California Ag Network

Category: Pest/Disease Management

  • Propane Council To Unveil Innovative Soil Steam Weeding at World Ag Expo

    The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is excited to introduce the first propane-powered soil steam unit for commercial use at the 2025 World Ag Expo February 11-13 in Tulare, CA. At the Western Propane Gas Association Booth (West Street WS20 and WS22), attendees can learn about propane’s pivitol role as a clean, reliable, and cost-effective energy source in agriculture production.

    In addition to viewing a variety of propane-powered equipment, including irrigation engines, a mower, generator, and more, PERC will be hosting a press conference at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11 to present the new propane-powered soil steamer. This groundbreaking new technology is designed to eliminate weeds and nematodes without the need for pesticides or herbicides—offering growers an eco-friendly solution to critical farming challenges.

    “Propane is already an excellent choice for modern agriculture—naturally reducing emissions without compromising efficiency—but this new technology is really a game-changer when it comes to organic and more sustainable food production,” said Michael Newland, director of agriculture business development at PERC. “With this soil steam unit, growers can maintain the optimal crop production necessary to have a successful operation, while also satisfying consumer and regulatory demands for lower emissions and reduced chemical reliance. It’s a win-win situation for both farmers and consumers.”

    This innovation is ideal for California’s high-value crops, including strawberries, carrots, lettuce, and cabbage. Using shallow steaming, the soil steamer applies steam to the top 1-2 inches of soil—the critical zone for weed seed germination—to ensure energy efficiency while achieving optimal results. Studies show that steam treatment can increase lettuce yields by 25% in areas affected by lettuce drop.

    The use of propane for soil steaming also offers growers a more reliable, low-emission energy source that is critical in California’s continuous growing season, without the risk of sudden power interruptions. Increasing demand on the electric grid system and system failures are no issue when it comes to the anytime, anywhere energy access available with propane.

    Stop by the Western Propane Gas Association booths (WS20, WS22) at World Ag Expo or visit www.Propane.com/SoilSteamer/. To explore propane’s benefits for agriculture and see how this innovative technology is shaping the future of sustainable farming overall, visit www.Propane.com/Agriculture.

    About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programs and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry. For more information, visit Propane.com.

  • Defending Against Marek’s Disease with Genetics and Epigenetics

    Poultry is the world’s most consumed meat. This popular food choice is also squarely in the crosshairs of Marek’s disease, a foe with a mortality rate that is typically 10-50% in unvaccinated chickens, but can reach as high 90% in some breeds.

    As the second largest exporter of chicken (behind Brazil), U.S. poultry production is big business. According to the National Chicken Council, in 2022 the U.S. poultry industry accounted for more than 1.5 million jobs, nearly $95 billion in wages, and $417 billion in economic activity. The disease, however, takes a tremendous bite out of those numbers – estimated worldwide economic losses from Marek’s disease exceed $2 billion due to poultry meat condemnation, reduced egg production, and vaccination cost.

    Currently, poultry producers depend primarily on vaccines to keep their birds safe, but researchers with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are working to develop a long-term control strategy that relies on a better understanding of disease resistance through host genetics and epigenetics (how behaviors and environment can change the way genes work).

    According to Huanmin Zhang, an animal geneticist with the ARS Endemic Poultry Viral Diseases Research unit in Athens, GA, “that fundamental understanding could guide us to develop more potent vaccines for better disease control.”

    Chicks atop a picture of a genetic map of a chicken. The chicken genome will make it easier to locate genes, especially those for complex traits like disease resistance. (Photo by Peggy Greb)

    Marek’s disease is a highly contagious viral disease that causes tumors in chickens and is caused by a version of the herpes virus. Its clinical signs vary from bird to bird, but commonly include premature death, paralysis of the legs, wings, and/or neck, weight loss, loss of appetite, reduced vision, irregular pupils, and tumors in various tissues. The disease is spread among bird populations through both direct and indirect contact. Direct contact includes bird-to-bird aerosols and secretions, while indirect contact involves contaminated material, such as poultry dust and dander from shed Marek’s disease-concentrated feather follicles.

