Monterey

At first glance, they looked like dead leaves hanging on an Eucalyptus tree in the Natural Bridges State Park, Santa Cruz. From 75 to 80 feet below, they bore no resemblance to monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), the most familiar butterfly in all of North America.

Westward, ho! The western migration of the Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) to their overwintering sites along the California coast is underway.

Female (top), male and female in copulation (middle) and a mature nymph (bottom) of Bagrada bug on a dime. (Photo by Surendra Dara) Bagrada bug (Bagrada hilaris) is an invasive pest that was first reported in California in 2008 in Los Angeles County.

Bagrada bug [Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister)] is an invasive hemipteran insect (Family: Pentatomidae) that was first reported in Los Angeles County, California in 2008. It has now spread to several counties in California and is moving northwards.

Just when you thought we knew all the devastating pests of avocado, along comes another one, this showing up in the Piru area of Ventura County - bagrada bug. The infestation is in huge numbers covering the stems and leaves of the tree, leaving fecal droppings on the backsides of leaves.

Bee food. That's what the globe artichoke is. Bee food. Many of us let our artichokes flower, not because we don't like the vegetable, but because we like bees better.

Bee scientists, beekeepers and bee photographers so love their bees that they can't get enough of them.

University of California Cooperative Extension Intra Row Weeding Machine Demonstration Wednesday, July 23, 2014 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. USDA East Alisal Research Station 1636 East Alisal Road (follow signs) The area of mechanical weed control is developing rapidly in Europe.

I thought I'd make a quick post today to share links to several recent articles in the trade publication "CAPCA Advisor". This magazine is targeted towards Pest Control Advisors (CAPCA = California Association of Pest Control Advisors) and is published every two months.

Field Day Announcement: Strawberry field day to demonstrate research on fumigants and herbicides June 12, 2014 9 am to 11:00 am Karen Stahlman, Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner's Office Steve Koike, UC Cooperative Extension, Monterey County Husein Ajwa and Steve Fennimore, University of Cal...