- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
But agriculturists and scientists have.
The spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii, is an agricultural pest that is super tiny.
It's approximately 2 to 4 millimeters in length with a wingspan of 5 to 6.5 millimeters. One millimeter is approximately 0.039 inches. There are 25.4 millimeters in 1 inch. So, the adult is about the size of a grain of sand, which can measure 0.5 to 2 mm in diameter.
SWD, native to southeast Asia and first discovered in California in 2008, lays its eggs in such soft-skinned, ripening fruits as strawberries, raspberries, cherries, blueberries, peaches, nectarines, apricot and grape.
In 2008, the first year of its discovery in California, the economic loss attributed to this pest amounted to $500 million. Latest statistics from 2015 indicate a $700 million national economic loss.
Lead author of the paper, “Transcriptome Analysis of Drosophila suzukii Reveals Molecular Mechanisms Conferring Pyrethroid and Spinosad Resistance,” is Christine Tabuloc, then a doctoral candidate and now a postdoctoral researcher working under the mentorship of Professors Chiu and Zalom.
"In this work, we leveraged high throughput sequencing to identify biomarkers of insecticide resistance in D. suzukii,” Tabuloc explained. “We found that different genes are responsible for resistance to different chemicals. Specifically, we found that genes involved in metabolism are highly expressed in flies resistant to pyrethroid insecticides. We also observed evidence of two different mechanisms of resistance in 2 lines generated from a single spinosad-resistant population. We found an increased expression of metabolic genes in one line and increased expression of cuticular genes in the other.”
Tabuloc added that “our work has enabled for the detection of resistance in California populations, and we are currently doing a nationwide screening to determine whether resistance is now present in other states. Currently, we are working with the Zalom lab to use the results of our assays to try and combat resistance. There are experiments in progress trying to increase the efficacy of insecticides by blocking some of the genes involved in resistance, such that the enzymes encoded by those genes have decreased function."
A giant in the entomological world, Zalom directed the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program for 16 years. He is an Honorary Member of the Entomological Society of America (ESA), the highest ESA honor, and he served as its president in 2014.
“This work not only represents good science; it has very practical implications," Zalom said. He and Tabuloc presented results of the work at a special berry grower seminar on insecticide resistance organized by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) Farm Advisor Mark Bolda, strawberry and caneberry farm advisor in Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties, Mark Bolda in Watsonville.
"The presentations were extremely well-received," Zalom noted. "The original program was targeted for about 1.5 hours, but the meeting extended to over three hours due to the extent of questions and great discussion that followed. Growers and their consultants are hungry for new information that they find interesting and potentially useful, and this work was clearly of interest to them.”
Said Bolda: “The research was top shelf and the need, of course, is very great. Some of the information that Frank and Christine presented has been put into immediate use in the industry.”
What most people don't know is that Bolda was the first to discover the pest in North America. That was in 2008.
"He asked me to come down to look at it and the problem...we weren't able to get an actual species identification until 2009!" Zalom said.
As the pest continues to spread throughout much of the country, anxious growers are worried about its increased resistance to pesticides. The UC Davis research team is alleviating that worry.
- Author: Cindy Yee
It does feel strange not to have been back until now. I am so glad, however, that we finally vacationed in Victoria recently. Butchart is everything I remember it to be and more.
Since many say that no trip to Victoria is complete without afternoon tea, we had tea at Butchart Gardens and the Empress Hotel. They were both delightful experiences, but we agreed that Empress was “one and done”, and Butchart is the tea to repeat. The reason is founder Mrs. Jennie Butchart's lovely private garden setting and the overall wonderful day we had exploring the various gardens. Our tea was served in a Victorian atrium filled with plants and overlooking the idyllic flower-filled space.
Meet two real-life entomologists that studied bugs in school and now work with them for their job. Learn how they became interested in bugs, and the projects they work on.
You'll also learn about the common critters found around your home, and then make an insect collection. (bring all the dead bugs you can find!)
We will provide a box, pins, labels, and some bugs. Put bugs you find around your home in a jar and freeze them, then bring it to the workshop. You will take home a bug magnifier and bug net.
Where: Ag Center, Harvest Hall rooms D&E, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, 95358.
When: Saturday, October 5, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Cost: $10
Sign up: https://ucanr.edu/get/buggy/2024
Questions? (209) 525-6800, ask for Anne.
