Backyard Orchard News
Rat on Aquatic Invaders!
Who ya gonna call? If you spot a suspected aquatic invader, where you report it depends on the critter or weed. Remember to take photos with a camera or, even better, geo-tag them with a smartphone. Take a snapshot that shows just where you saw the invasive species, such as a streambed, lake or pond. Next, photograph the whole animal or plant and then add close-ups of distinctive features. For example, check mussels for “byssal” threads that attach them to surfaces and photograph...A Streak of Gray
if it's a streak of gray, you don't wash it away. You welcome it. The gray hairstreak...
A gray hairstreak foraging in sedum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee joins a gray hairsteak on a sedum blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Just Emerged: Gulf Fritillary Butterfly
Call it serendipity. Call it a prize from the sky. Frankly, it's not every day that a newly...
Newly emerged Gulf Fritillary butterfly, fresh from its chrysalis, lands on a bed of wood chips. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Gulf Fritillary starts to stir. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Gulf Fritillary drying off on a passionflower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Gulf Fritillary slightly opens its wings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
First opening of the wings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Another butterfly comes down to investigate. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
One last spread of the wings, and it's off. It's a male.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Korea Allows Methyl Bromide Fumigation for Fuller Rose Beetle this Season
I received the following update from the California Citrus Qualilty Council. This is exciting news, since Fuller rose beetle is so difficult to completely eliminate from orchards. Please note that even though Korean officials are allowing MeBr fumigation this season, they still expect to see reductions in Fuller rose beetle interceptions. In addition, since fumigation is likely only a temporary situation, growers would be wise to continue treatments for FRB this season to reduce populations for future seasons.
California Citrus Industry,
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) officials confirmed this morning that their counterpart agency in Korea agreed to an additional year of blanket fumigation for California citrus. While Korea’s Quarantine Inspection Service (QIA) agreed to provide an extension of the methyl bromide treatment in Korea, they stated that they expect to see reductions in Fuller rose beetle (FRB) interceptions and periodic updates on the progress of research on FRB mitigation measures.
This new development removes the uncertainty regarding citrus shipments to Korea for the 2013-14 season.
Additional information will be provided at the California Citrus Quality Council’s (CCQC) Korea export program preseason meeting, which will be held at the Visalia Convention Center at 9:00 a.m. on Sept. 26.
CCQC
Color Them Hungry
As summer nears its end, the honey bees are hungry. That's why Extension apiculturist Eric Mussen...
A honey bee foraging on a blanket flower, Gaillardia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee on sedum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee on a blanket flower (Gaillardia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Honey bee heading toward a tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)