Ongoing research

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UC Davis cropping systems specialist Jeff Mitchell appeared a Fresno morning ag show on KMJ 580 am radio. The radio story is archived online, about midway through the hour-long broadcast.

So you like bugs... C'mon, just a little bit? If so, you're in luck. The UC Davis Department of Entomology is featuring scores of insects from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 16 as part of the campuswide Picnic Day.

**EVENT DATE CHANGE** Event: Weed Science School 2011 Date: Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 2011 (not Sept. 6-8, 2011 and not Sept. 19-21, 2011) Location: UC Davis More information will be posted on the UC Weed Research & Information Center website (http://wric.ucdavis.edu.

It's called the "Pride of Madeira" but don't let that name fool you. True, it's the pride of the Portuguese island of Madeira, where it's endemic, but it's also the joy of Bodega Bay. "What's that purplish spiked flower that grows somewhat like a yucca or a tower of jewels?" visitors ask.

Gopher and Ground Squirrel Control in Orchard Crops Field Meeting taking place this Thursday. As you can see the meeting location has been moved to D&D Farms at 3890 Tudor Rd, Yuba City (see attached map).

There's a good reason why lady beetles, aka ladybugs, are prevalent this time of year: aphids. Ladybugs, from the family Coccinellidae, are actually beetles with voracious appetites for those soft-bodied insects that suck plant juices. Wherever there are aphids, you'll usually see ladybugs.

I visited a couple herbicide trial sites in orchards and vineyards yesterday and saw some interesting results that follow up on my post from February 21, 2011.

Some call them "soldier beetles." Some call them "leather-winged beetles." Some call them "Cantharids" (family Cantharidae). Whatever you call them, be sure to welcome them to your garden. They eat aphids, lots of aphids. Like the good soldiers they are, they're ready to do battle.