The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

If you're interested in insects--the good, the bad and the ugly--don't miss the Northern California Entomology Society meeting on Thursday, Nov. 6 in Contra Costa County.

You don't have to be a member. No one is going to ask you "What are you doing here?" or comment "I guess they let just about anybody in now, huh?"

Fact is, this organization meets three times a year and the meetings are open to the public. You just have to express an interest in bugs--because they express an interest in you. (Especially mosquitoes!)

Insects have been on this earth about 400 million years and they've got this "live-life-for-all-it's-worth" down pat. Odds are, some insects will be at the meeting or just outside the door. Let me in!

The meeting begins at  9:15 a.m. with registration and coffee in the Contra Costa Mosquito Control and Vector District conference room, 155 Mason Circle, Concord.

Speakers will discuss  the light brown apple moth, Asian citrus psyllid and other quarantined pests, announced president Susan Sawyer, area manager of Pest Detection/Emergency Projects, California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Also planned: the election of officers. 

Native pollinators--the good insects--also will be on the list of topics.

The agenda: 

9:30 a.m.: “Biocontrol of Light Brown Apple Moth, a Quarantine Pest in California” by William Roltsch of the CDFA’s Biocontrol Branch 

10:15 a.m.: “Madagascar: People and Nature on the Eighth Continent” by Martin Hauser, CDFA’s Plant Pest Diagnostics Branch

11 a.m.: “Native California Bees Looking for Cheap Urban Real Estate” by professor Gordon Frankie (or assistant), UC Berkeley 

11:45 a.m.: Annual business meeting

12 Noon: Catered lunch by Kinder’s Custom Meats: Barbecued marinated ball tip and chicken quarters with barbecued beans; tossed green, potato and fruit salad; assorted soft drinks and cookie ($15) 

1:15 p.m.: “Update on Asian Citrus Psyllid, a Quarantine Pest in California” by Kris Godfrey of CDFA’s Biocontrol Branch 

2 p.m.: “Overview of CDFA Pests, with Emphasis on Quarantine Pest”  (CDFA speaker, to be announced)

The Northern California Entomoogy Society is comprised of university faculty, researchers, pest abatement professionals, students and other interested persons.

The group meets the first Thursday of February at the Hungry Hunter, Fairfield; the first Thursday of May at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility; UC Davis; and the first Thursday of November at the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District headquarters,  Concord. Membership dues are $10 year.

 For more information, contact society president Susan Sawyer, CDFA, (916) 262-0855,  or  SSawyer@cdfa.ca.gov. Or contact society  treasurer Eric Mussen, UC Davis Department of Entomology,  (530) 752-0472, ecmussen@ucdavis.edu.