- Author: Sandipa Gautam
A professional development workshop on 'Predatory Mites in Agriculture' was organized at the Kearney Agricultural Research Center on September 11, 2024. This workshop was facilitated by Area Citrus IPM Advisor Sandipa Gautam. UC experts Beth Grafton-Cardwell, IPM Entomologist (UCR, Emeritus), and David Haviland (Entomology Advisor, Kern County) taught the class of 25 participants skills necessary for identifying predatory mite species commonly found in California's agricultural systems.
Highlights of the workshop were presentations by Beth Grafton-Cardwell on common species of phytoseiids found in different California-grown crops and four categories of these mites according to their food source. David Haviland covered the higher taxonomy of mites and demonstrated the use of mite collecting gear and how to collect and observe mites under the dissecting scope. After a lunch break, the class was guided through identification of three key species and then challenged to identify an unknown species. Group discussion revealed that this type of workshop activity helped students learn valuable information about predatory mites. We thank Dr. Beth Grafton-Cardwell for taking the time from retirement to teach this class and for sharing her wealth of experience. Her dedication to entomology and California growers is paramount to the success of UC Cooperative Extension over the years. Tremendous gratitude is also extended to David Haviland for his thorough presentations and to his wife for handling hospitality. Recognition is given to Ping Gu and Lauren Vuicich for their outstanding assistance in planning and coordination and to Patrick West and his team at KARE for helping with the setup. Lastly, appreciation is extended to the students for their interest and engagement in learning about predatory mites.
- 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.