Archive Nut, Prune and Olive Programs

As discussed in previous issues of this newsletter, polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB; Euwallacea sp.) is a new pest/fungal complex attacking a wide variety of host trees in Southern California, from avocado to common residential and street trees and native oaks and riparian species.

Here are some evocative words about mapping from an unlikely source: in her astounding and engrossing book Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel has Thomas Cromwell say: But the trouble is, maps are always last year's.

It's obvious that Bruce Hammock doesn't spend much time in a hammock. Research lab, yes. With colleagues, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students and undergraduate students, yes.

The California Alfalfa Symposium was held last week for the first time ever in Long Beach to an audience of approximately 450 attendees. As usual, there was a wide range of alfalfa production, marketing and policy-related presentations.

When you use the words "insects," "art" and the "Bohart Museum of Entomology" in the same sentence, you immediately think of the artistic/scientific team of Fran Keller and Greg Kareofelas. And you'll meet them and see their amazing work at the Bohart Museum of Entomology's open house from 1 to 4 p.

The Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, in conjunction with Stephen F. Austin State University, will soon launch a new scholarly journal titled Journal of Geospatial Applications in Natural Resources.

It was great to see the Entomological Society of America (ESA) select "neonicotinoids" as a student debate topic for its recent meeting in Portland, Ore. Bee health is a challenge, and this hot topic tied in with ESA President Frank Zalom's theme "Grand Challenges Beyond the Horizons.

Save the date! Richvale: Tuesday, Jan 20, 8:30 to 12:00. Evangelical Church, 5219 Church St., Richvale Glenn: Tuesday, Jan 20, 1:00 to 4:30. Glenn Pheasant Hall, 1522 Highway 45, south of Glenn Colusa: Friday, Jan 23, 8:30 to 12:00. CIP Conference Room, 100 Sunrise Blvd.

If you should ask Extension apiculturist (emeritus) Eric Mussen of the University of California, Davis, whether he believes that neonicotinoids are the primary cause of colony collapse disorder (CCD), he will say answer you fair and square: "No, they're not the primary cause of CCD.

Two's company. Three's a crowd? Not necessarily. Sometimes we wish it were half a dozen.