Ongoing research

Most pest management professionals have served clients who swore they were being bitten by unseen pests. Perhaps the usual suspects (bed bugs, fleas, and mosquitoes) were ruled out by thorough inspection and monitoring devices.

Donald May, UC Cooperative Extension advisor emeritus, passed away on Dec. 3, 2020, in Fresno. He was 86. May, who was raised on an alfalfa and livestock farm in Utah, belonged to 4-H and FFA and showed beef, sheep and hogs at the county fair. After earning a B.S. in 1957 and M.S.

The Mediterranean oak borer (Xyleborus monographus), or MOB, is an invasive ambrosia beetle that was first collected from declining oak trees (Quercus spp.) near Calistoga (Napa County) in 2019 (Fig 1).

Here in Auburn (on December 17, 2020), we received 0.64" of rain overnight. After a late start to the rainy season (and to germination on our annual rangelands), any rain is welcome at this point.

More than 120 million people who read the Japanese language will soon be able to read a newly published book on biodemography by James R. Carey of UC Davis and Deborah A. Roach of the University of Virginia.

Fortunately, those of us in the northern part of the state have seen rain recently, quieting concerns about wildfires in our areas.

Date: Monday December 21, 2020 Location: Virtual Zoom Meeting Cost: None, Free to the public...

Dear 4-H Families, We are sending you the 4-H newsletter with a new fundraiser for our 4-H program. We have taken a break for the Holiday season but look forward to getting back to 4-H in January.

To Start: I hope this finds you safe, well and (reasonably) happy. Next: Yes, no posts here for a while . . . This is not because I was sick or without computer access. It was because I was lazy.

A healthy soils week post.