Backyard Orchard News
Becoming a Beekeeper
"How do I get started in beekeeping?" This is the time of year when scores of prospective...
This photo of beekeeper Billy Synk, manager and staff research associate of the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at UC Davis, appears on the cover of the February edition of the American Bee Journal. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Black Thrips Common in Citrus this Year
A number of Tulare County PCAs have observed a very dark thrips infesting the calyx and areas of the rind where fruit touch in mandarins this year. Samples were collected and identified by Dr. Mark Hoddle (Dept of Entomology, UC Riverside) as western flower thrips. We don't normally consider this thrips a pest of the rind of citrus. However, in some cases, a circular scarring was associated with the thrips feeding on the rind of the fruit. It is likely this is a rare event, precipitated by freeze and drought conditions. Should growers treat for this thrips? This decision has to be made based on each individual situation. The thrips have likely already done the damage and will be difficult to control with insecticides because they are tucked away. In addition, they will readily move to flowers when they become available.
Western Flower Thrips
Circular rind damage in mandarins
Near Infrared Technology for Freeze Damage Detection
Experiments by Mary Lu Arpaia (University of California Riverside) and David Obenland (USDA-ARS...
David Obenland, Jamie Nemecek, Mary Lu Arpaia evaluate fruit
Freeze damage to a navel orange 6 weeks after the freeze event
Learning About the Pollinators
If you want to learn more about pollinators and sustainable gardening, then you should circle March...
Honey bee foraging on flowering quince. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Power of Red
There's a heartfelt reason why Friday, Feb. 7 is "UC Davis Wears Red Day." It's about...
A syrphid fly, aka flower fly or hover fly, sipping nectar from a tower of jewels. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A lady beetle, aka lady bug, is a "lady in red." (Photo by Kathy Keatley)
A flameskimmer dragonfly, Libellula saturata, rests on a stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A flesh fly, family Sarcophagidae, grooming itself.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Honey bee with red pollen from a nearby rock puslane. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)