Backyard Orchard News
Dragonflies! Who Isn't Fascinated by Dragonflies?
Dragonflies! Who isn't fascinated by dragonflies? They're an ancient insect. Their ancestors...
Dragonfly expert Rosser Garrison (far right) leads a discussion. From left are Bohart associate Greg Kareofelas; Bob Stahmer of Stockton, a UC Davis alumnus; and UC Davis entomology graduate student Ziad Khouri, who studies with Bohart director/UC Davis professor Lynn Kimsey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
UC Davis entomology graduate student Ziad Khouri admiring Rosser Garrison's dragonfly display. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A close-up of the world's largest dragonflies and some of the world's smallest dragonflies, part of the Rosser Garrison collection. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
n front (from left) are Andrew Rehn of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife; Kathy Claypole Biggs of Sebastopol and McCloud, author of dragonfly books; Sandra Hunt-von Arb, senior biologist at the Pacific Northwestern Biological Resources, McKinleyville, Calif. who leads dragonfly workshops in Northern California. In back are Rosser Garrison, California Department of Food and Agriculture; and Greg Kareofelas, Bohart Museum associate. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Broken Wing
Broken Wing belongs here. And that's a good thing, because he won't live long. A male monarch...
Monarch butterfly showing signs of a predator encounter. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Broken-winged monarch sips nectar from a butterfly bush. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
James R. Carey: Highest Honor for Teaching
The University of California, Davis, prides itself on teaching, research and public service. A few...
James R. Carey, who joined the UC Davis faculty in 1980, is the recipient of the Entomological Society of America's 2015 Distinguished Distinguished Achievement in Teaching Award. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
From an Egg to a Caterpillar to a Chrysalis to a Monarch
Have you ever seen a monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) lay an egg on her host plant, the...
A monarch laying an egg on her host plant, milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Close-up of a cream-colored monarch egg. Note the oleander or milkweed aphid next to it. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A very tiny caterpillar but it's big enough to start eating holes in the leaves. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A fifth-instar monarch caterpillar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The jade green chrysalid. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Voila! A monarch butterfly has just eclosed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A monarch sipping nectar from a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
New Reference Booklet Available for Pesticide Applicators
Understanding Pesticide Labels for Making Proper Applications
The UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM) put together a 26-page card set in English and Spanish on understanding pesticide labels. Intended for pesticide handlers, applicators, safety trainers, and pest control advisers (PCAs), the cards explain when to read the label, describe what kind of information can be found in each section of a pesticide label, and point out specific instruction areas so that applicators can apply pesticides safely and avoid illegal pesticide residues.
Traces of pesticide residue are normal and even expected after pesticides are applied to food crops, but by the time produce is ready to be sold, purchased, and consumed, residues are usually far below the legal limit.
In its latest report from 2013, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) reported that there was little or no detectable pesticide residue in 97.8% of all California-grown produce. This demonstrates a strong pesticide regulation program and pesticide applicators that apply pesticides safely and legally. However, there have been instances in California where a pesticide not registered for a specific crop has been used unintentionally, resulting in illegal residues and eventually crop loss and destruction.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets tolerances for the maximum amount of pesticide residue that can legally be allowed to remain on or in food.
DPR regularly monitors domestic and imported produce for pesticide residues and is considered the most extensive state residue-monitoring program in the nation.
The primary way pesticide applicators can assure that they make proper applications and avoid illegal pesticide residues is to follow the pesticide label. UC IPM's new card set was developed from information in the upcoming third edition of The Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides as well as Lisa Blecker, UC IPM's Pesticide Safety Education Program coordinator. Bound with a spiral coil, this eye-catching instructional card set was designed for both English-speakers and when flipped over, for Spanish-speaking audiences as well. UC IPM also plans to release a new online course on preventing illegal pesticide residues sometime late fall.
To download copies of the card set in English or in Spanish, see the UC IPM web site.