    The disease is not contagious to humans.

    “The genomics group is [working] to identify genetic and epigenetic factors that modulate genetic resistance to Marek’s disease and to advance the fundamental understanding of how those factors interact with the viral infection process and vaccination process,” Zhang said. “An understanding of the underlying mechanisms will help researchers develop more efficient strategies to establish disease resistance in lines of chickens through selection and breeding. Much more potent vaccines could also be designed to protect all lines of chickens, instead of just some.”

    One of the project’s accomplishments was developing a pangenome of the domestic chicken, in collaboration with research partners at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. A pangenome is the entire set of genes from all chicken breeds that descended from a common ancestor. Information from the pangenome can show researchers where the DNA sequences from different breeds are identical or different.

    “The pangenome paves the way to discover what effects genetic variants have and make breeding for disease resistance more readily possible in chickens,” Zhang explained.

    Reaching the goal of containing , controlling, or mitigating the Marek’s disease depends on the work of the world research community and advances in biotechnology. Zhang noted that advances in understanding and controlling the disease have been greater during the last two decades than the previous 50 years. – By Scott Elliott, USDA-ARS Office of Communications

  • Four Vacancies on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee

    CDFA is announcing four vacancies on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee. The Committee advises the CDFA secretary on activities associated with the statewide citrus pest and disease work plan that includes outreach and education programs and programs for surveying, detecting, analyzing, and treating pests and diseases specific to citrus.

    The Committee member vacancies are for two grower representatives in Fresno County (one term expiring September 30, 2027 and the other term expiring September 30, 2028); one grower representative in Tulare County with a term expiring September 30, 2028; and one nursery representative with a term expiring September 30, 2027. Applicants should have an interest in agriculture and citrus pest and disease prevention.

    Members receive no compensation but are entitled to necessary travel expenses in accordance with the rules of the California Department of Human Resources.

    Individuals interested in a committee appointment should submit a resume/CV by January 1, 2025 to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, Attention: David Gutierrez.

    For more information contact: David Gutierrez, Interim Director, Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division at 916-274-6300 or email (David.Gutierrez@cdfa.ca.gov).

  • California Association of Pest Control Advisers Celebrates 50th Conference

    The California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA) recently gathered for their 50th annual conference. Bringing together a bright group pest control advisors tasked with protecting the most diverse agricultural landscape in the nation, watch this special video presentation highlighting what CAPCA is all about and what it means to be a member of this organization as they celebrate this milestone year.

  • DPR Launches CalPEST to Modernize and Streamline Pesticide Registration Process

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has launched a highly anticipated, modernized, online system to streamline the department’s pesticide registration process.

    The California Pesticide Electronic Submission Tracking (CalPEST) system will reduce the time associated with the processing of registration actions, improve transparency into DPR’s evaluation and registration process, and facilitate approval of safer alternatives needed to transition California to more-sustainable pest management.

    Specifically, CalPEST will improve the department’s registration process by:

    • Increasing internal efficiency by allowing for the simultaneous review of data submitted with an application by multiple scientific programs to evaluate ecotoxicology, chemistry, microbiology, plant physiology, pest and disease protection, human health risks, surface water, groundwater and air quality risks, and risks to worker health and safety.
    • Improving registration transparency and communication with pesticide registrants by providing a central location for real-time status updates and improvements to the type of information on timelines for the department’s scientific evaluation and application processing

    Streamlining the state’s registration process is identified as a priority action in the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap. The roadmap, which was developed by a cross-sector, diverse work group and was released by DPR in January 2023, includes a series of recommended interconnected actions to achieve the goal of replacing high-risk priority pesticide uses with sustainable pest management practices.

