http://ucanr.edu/blogs/strawberries-vegetables/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed Information on production and pest management practices for strawberries and vegetables en-us UC ANR http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rss/ Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:58:21 PST Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:58:21 PST UC ANR Cabbage aphids-Two live aphids in the foreground and those killed by B. bassiana in the background. (Photo by Surendra Dara)Green peach aphid (Photo by Jack Kelly Clark)Western flower thrips adult. (Photo by Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM) The cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) on broccoli and the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) on lettuce are important pests which require regular insecticidal treatments. Thrips feeding causes scarring on lettuce. They also transmit viral...
]]> Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:41:10 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9629&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9629 My research in the past few years demonstrates the potential of the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana in managing various arthropod pests on broccoli, lettuce, and strawberries. Substituting, combining, or rotating this friendly fungus with chemical pesticides can be a good choice for sustainable pest management. However, several fungicides are routinely applied for managing diseases such as powdery mildew and botrytis fruit rot in strawberries and other diseases in vegetable crops....
]]> Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:21:57 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9626&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9626 This is a report based on an elementary school Science Fair project to understand the feeding behavior and host preference of the Bagrada bug. Bagrada bug adults and nymphs feeding on a green bean. (Photo by Surendra Dara) We all know that Bagrada bugs prefer cruciferous hosts and can feed on a variety of other hosts. A small study was conducted to compare the preference of Bagrada bug adults and nymphs for five host plants from Brassicaceae, Fabaceae and Solanaceae families. Ornamental,...
]]> Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:04:36 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9611&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9611 Strawberry is the 6th most important agriculture commodity in California, contributing to 88% of the fresh market and 94% of the processed strawberries produced in the US (USDA-NASS, 2012). According to the Pesticide Action Network database, 9.3 million pounds of pesticides were used in 2009 in California for controlling pests, diseases, and weeds (www.pestinfo.org). Arthropod pests such as lygus bug, thrips, twospotted spider mite, and whitefly are among the important targets that require a...
]]> Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:54:04 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9595&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9595 Bagrada bug has an interesting scientific name - Bagrada hilaris. This bug is native to Africa and the genus probably represents the ancient Bagradas River in North Africa. Species name ‘hilaris’ means cheerful, merry or joyful in Latin. Although such feelings are not associated with this pest considering its damage to cole crops in agricultural fields and home gardens, it probably refers to the pretty color pattern of the insect. As the spring season approaches, yellow patches...
]]> Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:43:45 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9531&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9531 “Integrated pest management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. Pesticides are used only after monitoring indicates they are needed according to established guidelines, and treatments are made with the goal of removing only the target organism. Pest control materials are...
]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:03:02 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9366&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9366
]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:05:31 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9232&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9232 Some Santa Maria strawberry growers experienced heavy infestations of whiteflies last year and there are already reports of infestations in some fields this year. Greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum has been a common strawberry pest in California for the past few years occasionally reaching high infestation levels that require targeted treatments. It used to be a concern mainly in the Oxnard area. Presence of the cut-back strawberries for second year production aid prolonged...
]]> Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:33:02 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9167&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9167 Petals, sepals, and developing fruit damaged and darkened from freezing temperatures (Photos by Surendra Dara) Fruit deformation as a result of low temperatures which affect pollination. Smaller achenes are formed and uneven development of the tissue around them results in misshapen fruit. Notice larger achenes in unaffected areas (Photo by Surendra Dara) Unusual cold weather during the past few days is a concern for the strawberry growers. Second year crop and cultivars that produce...
]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 08:50:33 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9092&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9092
]]> Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:44:49 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=8893&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=8893 Small, but damaging pest. Female (top), male and female in copulation (middle), and mature nymph (bottom) of Bagrada bug. Photo by Surendra Dara In the third week of September, nearly two weeks after they were first reported in Santa Barbara County, Bagrada bugs were found in the Arroyo Grande area in San Luis Obispo County. Organic growers are especially worried due to limited management options. Conventional growers are also concerned at the sudden appearance of overwhelming numbers of...
]]> Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:49:54 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=8438&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=8438 Bagrada bugs on peppers (Photo by Brendan Kreute, PCA in Ventura Co) It was in last January when I first wrote about the invasive pest Bagrada bug (Bagrada hilaris). It was only reported in Imperial, Riverside, and Orange Counties at that time. In the past two months or so, I have received several phone calls and emails from various places outside Santa Barbara County about Bagrada bug infestations in the home gardens and fields on arugula, broccoli, kale, Monterey pine, mustard, peppers,...
