Backyard Orchard News
Spiders and Spiders, Oh, My!
Odds are that Justin Timberlake won't be there. Neither will J. K. Rowling, author of the wildly...
A jumping spider ready to jump. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The eyes have it. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Perfect Camouflage
What a perfect camouflage! Have you ever seen a green praying mantis hiding among the green growth...
Camouflaged praying mantis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Exposed! Praying mantis peering around green stems. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Fuller Rose Beetle Management in the San Joaquin Valley
At a recent meeting in Exeter, I discussed the Fuller rose beetle management plan for 2014. Research from 2013 demonstrated that two insecticide treatments per season were better than one. These treatments could be ground treatments or foliar. The ground treatment helps to keep emerging beetles from climbing the trunks and the foliar treatment kills them if they do reach the foliage. If two treatments are planned, early August and early October are the best time periods for the San Joaquin Valley. Choice of insecticide depends on application target and concerns about MRLs. Remember that skirt pruning in June and weed control are essential components of the Fuller rose beetle program. Korea may allow blanket fumigation or fumigation of infested loads with Methyl Bromide this year, but they are counting on California growers to apply in-field treatments to lower FRB populations. Methyl Bromide is not likely to be allowed in future years. Treating blocks several years in a row with foliar and/or ground treatments will help to bring the populations down to very low levels.
UC IPM guidelines for Fuller rose beetle
Stems
Just one word--stems. Bees forage on the lavender in our bee yard, but sometimes you'll see them...
A longhorned bee, Melissodes agilis, awakens on a lavender stem. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee warming herself on a lavender stem. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Passion for a Passion Butterfly
"Wow! Oh, wow!" That's what people usually say when they encounter dozens of reddish-orange...
A newly emerged Gulf Fritillary. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bohart Museum volunteer Greg Kareofelas cradles the newly emerged Gulf Frit. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Newly emerged Gulf Frit flashing its wings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A suitor (left) arrives on the scene. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Two's company, three's a crowd? (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)