Instructors: UC Cooperative Extension Entomologists Mahesh Ghimire and Dr. Samaneh Sakaki, UC Master Gardeners Alycia Johnson-Urban, Doone Cockrell, and Tara Hoffknecht.
Questions? Call (209) 525-6800 and ask for Anne, or email her at aschellman@ucanr.edu
*never try to catch bees or wasps, as they may sting you. You can usually find them already dead, laying on the ground.
/span>If you've noticed tiny, dark insects flying around your houseplants, you likely have fungus gnats. These tiny flies can be a nuisance indoors and may also damage your plants.
Fungus gnats lay their eggs in moist soil and their larvae feed on plant roots and decaying organic matter. Because of this, the key to managing fungus gnats is to let the soil dry out in between watering and don't overwater plants. Water plants from the bottom using saucers under pots. This keeps the top of the soil dry, discouraging fungus gnats.
Sticky traps can be placed in pots or near plants to catch fungus gnat adults. This is also a great way to monitor for fungus gnats. Pesticides, including several biological pesticides like Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (Bti), are available to control fungus gnats. However, the best way to control fungus gnats is by simply adjusting watering practices.
To learn more about fungus gnats and their management, visit Pest Notes: Fungus Gnats.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources is accepting proposals to the Science-to-Practice (S2P) Grant Program through Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. Full proposals must be submitted as a single PDF by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2024. Proposals are to be emailed to Brent Hales, Associate Vice President, at bdhales@ucanr.edu and to Kathryn Stein at kathryn.stein@ucop.edu. Please see original message below for full details.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) invites proposals to the Science-to-Practice (S2P) Grant Program for new projects that integrate research and extension. The S2P program provides funding to support the formation and development of teams proposing to explore innovative methods, structures and projects that foster the translation of research into programs and outputs for dissemination and implementation.
Interdisciplinary teams of eligible participants can apply for grants up to $10,000 for one year, renewable as funding permits for up to three years. In addition, UC ANR's Research and Extension Center System will match funding levels awarded, up to $10,000 per year, to offset the cost of any research and extension conducted at one of its nine Research and Extension Centers.
The S2P program's purpose is to foster integrated research and extension teams to address pressing, complex challenges requiring multiple perspectives and modes of knowledge. The S2P supports applied research-based activities that prioritize the development of collaborative networks in the UC ANR system across research and extension faculty, specialists and/or advisors as well as engaging partners beyond, such as practitioners, decisionmakers and thought leaders in the field.
Eligibility
The team must be composed of a research leader and an extension leader, both of whom will serve as the principal investigators co-leading the project. Team leadership must meet the following criteria:
1. Research PI must be a faulty member (tenured, tenure-track or non-tenure-track) with a research appointment in one of the Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) designated campuses and have an active Hatch or USDA multistate project.
2. Extension PI must be a Cooperative Extension specialist or advisor.
Additional participants are encouraged and may be from UC ANR, from other UC-affiliated campuses or from outside the university. All funds must be used to directly support UC ANR activities and personnel. Funds cannot be used to support graduate students, employees or other persons not employed by or not enrolled in a UC ANR program.
Proposal Requirements
The full proposal will be submitted online as a PDF. The required components are outlined below with page limits and guidelines.
Proposal information:
A. Project Participants
- Designate only the research and extension principal investigators who will co-lead the project. Refer to the eligibility requirements stated above.
i. Applicant may be either research or extension lead; include the other project lead in the “Co-Applicant” field.
ii. Include the two project leads and all other team participants in the Team Roles section.
B. Summary (300 words maximum)
- Summarize the integrated project, including the primary stakeholders or clientele standing to benefit by the project, a brief statement of the goal(s) and the integrative strategy.
C. Total Research and Extension Budgets
Unified PDF must contain all the following components:
D. Title and Project Narrative (90 points)
Three pages maximum for new proposals does not include team roles, budget and justification or references.
- Research Component (20 points)
- What is the research problem, defined in the context of a field of research or discipline?
- What are the gaps in data or knowledge that make this project significant?
- What is this project's potential to impact knowledge advancement in a particular research field/discipline/area?
- Identify research-specific activities required to advance the integrative strategy outlined below, including defined research-related deliverables (e.g., publications, grant applications, etc.) and expected outcomes and impacts.
- Extension Component (20 points)
- What are the learning objectives that will deliver the science-based knowledge generated through the research component?
- What is the significant public benefit of this project?