    Improving and streamlining DPR’s pesticide registration and evaluation programs will facilitate and accelerate the availability of lower-risk products, practices and technologies to reduce the use of high-risk pesticides.

    “The launch of CalPEST is a historic milestone for DPR in our work to modernize and streamline our registration process and increase transparency into how we evaluate and register pesticides before they can be used or sold in California,” said DPR Director Julie Henderson, adding that the system reflects the department’s core values of accountability and continuous improvement.

    Additional functionality and support for CalPEST is planned for implementation in spring 2025.

    For more information on CalPEST, see DPR’s website.

    About Pesticide Registration

    All pesticides must be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) for use anywhere in the U.S. U.S. EPA evaluates every pesticide product to ensure it won’t harm human health or the environment. Approved products available for sale are labeled with instructions for safe use.  In California, DPR also evaluates pesticide products before registering them for sale or use in California to ensure the instructions and precautions on the label protect human health and the environment with a focus on California-specific uses. DPR can reject a product or approve it with more restrictive conditions than U.S. EPA.

    More information: 1-2-3 steps How California registers pesticides

    Who We Are

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation protects human health and the environment by fostering safer and sustainable pest management practices and operating a robust regulatory system to monitor and manage the sale and use of pesticides across the state. DPR’s work includes registering all pesticides sold or used in California, conducting scientific evaluation of pesticides to assess and mitigate potential harm to human health or the environment, investing in innovative research to encourage the development and adoption of integrated pest management tools and practices, monitoring for pesticides in the air and water, conducting outreach to ensure pesticide workers, farmworkers and local communities have access to safety information, and enforcing pesticide regulations in coordination with 55 County Agricultural Commissioners and their 500 field inspectors.

  • Phellinus Wood Rot, or “Why do my Prune Trees Blow up at Harvest?”

    California’s prune industry faces a significant challenge: a decline in orchard lifespan. Average productive life has shrunk from an estimated 30 years in 1998 to just 20 years as of 2022 (UC Cost and Return Studies). Heat stress, repeated mechanical damage, and disease are likely contributing factors. A primary disease culprit associated with premature orchard decline is the loss of fruit-producing scaffolds likely caused by the heart rot fungus Phellinus pomaceus (formerly called P. tuberculosus).

    Phellinus pomaceus specifically targets Prunus spp., unlike most wood decay fungi which have a broader host range. This fungus is common in natural forests of Europe and Asia. It invades the heartwood, causing white rot that weakens branches. In California prune trees, this results in broken branches that reduce fruit production. Additionally, weakened trees become more susceptible to other stressors, ultimately shortening orchard lifespan.

    Prune growers should be aware of the signs of Phellinus pomaceus infection. Look for shelf-like fruiting bodies (conks) on trunks or branches (see photos) – these are the fungus’ reproductive structures and indicate established infection. Additionally, broken or pruned branches with exposed white rot decay (also pictured) can indicate the disease. Growers often discover this internal heart rot in major scaffolds leading up to and during harvest, when branches that appear healthy snap under the weight of fruit or during shaking– aka “blowing up.”

    Our research in investigating Phellinus pomaceus and developing management strategies is supported by funding from the California Prune Board. We are focused on investigating several key areas:

    Distribution of the fungus, its impacts, and management choices: We are surveying prune orchards to assess the prevalence and severity of infection statewide and investigating potential links between disease occurrence and factors like pruning practices, irrigation types, spray applications of dormant oils, the presence of other pathogens, and local weather conditions. Surveys in mature prune orchards reveal a high prevalence of Phellinus pomaceus infection levels in the Sacramento Valley compared to historical studies, with all surveyed contemporary orchards over 14 years showing signs of the infection. Conversely, extremely limited infection has been observed so far in the San Joaquin Valley. Weather stations have been installed in 10 orchards from Red Bluff to Madera since Fall 2023 and provide specific in-orchard conditions that may be related to the progression of the disease.

