: Soft cover Price: $100 Available online at: anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu |
 |
- Author: Lisa Blecker
- Author: Maria Alfaro
By law, fieldworkers and pesticide handlers must be trained in basic pesticide safety and personal protection, but who trains their trainers? Pesticide Safety Education Coordinator Lisa Blecker will be giving Train the Trainer workshops in 2014 in various locations around the state. The purpose of these workshops is to teach and certify individuals to provide pesticide safety training to fieldworkers and pesticide handlers. Participants learn pesticide basics, laws and regulations that pertain to worker safety, required elements they must include in a pesticide safety training, and effective teaching methods for adult learners. During the course of the workshops, participants might find themselves selecting and wearing appropriate PPE for a given pesticide application or working in a group to demonstrate to other classmates the safe way to open pesticide containers. Past participants say they like the format and find the group discussions and activities effective for learning how to best provide safety training to others.
In 2014, trainings will be held in the following locations: Modesto, Woodland, Salinas and Bakersfield. Registration for the 2014 trainings opened on December 9, 2013. For details about the dates, locations, and languages offered (Spanish or English), visit the UC Statewide IPM Events and Workshops page.
- Author: Tunyalee Martin
UC IPM’s new Pest Alert helps you identify Bagrada bug, an invasive stink bug spreading through western Arizona and southern California causing severe crop, nursery, and landscape losses. In agriculture, Bagrada bug is a pest of cole crops and other mustard family plants. In home gardens it feeds on these same vegetables and on ornamental plants such as sweet alyssum and candytuft.
Bagrada bugs use their needlelike mouthparts to pierce and feed on plants and their seeds. Damage includes leaf spotting, wilting, stunting, multiple branches or crowns, and death of the whole plant.
The Pest Alert was produced by UCCE advisors Eric Natwick and Surendra Dara, John Palumbo from the University of Arizona, and the UC IPM team.
Preliminary agricultural management information is also available.
- Author: Shimat Villanassery Joseph
Citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella, is yet another invasive insect recently found attacking lemon trees in Salinas. It was first detected in Imperial County in 2000. As per 2012 Monterey County crop report, lemon acreage is 1,239 with the total value of $15.2 million. This miner larva makes serpentine mines (as it leaves frass) on the citrus leaves (photo 1) and prefers young foliage. As the name suggests, it mostly attacks citrus such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, limes, grapefruit, kumquat and calamondin. Mature larva (Photo 2) moves close to the edge of the leaves, folds the leaf margin (Photo 3) and pupates (Photo 4). Adults are short lived (2 weeks maximum). Upon emergence from pupae, female attracts male by emitting sex pheromone, mates and lays eggs on the underside, midvein of the young leaves.
Damage from citrus leafminer is not considered serious. Mature trees have plenty of foliage to cope with substantial levels of infestation but severe infestation on young trees may retard growth. Chemical management for citrus leafminer is not often necessary because naturally occurring biological control agents such as parasitic wasps suppress leafminer infestation. Pheromone traps are commercially available to monitor their populations.
Further reading:
For garden and landscape folks: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74137.html
For commercial citrus growers: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r107303211.html
