Dr. Brian Hogg at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service based in Albany, California, is seeking sites for research on a parasitic wasp that his team recently discovered attacking bagrada bug eggs in California.
The wasp can attack eggs in soil, where the bagrada bug lays most of its eggs, and is almost certainly helping to control bagrada bug. The wasp develops within bagrada bug eggs and is quite tiny.
Dr. Hogg’s research team has found the wasp at several sites in California, but they do not know how widespread it is. They are monitoring the wasp’s parasitism levels and plan to release them at sites where they are absent or have only small populations.
This is the time of year when bagrada bug numbers usually start increasing in cole crop fields. High numbers may also be found on weeds, especially shortpod mustard and perennial pepperweed. Any cole crop fields or weed patches that are infested with bagrada bug could help Dr. Hogg with his research.
If you are noticing outbreaks of bagrada bug, consider signing up to participate in this bagrada bug research. While time constraints prevent Dr. Hogg’s direct team from visiting sites more than four hours’ drive from the San Francisco area, collaborators who can carry out research are located elsewhere in the state. All interested growers are encouraged to contact Dr. Brian Hogg at brian.hogg@ars.usda.gov.
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This article was written by Brian Hogg.
Brian Hogg is a USDA Agricultural Research Service research entomologist. The primary aim of his research is to improve control of invasive agricultural pests by using biological control agents. His current research projects include biological control of bagrada bug and spotted wing drosophila; movement of bagrada bug and spotted wing drosophila in the crop landscape; and efficacy of resident natural enemies of bagrada bug and spotted wing drosophila.