    Additionally, we are collaborating with researchers in France and South America to see if Phellinus pomaceus is a problem in other major prune-producing regions. Surveys in Chilean prune orchards are planned for September 2024 with additional funding from UC Davis Chile Life Sciences Institute.

    Potential Control Methods: Since there is currently no known chemical control for Phellinus pomaceus, we are exploring bio-control alternatives. Two trials are underway to investigate the potential of Trichoderma spp. (a beneficial fungus used as a bio-control product in other crops, one trade name is Vintec®), to protect pruning wounds from Phellinus pomaceusinfection. The first trial is a multi-year project (started in 2020) wherein orchard blocks have been sprayed with Trichodermaproducts annually and disease progress is being monitored. Due to the slow progression of this disease, results will not be clear for many more years. The second trial is direct application on fruiting bodies to observe any effects on growth and spore production. After a single season in this trial, unfortunately Phellinus appears unhampered in its life cycle – though these results are still pending. A third trial is upcoming and will consist of targeted pre-inoculation of fresh pruning wounds with different combinations of Phellinus pomaceus spores and Trichoderma bio-controls and re-sampling a short time later to observe disease progression in the presence of these alternative spray applications.

    Spore Dispersal and infection routes: Understanding the life cycle of fungal pathogens is crucial for disease prevention, though current literature is lacking in relevant studies on Phellinus pomaceus. We are working to understand how the disease colonizes and spreads in California prune orchards. Recent dissection of infected trees indicates the primary route of infection is through pruning wounds, which are colonized by airborne spores released by the fungus during specific windows.

    We are monitoring airborne fungal spores in orchards throughout the year to identify these peak periods of Phellinus pomaceusspore dispersal. This information can help growers time pruning activities to minimize infection risk. Initial results show peak spore production in late January to early April, depending on the region. These data currently support orchard managers to avoid pruning during this time, when chances of infection are likely highest. More official data will be coming in the next year.

    Fruiting body of Phellinus pomaceus. Characteristic association with pruning wounds shown in A, B, D, E. Scale bars 10 cm (4 inches).

    We will continue to share our findings and develop management recommendations for growers. Stay tuned for future updates on the completion of orchard surveys and the impacts of orchard management practices, the results of Trichoderma spp. trials, and how our growing understanding of the life cycle of Phellinus can improve management of the disease. We are grateful to the California Prune Board for generously funding this important research.

    Please reach out to Laurel Hoffman, PhD Graduate Student in the lab of Dr. David Rizzo of the UC Davis Dept. of Plant Pathology if you have concerns or questions about this research at Hoffman@ucdavis.edu. — By Laurel Hoffman, UC Davis Dept. of Plant Pathology PhD Graduate Student, Rizzo Lab

  • UC Davis Researchers Target Spotted-Wing Drosophila and its Threat Against California Berries

    Back in 2010, the UC Davis entomology labs of integrated pest management specialist Frank Zalom and molecular geneticist and physiologist Joanna Chiu  joined forces to target the spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), a serious threat to berry production in California.

    Drosophila suzukii, native to southeast Asia and first discovered in California in 2008, lays its eggs in such soft-skinned, ripening fruits as strawberries, raspberries, cherries, blueberries, peaches, nectarines, apricot and grape.

    It packs a powerful economic impact. The first year of its discovery in California, the economic loss amounted to $500 million. Latest statistics from 2015 indicate a $700 million national economic loss.

    The Zalom lab discovered the first SWD field populations with insecticide resistance in 2017. As the pest continues to spread throughout much of the country, anxious growers are worried about its increased resistance to pesticides.

    The team’s newly published research in Scientific Reports is the first to characterize the molecular mechanisms of insecticide resistance in D. suzukii and provide insights into how current management practices can be optimized.