]]> Fri, 07 Sep 2012 12:37:38 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=8282&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=8282 Spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii has become a potential concern for strawberries following its damage to cherries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries in coastal California. Other species of Drosophila are morphologically not equipped to attack ripening strawberries. Their ovipositors or egg laying parts are not strong enough to penetrate unripe or ripening berries. They may damage overripe strawberries left on the crop, but since such berries are not marketed, they...
]]> Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:54:27 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=8227&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=8227 False chinch bug (Nysius sp.) infestation on strawberries (Photo by Sal Ponce, Pacific Coast Produce. False chinch bugs migrated to new strawberry field (above) from dried weeds in an old strawberry field (Photo by Surendra Dara) There was an isolated incident of heavy infestation in a Santa Maria strawberry field with false chinch bug, Nysius sp. (very likely N. raphanus). False chinch bug is normally not a pest of strawberries or cultivated crops. They usually multiply on herbaceous...
]]> Fri, 25 May 2012 14:06:49 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7578&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7578 The combination of 1,3 dichloropropene (1,3-D)and cholorpicrin is a popular choice for fumigating strawberry fields after methyl bromide.  It is very effective and convenient to administer through the drip irrigation system.  However, 1,3-D can result in phytotoxicity if transplanting takes place before the fumigant completely dissipates. Phytotoxicity from 1,3-D Symptoms of phytotoxicity from 1,3-D include yellowing of leaves purple coloration and stunted plant growth.  Newly emerged leaves...
]]> Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:53:36 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6857&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6857 Strawberry plants suffering from salt toxicity.  Symptoms include brown and brittle leaf margins (above, photo by Albert Ulrich, UC) and stunted plant growth (below, photo by Stuart Styles, CalPoly).  Strawberries are among the crops that are very sensitive to salinity.  Lack of rains earlier during this season has caused some concern about the impact of salinity on young strawberry plants.  However, with the recent rains the total amount of precipitation in Santa Maria area for January, 2012...
]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:51:43 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6820&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6820 Light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana) male (above, from California Agriculture 2008, vol 62: 57-61) and female (below, photo by Jack Kelly Clark). Light brown apple moth (LBAM), Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) was recently found in Santa Barbara County for the sixth time.  LBAM is a quarantine pest on the United States mainland and can cause serious damage to various crops, nurseries, fruit trees, landscapes, and native plants.Origin and distribution: It is an invasive pest native of...
]]> Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:31:19 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6454&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6454 Two species of dipteran larva (maggots) were found feeding on strawberry fruits in the Santa Maria area recently.  Last year, there was a minor issue of fungus gnat larvae and another species (probably Delia sp.) damaging young strawberry plants, but the recent observations are isolated incidents of damage to the fruit.  Specimens brought to the Santa Barbara Ag Commissioner’s office were identified by the county entomologist, Dr. Brian Cabrera.Strawberries from a greenhouse in the Santa Maria...
]]> Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:31:38 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6397&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6397 Spotted snake millipede infestation on zucchini (Photo by: Surendra Dara) Phylum: ArthropodaSubphylum: AtelocerataClass: DiplopodaOrder: JulidaFamily: BlaniulidaeScientific name: Blaniulus guttulatus (Bosc, 1792)The snake like slender body and brownish or pinkish spots on the lateral sides give them the name spotted snake millipede (SSM).  SSM are soil inhabitants that feed on decaying plant material.  When disturbed, they curl into a coil.Biology: They are about 15 mm long and have...
]]> Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:55:02 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6341&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6341 Life stages of the European pepper moth, Duponchelia fovealis. Eggs (top left, photo credit: Lance Osborne, University of Florida), larva (top middle, photo credit: Bryan Vander Mey, UCCE), pupa in an opened cocoon (top right, photo credit: James Hayden, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry) and adult male (left) and female (right) moths (bottom, photo credit: James Hayden) European pepper moth (EPM), Duponchelia fovealis Zeller is an invasive...
]]> Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:47:10 PST http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=5848&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed skdara@ucdavis.edu(Surendra Dara) http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=5848