- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Invasive yellow starthistle aims to take over the world
Sacramento Bee, Sam McManis
Reporter Sam McManis likened yellow starthistle to an overexposed Hollywood star, presenting the bulk of the story as a mock interview with the invasive weed. An editor's note said the article was based on interviews with Joseph M. DiTomaso of the Weed Science Program at UC Davis and Wendy West, coordinator of the yellow starthistle
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Media reports now have residents around the state on the lookout for brown widow spiders, which will help a UC Riverside scientist who is trying to track its rapidly expanding range.
"Wanted dead or alive," announced an article in the Redding Record Searchlight. Reporter Laura Christman tempered the ominous lead with a succinct quote from UC Riverside staff research associate Rick Vetter, "Chill."
"It's nothing to be overly concerned about. I'm more interested from an academic standpoint," Vetter told the reporter.
A native of Africa, brown widows were established in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Brown widow spiders are beginning to displace the more dangerous black widows in some parts of California, according to a story in the Riverside Press-Enterprise.
The brown widow spider, a native of South Africa, made its first American home in Florida. It became established in Southern California in the early 2000s and its range continues to expand. As of 2009, the spider was known in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties, but as of 2010, it has shown up in Santa Barbara and Sacramento counties.
"They're very prolific," said Rick Vetter, a UC...