    Lead author of the paper, “Transcriptome Analysis of Drosophila suzukii Reveals Molecular Mechanisms Conferring Pyrethroid and Spinosad Resistance,” is Christine Tabuloc, then a doctoral candidate and now a postdoctoral researcher working under the mentorship of Professors Chiu and Zalom.

    “In this work, we leveraged high throughput sequencing to identify biomarkers of insecticide resistance in D. suzukii,” Tabuloc explained. “We found that different genes are responsible for resistance to different chemicals. Specifically, we found that genes involved in metabolism are highly expressed in flies resistant to pyrethroid insecticides. We also observed evidence of two different mechanisms of resistance in 2 lines generated from a single spinosad-resistant population. We found an increased expression of metabolic genes in one line and increased expression of cuticular genes in the other.”

    “Therefore, we developed a diagnostic panel using these biomarker genes to differentiate between pyrethroid resistance and spinosad resistance,” Tabuloc related. “Not only can our assay now inform whether there is resistance, it can tell us which chemical the population is resistant to and how severe the resistance is. Additionally, this method is faster, enables for the testing of more populations, and is more comprehensive as compared to bioassays, the conventional way of testing for resistance.”

    Tabuloc added that “our work has enabled for the detection of resistance in California populations, and we are currently doing a nationwide screening to determine whether resistance is now present in other states. Currently, we are working with the Zalom lab to use the results of our assays to try and combat resistance. There are experiments in progress trying to increase the efficacy of insecticides by blocking some of the genes involved in resistance, such that the enzymes encoded by those genes have decreased function.”

    Zalom, a UC Davis distinguished professor emeritus who directed the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program for 16 years, said he has been “working on spotted-wing drosophila with Dr. Chiu and her lab members since she joined the UC Davis faculty in 2010, and it has been an absolute pleasure.”

    Zalom, a past president of the 7000-member Entomological Society of America (ESA) and an elected Honorary Member, ESA’s highest honor, praised Chiu, a 2019-2024 Chancellor’s Fellow professor and now chair of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, as “one of the most collaborative researchers who I have ever worked with. When our lab found the first SWD field populations with insecticide resistance in 2017, it seemed obvious to ask Dr. Chiu about identifying the mechanism of resistance to different chemical classes and if it would be possible to develop a molecular diagnostic to confirm presence of  insecticide resistance in field populations without conducting the time consuming and labor-intensive bioassays that we were using.”

    “Dr. Chiu and her PhD student Christine Tabuloc took on this challenge and their work culminated in the description of genes associated with the resistance and the diagnostic assay presented in this paper,” Zalom said.

    The Zalom lab “selected the SWD isolines from California field populations displaying resistance to pyrethroids and spinosyns after conducting bioassays on many hundreds of SWD adults, then helped Dr. Tabuloc validate  results of the molecular assay,” he said.

    “This work not only represents good science; it has very practical implications,” Zalom said. “Dr. Tabuloc and I presented results of the work from both of our labs at a special berry grower seminar on insecticide resistance organized by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) Farm Advisor Mark Bolda in Watsonville. The presentations were extremely well-received. The original program was targeted for about 1.5 hours, but the meeting extended to over three hours due to the extent of questions and great discussion that followed. Growers and their consultants are hungry for new information that they find interesting and potentially useful, and this work was clearly of interest to them.”

    Bolda, strawberry and caneberry farm advisor in Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties, “was the first person who found the insect and asked me to come down to look at it and the problem,” Zalom remembered. “That was 2008, and we weren’t able to get an actual species identification until 2009!”

    Bolda noted that the recent berry grower meeting targeted SWD resistance on the Central Coast, with the UC Davis entomologists presenting. “The research was top shelf and the need, of course, is very great,” Bolda said. “Some of the information that Frank and Christine presented has been put into immediate use in the industry.”

    “What made it really special was that since we were moving only a month or so later, and this was the last Extension meeting to be held at my UC Cooperative Extension Office,” Bolda said. “After 40 some years, that’s saying a lot and it was totally apropros that Frank, given his many, many years of service, was the very last to run a meeting there….and Christine presented also…she was really great and presented fabulous information.”

