Plain and simple, pests can be the downfall of your farming and gardening if you're not careful. Check out some of the pests that you want to keep a special eye out for here in San Diego.
GOLDEN SPOTTED OAK BORER
Record numbers of oaks are dying in San Diego and Riverside Counties, killed by a suite of new pests and pathogens. Most can be transported in firewood and other raw wood products, which means that any oak woodland in southern California can become the next point of outbreak. With over a million acres of oaks in southern California, it is virtually impossible for agencies to monitor all woodlands for new areas of infestation. So, we’re asking oak woodland owners to help us create an early warning system to protect their trees. Our goal is to stop the spread of species like the goldspotted oak borer, which is capable of killing over 90% of oaks in a woodland in less than 10 years. Here’s how you can help: visit University of California: Agriculture and Natural Resources
RED PALM WEEVIL
This invasive pest is a threat not only to our nursery growers and date palm farmers,” said California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary A.G. Kawamura. “It also endangers all of the decorative palms that are so common in our landscape and so much a part of the classic California backdrop. I would like to express my gratitude to the landscape contractor who originally reported this pest. He is a Good Samaritan who did the right thing when he took the time to notify local agricultural authorities, and he has given us a very valuable head-start in our efforts.” Learn More at California Department of Food & Agriculture.
LBAM is of particular concern because it can damage a wide range of crops and other plants including California’s prized cypress as well as redwoods, oaks and many other varieties commonly found in California’s urban and suburban landscaping, public parks and natural environment. The list of agricultural crops that could be damaged by this pest includes grapes, citrus, stone fruit (peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, apricots) and many others. The complete “host list” contains well over 1,000 plant species and more than 250 fruits and vegetables. (image from UC IPM Online). RESOURCES. Approved Treatments for Nurseries and Host Crops
HOW WILL IT AFFECT YOUR CROPS?
The Mediterranean fruit fly has the widest host range of any pest fruit fly, and is considered the most important agricultural pest in the world. It has been recorded infesting over 300 cultivated and wild fruits. The host list includes apple, apricot, avocado, bell pepper, carambola, coffee, dates, fig, grape, grapefruit, guava, lemon, lime, loquat, lychee, mango, nectarine, orange, papaya, peach, pear, persimmon, plum, pomegranate, pummelo, quince, sapote, tangerine, tomato, and walnut. More Information can be found HERE.
What you can use to protect your crops
Organic Solution; Spinosad GF 120 NF (Use on all commercial fruits); Conventional Solution; Gowan Malathion 8 & Nu-Lure Insect Bait. (Use on Avocado, Citrus, Apricot, Papaya, Guava, Mango, Tomatoes, Peppers).
Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is an efficient vector of the bacterial citrus disease huanglongbing (HLB), previously called citrus greening disease, which is one of the most destructive diseases of citrus worldwide. ACP nymphs can only surive on the new flush tips of citrus. Because they produce a toxin, the flush tips die back or become twisted and the leaves do not expand normally. The fruit is of no value because of poor size and quality. This problem can be reduced through pesticide control of the psyllid population or releases of natural enemies. Read more from UC Riverside
Other Related Links:
Asian Citrus Psyllid Products for Treatment – Bayer Crop Science
California Citrus Threat – Citrus Research Board
Asian Citrus Psyllid Quarantine Updates
Citrus leafminer larvae feed by creating shallow tunnels, referred to as mines, in young leaves. It is most commonly found on citrus (oranges, mandarins, lemons, limes, grapefruit and other varieties) and closely related plants (kumquat and calamondin). The larvae mine the lower or upper surface of the leaves causing them to curl and look distorted. Mature citrus trees (more than 4 years old) generally tolerate leaf damage without any effect on tree growth or fruit yield. Citrus leafminer is likely to cause damage in nurseries and new plantings because the growth of young trees is retarded by leafminer infestations. However, even when infestations of citrus leafminer are heavy on young trees, trees are unlikely to die. Read more from UC IPM Davis.
What you can do to monitor the presence of these pests:
Citrus Leafminer Traps – ISCA Delta Traps are USDA approved and are one of our most popular and dynamic trapping devices. Use these traps to monitor your grove, orchard, row crops and nursery plants. They are inexpensive, easy to use, and readily assembled, allowing for rapid deployment and a quick tally of the population estimates. Read more about these traps HERE.
This weevil will feed on about 270 different plants including citrus (all varieties), hibiscus, palm, birch, roses, guava, loquat, holly, and other ornamentals. Because of its broad host range, the Diaprepes root weevil poses a great threat to citrus and ornamental plant industries and potentially other crops in California. The Diaprepes root weevil damages both the leaves and the roots of plants. Read more from UC IPM Davis.
Symptoms of powdery mildew include red blotchy areas on dormant canes. On leaves, initial symptoms appear as chlorotic spots on the upper leaf surface. Signs of the pathogen appear a short time later as white, webby mycelium. As spores are produced, the infected areas take on a white, powdery or dusty appearance. On fruit and rachises the pathogen appears as white, powdery masses that may colonize the entire berry surface. Season-long control is dependent upon reducing early-season inoculum and subsequent infection. Thus treatment must begin promptly and be repeated at appropriate intervals. Read more from UC IPM Davis. Powdery Mildew – Spray Schedule and Amounts
Solutions: Sulfur, Lime Sulfur, Stylet Oil, Kocide, Flint, Kaligreen, M-Pede, Rubigan and many more options are available.
