Bagrada Bug Enters Fresno County
The Bagrada Bug, which was discovered in Los Angeles County in 2008 and is now prevalent in all southern California counties, plus Monterey County, has recently been found in Fresno County. According to the University of California this pest has a wide host range of vegetables and ornamentals.
And there is a low threshold for damage because one adult per 10 foot row of seedlings or transplants will cause a stand loss. It’s important to identify the adult Bagrada Bug and closely monitor it during the early 5-6 leaf stage of plants.
There are many different registered control products that are effective for the pest.
Cultural control could include
· consider removing weed hosts
· ensure transplants from nursery materials bug free
· cultivate to destroy bugs, and eggs in soil
· shred and disc crop immediately after harvest
· rotate to non-host crop when possible
The video at the link below describes the Bagrada Bug in more detail. It is by Surendra Dara, a UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor based in Santa Barbara County.