    Among the “iconic individuals of Central Coast strawberries” who attended, Bolda said, was retired entomologist Ed Show (Driscoll Strawberry Association, Inc.) “who has been a part of strawberries since the 1970s.”

    “It was nostalgic for me since it was the last meeting that was held there because they were moving to a new office,” Zalom said. “I must have done 80 presentations at that auditorium over the years, including some of the very first ones that I did when returning to California when I was doing research on brussels sprouts and apples in that area.”

    Fruitville Collaboration. Professor Chiu said the publication “culminated years of fruitful collaboration and hard work by our lab and Professor Zalom’s lab, primarily driven by Christine…This research could not have been accomplished without Christine who is uniquely qualified to successfully lead the project; she combines her knowledge in insect genomics and bioinformatics with Drosophila molecular genetics.”

    Chiu pointed out that “When the Zalom lab and my lab first started our collaboration in 2010, we were already worried about the potential development of insecticide resistance in D. suzukii given the primary method for management is insecticide application and the generation time of these flies are short. Unfortunately, this became a reality in 2017.”

    “We hope that our research in developing more efficient molecular diagnostics to identify resistant populations will help prevent the spread of resistance to other U.S. states by allowing them to be proactive; perhaps to adjust their management program as soon as low level of resistance is detected,” Chiu said. “We are continuing to perform research to determine if resistance, once found, can be ‘weakened’ and what are mechanisms that could drive it. We think this will be very beneficial for growers in California, who currently have to tackle D. suzukiiwith insecticide resistance.”

    Tabuloc, who joined the Chiu lab as an undergraduate research assistant in 2012, received her bachelor of science degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from UC Davis in 2015, and her doctorate from UC Davis in 2023.

    In addition to Chiu, Zalom and Tabuloc, the 12-member team of researchers and co-authors included Curtis Carlson, Kyle Lewald, Sergio Hidalgo, Cindy Truong and Ching-Hsuan Chen, all from the Chiu lab; Nicole Nicola and Fatemeh Ganjisaffar of the Zalom lab; and Cera Jones and Ashfaq Sial of the Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens. At the time, Truong and Chen were undergraduates, and Ganjisaffar was a postdoctoral fellow, and now a senior environmental scientist with the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

    Federal and state grants awarded to Chiu and Zalom funded the project: a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture; and a California Department of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant. The team credits Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center for providing D. melanogaster stocks.

  • Visual ID Guide to Help Manage New Almond Pest

    Since the first reports of a new almond pest – the carpophilus beetle (Carpophilus truncatus) – came in during fall 2023, it has become clear that the beetle is widely dispersed across the San Joaquin Valley.

    “My lab has identified infestations from every county in the San Joaquin Valley; we have found infestations in both almonds and pistachios, and we will likely find infestations in walnuts this fall,” said Houston Wilson, a University of California Cooperative Extension entomology specialist at UC Riverside. The California Department of Food and Agriculture has confirmed the beetle’s presence in Stanislaus, Merced, Madera and Kings counties.

    Historically a major threat to almond production in Australia, the beetle – as larvae and adults – feeds directly on the nut kernel. In California, some almond growers have lost 10 to 15% of their yield – a “significant economic loss,” according to Jhalendra Rijal, University of California integrated pest management (IPM) advisor for the region. Given the prominence of almonds as a commodity, even a 1% overall reduction statewide represents an approximately $70 million loss.

    “This year there has been a lot more reports from PCAs [pest control advisers]; they’re sending me the pictures of the damage and beetles,” said Rijal, noting that the increase is likely due to greater awareness of the pest.

