Ongoing research

Through Sustainable Conservation and the California Horticultural Invasives Prevention (Cal-HIP) committee, the PlantRight campaign was founded in 2005. PlantRight has brought together leaders from the nursery industry, environmental groups, and academics.

Come to the Central Coast Rangeland Coalition Spring Meeting on April 21 in Sunol (Bay Area, south of Pleasanton). Sign up soon! Registration will be limited to 75 people and will fill up quickly. The last day to register will be March 29. The $10 fee covers lunch.

Medical entomologists are learning more and more about Aedes aegypti, the daytime-biting mosquito that prefers human blood. The mosquito transmits the Zika virus, currently "the" hot medical topic. But it also transmits dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya viruses. Especially dengue.

As fruit gets heavier and heavier on a tree, does the tree use more water? Or is it sensitive to more water stress? It's not clear if there is a difference. We've all seen a lemon tree sigh in relief after the crops been pulled off.

If you're anywhere near an almond orchard, you've probably heard the steady buzz. That's the soothing sound of honey bees gathering food for their colony--and in the process, pollinating almonds. The buzz is to bees what a purr is to a cat.

He lives and breathes mosquitoes. He's a medical entomologist through and through.

Croftonweed (also called thoroughwort) goes by the scientific name Ageratina adenophora or Eupatorium adenophorum. It is native to Mexico and has been introduced to a number of areas around the world.

When Richard Smith tells you that he is impressed with efficacy of an organic herbicide you better take notice. Richard shared his results on this blog site last year and showed good weed control with 'Suppress' from Westbridge.

Make way for the new beekeepers! Or "beeks," as they fondly call themselves in the apiary industry. A short course on "Planning Ahead for Your First Hive" drew an enthusiastic group of prospective beekeepers last Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr.

Lygus bug (Lygus hesperus) adult (above) and young nymph (below). (Photos by Rodney Cooper, USDA-ARS and Surendra Dara) Lygus bug or the western tarnished plant bug, Lygus hesperus is a major pest of strawberries in California (Zalom et al. 2014).