- Author: Cheryl A. Wilen
Not so much on IPM this time, but more of an environmental blog today.
A few weeks ago, I was listening to NPR and during part of a radio show, the speaker was saying she made a pledge to stop using disposable plastic bags (like the kind used for groceries). She said that they can end up in the ocean and look like jellyfish to sea turtles. When a turtle eats the bag, its stomach is blocked and it ends up starving to death. I'm not going to post any photos or articles here. You can search for them yourself. However, I made a pledge to not take/use the bags starting with Earth Week. I have found the hardest part is to stop the checkers from automatically putting my purchases into a bag - they start bagging before I can tell them I can carry the one or two items out. When I bring in a shopping bag, they do see it and put my stuff in there.
- Author: Cheryl A. Wilen
Just got an email about UC Agriculture and Natural Resources having a book sale (up to 40% off!!) because they are moving to another warehouse. Prices good until 1/31/10.
One of the books on sale is
Take advantage of this rare opportunity to pick up this classic at a great price!
Released in summer 1998, the Natural Enemies Handbook endures as the most comprehensive guide to biological control agents ever made available to practitioners. Helps you identify and understand the biologies of predators, parasites, pathogens, competitors, and antagonists that help control specific insect, pathogen, nematode, or weed pests.
January Web Special: $21.00 - 40% off
See more publications at:
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/Search/Specials.aspx
- Author: Cheryl A. Wilen
Last month Roger Baldwin, Terry Salmon (vertebrate pest experts), and I (expert-in-training) held a meeting in a field in San Diego where the participants learned about gopher biology and control. They then got into action by probing for gopher tunnels and learning how to set and place traps. Roger developed a nice handout that you can view and download at: http://cesandiego.ucdavis.edu/files/74121.pdf.
- Author: Cheryl A. Wilen
Bed bugs are not the kind of souvenirs you really want to bring back. Check out your hotel at:
- Author: Cheryl A. Wilen
I am not an entomologist - I always make that clear because a lot of people have that expectation when they find out I work in IPM. Granted, I did take a considerable number of entomology classes and I have put in long hours in field work so it's not like I am completely oblivious. But I digress.
While I would rather be showing you is a cool new tool to control weeds, I recently received an email from a person in San Clemente who said there were thousands of red and black insects on twigs and the sidewalk near her home. She sent me a photo and I knew exactly what she had:Lodosiana (=Scantius) aegyptius
This insect is a new one only recently found in North America and by luck I had seen an article about it in the Orange County Register
http://greenoc.freedomblogging.com/2009/08/03/red-bug-makes-first-american-appearance-in-oc/11179/
So far there are no reports of widespread damage due to feeding on plants. They do not hurt humans.
Note the 2 black dots on either side of the body.
Then I happened to read about another similar looking insect recently found called the bagrada bug. See http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/PPD/PDF/Bagrada_hilaris.pdf or http://cisr.ucr.edu/bagrada_bug.html for details. This one has been reported to cause plant damage.
Photo by Gevork Arakelian, Senior Biologist, Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures Department.
The adults don't look too similar but the nymphs could be confusing.
If you see the spotted one, let pjbryant@uci.edu know. He is looking at the genetics of the insect. If you see the Bagrada bug in counties other than LA, Orange, Imperial, or San Diego, let your local Agricultural Commissioner know.