- Who will benefit from or be affected by this project?
- Identify education-specific activities required to advance the integrative strategy outlined below, including defined extension-related deliverables and expected outcomes and impacts.
- Integrative Strategy (40 points)
- What is the strategy that combines the generation, translation, and transfer of technology and/or knowledge into practical applications or practices?
- How do the research and extension components complement one another?
- Why does this project require an integrated approach and interdisciplinary team to create societal value through research-based education relevant to identified stakeholders' needs?
- How will the identified stakeholders be engaged in the research and extension activities?
- Project Timeline (10 points)
- Outline significant benchmarks along this project's timeline that can illustrate the team's vision and trajectory during and beyond this proposal's timeframe. The benchmarks should align with the objectives described above in the research, extension and integrative strategies.
- Identify all approvals required to complete the project (e.g., IRB, IACUC, etc.) and the timeline for obtaining them.
- This may be presented as a diagram or table.
E. Team Member Roles (10 total points)
- Briefly describe the roles and expertise of the research and extension PIs.
- Include a coordination plan for integrating team members across UC ANR functions and units and university and external partners.
- List all team members with their affiliations. Describe the role and responsibilities of each member, including how the expertise of each will contribute to the research, extension or integrated activities. A balanced team representing both research and extension is important.
F. Budget and Justification
- Provide a two-column budget, dividing research and extension expenses.
- Successful projects will be awarded up to $10,000, with the funding period beginning on Jan. 1, 2025.
i. All budgets should be constructed so that up to $5,000 in expenses support research activities and up to $5,000 support extension activities.
ii. If the project's research and/or extension will be conducted at a Research and Extension Center, a budget should be developed in collaboration with the specific REC Director to ensure funding levels requested are aligned with the Center's recharge rates and do not exceed $10,000 for the funding period.
iii. Please note that submissions to this internal competition do not require the budget to be created through the UC ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OGC).
- Include a detailed budget justification, providing a brief description and explanation of need for costs associated with project activities.
- Funds used to pay part-time wage-payroll must be for activities outside of any job description currently paid for by UC ANR, or it must support work on a new activity.
i. Part-time wage-payroll must be paid through the UC ANR system (funds cannot be transferred to county systems).
5. All other project costs typically allowed by federal extramural sponsors are allowed in this program.
6. Funds cannot be used for the following:
i. Faculty salaries (including supplemental) or standing appointment salaries
ii. Travel to professional meetings
iii. Out-of-country travel
iv. Equipment purchases exceeding $5,000
v. Support of non-UC ANR personnel
7. Funds to support personnel outside the UC ANR must be obtained from other units and require a letter of commitment from the non-UC ANR unit, submitted with the proposal as a supplemental document.
8. Budgets are constructed for a maximum of one year and must be expended by Dec. 31, 2025. No carryover is allowed.
9. Funded projects can be competitively renewed up to two times, for three years of support; unexpended funds in one year will not carry over. Extensions for unexpended funds are not allowed for any projects.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated and scored on the following criteria:
- Presents a clear plan for building or supporting an interdisciplinary team
- Demonstrates the potential for effective strategies to integrate research and extension activities
- Proposes activities that help to initiate, advance and strengthen teams and projects to obtain extramural support
- Defines both research and extension deliverables and provides clear benchmarks for achieving expected outcomes and impacts
- Incorporates audiences traditionally not targeted
- Projects that demonstrate considerable opportunities to achieve the UC ANR mission and our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion are especially encouraged
- Identifies outcomes that are easily measurable and scalable
- Contributes to the knowledge base through distribution of results that benefit other efforts.
Submission and Review Process
Full proposals must be submitted as a single PDF by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2024. Proposals are to be emailed to Brent Hales, Associate Vice President, at bdhales@ucanr.edu and to Kathryn Stein at kathryn.stein@ucop.edu.
Proposals will be evaluated by a panel of reviewers established by the Associate Vice President. Applicants will be notified of decisions by mid-November 2024.
Please direct any questions regarding your proposal to Brent Hales at bdhales@ucanr.edu.
Reporting Guidelines:
The period of performance for S2P grants will begin Jan. 1, 2025, and terminate Dec. 31, 2025. Projects may be renewed for up to three years of support. Proposals for renewal can
Be submitted in the next cycle for the S2P grants. An interim report for all awarded proposals will be due on July 15, 2025. Final reports will be due Jan. 15, 2026.