    To help almond growers identify the carpophilus beetle and develop management plans, Rijal, Wilson and their IPM colleagues have put together a visual ID guide for the beetle and the damage it causes, as well as telltale signs of navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella) and ant damage. In particular, the experts would like PCAs and growers to differentiate between the carpophilus beetle and navel orangeworm, another key pest in almonds.

    “Even though their way of causing damage looks more or less similar, we’re dealing with two different types of insects,” Rijal explained. “One is a Lepidoptera moth [navel orangeworm], and the other one is a beetle – many of the management practices and biological controls would be different for these two different things.”

    TOP: Both carpophilus beetle adults and larvae feed on the kernel and cause damage characterized by fine powdery frass and nutmeat, a white-creamy color with some webbing. Often, large numbers (more than 10) of adult and larvae are found per nut. BOTTOM: Navel orangeworm larvae cause damage characterized by thicker frass and silky webbing entangled with a darker, brownish appearance. Only larvae are present at harvest, usually 1 to 3 larvae per nut. Photos by UCCE Stanislaus IPM team

    To control carpophilus beetle, ‘sanitize, sanitize, sanitize’

    One crucial cultural practice for managing both pests, however, is destroying the remnant “mummy” nuts – the nuts that remain in the orchard postharvest. They serve as overwintering habitat for the carpophilus beetle, as well as its sustenance for the next generation of beetles in spring.

    “The best way to manage this pest is to do the orchard hygiene – continuing the winter sanitation, destroying the nuts that are on the ground and on the tree and on the berms,” Rijal said.

    Based on observations in Australia and locally, carpophilus beetles tend to rely more on mummies on the ground, whereas navel orangeworm generally favors mummies in the tree canopy. Correctly identifying the pest – with help from the new ID guide – enables growers to better target and prioritize their management efforts, Rijal said.

    “What we are strongly emphasizing is that growers need to sanitize, sanitize, sanitize to control both pests,” Wilson added.

    Correct identification of the pest would also prevent unnecessary application of insecticides, as those used for controlling Lepidoptera such as navel orangeworm would be largely ineffective on the beetle.

    Indeed, another insight shared by Australian experts is that the carpophilus beetle cannot be controlled just by insecticide.

    “Insecticides are not very efficient, given the cryptic nature of these beetles; exposing these beetles to the insecticide is very hard,” said Rijal, noting that the beetle spends most of its life cycle protected inside the nut.

    Reporting carpophilus beetle infestation helps researchers

    Mature larva of navel orangeworm (NOW) is 3 to 4 times larger than carpophilus beetle (CB) mature larva. Photo by Jhalendra Rijal

    This harvest season, Rijal advises almond growers to harvest as efficiently as possible, to minimize the number of mummies that need to be cleaned up. And because signs of damage (like damaged hulls and frass) are most obvious during harvest time, Rijal said growers should review the new guide, using the photos and other resources to help identify potential pests.

    If the grower or PCA suspects a carpophilus beetle infestation, they should contact the UCCE farm advisor in their area.

    Scientists are looking to expand their knowledge about this relatively new pest to California. In the coming weeks, for example, researchers are planning to survey for the carpophilus beetle in the Sacramento Valley.

    “Technically it has not been found there, but we suspect that we’ll find it this fall when we go looking for it,” Wilson said.

    Researchers are also collecting samples from infested orchards to better understand the biology of the species, as well as how it progresses through and responds to seasonal and climactic changes. In addition, they are analyzing data from a trial study of an insecticide that might be used as a supplemental control measure.

    “This is our first full season dealing with this insect, and there are still many things we need to understand,” Rijal said. “We are continuing our research efforts on all fronts.” — By Michael Hsu, UCANR

  • Big DPR Licensing Changes for Pest Control Advisers and Invitation to Gather for 50th Anniversary CAPCA Conference

    To help California Pest Control Advisers and qualified/aerial pesticide applicators prepare for several changes to their license renewals with DPR, Ruthann Anderson, President/CEO of the California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA), met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network on August 5th to explain the changes. Among them is a significant renewal fee increase. While increasing costs are never welcome news, Anderson calls upon DPR for transparency and accountability in the use of the increased funds to better serve licensees. She also points out that 2024 is a milestone year for CAPCA, as they will be holding their 50th annual Conference this fall. Watch this brief interview to learn more specifics on California DPR license renewal changes, and some exciting things to expect in attending CAPCA’s 50th Conference this October.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Southern California Gas Company for their industry support.

  • $1.9M in Grants for Innovation, Adoption of Sustainable Ag Pest Management in CA

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) announced that it is accepting grant applications for $1.9 million in available funding for integrated pest management (IPM) projects that support a statewide transition to sustainable pest management. The funding is available through DPR’s 2025 Research and Alliance Grants programs.

    IPM is an approach to pest management that uses the least-toxic, most-effective method to solve pest problems. Sustainable pest management (SPM) builds on the existing practices of IPM to incorporate broadened considerations of human health and social equity, environmental protections, and economic viability in pest management decisions and practices through the state’s urban, agricultural and wildland settings.

    “Pest management is essential to protecting public health, supporting stable, healthy food production, and maintaining our infrastructure,” DPR Director Julie Henderson said. “Our grants fund innovative research into a broad range of safe, sustainable pest management alternatives and the outreach, practical training and support needed for their adoption.”

    The 2025 Research and Alliance Grants programs are seeking projects that address one or more of the following priority topic areas:

      • IPM resources for underserved or disadvantaged communities or for small growing operations.
      • Decreasing the use of pesticides of high regulatory interest (including carcinogens, cholinesterase inhibitors, fumigants, groundwater contaminants, reproductive toxins and toxic air contaminants).
      • Tools, strategies and resources for IPM and sustainable pest management use in agricultural areas near school sites and urban settings.
      • Incorporating the sustainability pillars of broadened considerations of human health and social equity, environmental protections, and economic vitality as outlined in the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap.

    In the past 20 years, DPR grant programs have awarded more than $27 million to over 105 projects that advance the use of IPM and expand adoption of more sustainable methods for managing pests to protect people and the environment. Previous Research and Alliance Grant projects include:

        • Developing an IPM apprenticeship program for urban pest management professionals.
        • Evaluating the use of stable antimicrobial peptides for control of Pierce’s disease and citrus greening disease.
        • Refining and promoting the use of a model IPM approach for affordable housing providers to control rodents and cockroaches.

    The 2025 Research Grants Program will award projects up to three years in length that develop more sustainable pest management tools and practices to reduce the use of pesticides of high regulatory interest or otherwise decrease the impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment. Project budgets may range from $50,000 to $500,000. Research Grant applications will be accepted through Sept. 19, 2024.

    The 2025 Alliance Grants Program will award projects up to three years in length that promote or increase sustainable pest management though the implementation, expansion and/or adoption of effective, proven and affordable IPM systems or practices. Project budgets may range from $50,000 to $400,000. Alliance Grant applications will be accepted through Nov. 21, 2024.

    For more information on the Alliance Grants and Research Grants Programs, including how to apply, please visit DPR’s Grants website.

    For more information about the state’s transition to sustainable pest management, visit DPR’s website Accelerating Sustainable Pest Management: A Roadmap for California.

    Who We Are

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation protects human health and the environment by fostering safer and sustainable pest management practices and operating a robust regulatory system to monitor and manage the sale and use of pesticides across the state. DPR’s work includes registering all pesticides sold or used in California, conducting scientific evaluation of pesticides to assess and mitigate potential harm to human health or the environment, investing in innovative research to encourage the development and adoption of integrated pest management tools and practices, monitoring for pesticides in the air and water, conducting outreach to ensure pesticide workers, farmworkers and local communities have access to safety information, and enforcing pesticide regulations in coordination with 55 County Agricultural Commissioners and their 500 field inspectors.