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Have you seen these day-biting mosquitoes?

UC Davis online seminar spotlights research on these invasive mosquitoes

Tiger mosquito
The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus is the focus
of a UC Davis online seminar Wednesday.
(Photos courtesy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)







Two day-biting invasive mosquitoes are making themselves at home in California. And both species have the ability to transmit such deadly diseases as Zika virus and yellow fever.

Learn more during an informative and scholarly Zoom seminar at 4:10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21. Presented in coordination wth UC Davis, "The Impact of Zika Virus Infection on the Metabolites and Microbiome of Aedes albopictus ” will focus on the lesser-known of these bad bugs.

Mosquito researcher Maria Onyango from the New York State Department of Health will discuss her work on Aedes albopictus , also known as Asian tiger mosquito. Geoffrey Attardo of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology will host the seminar. Attardo, a medical entomologist-geneticist, is a research collaborator with Onyango.

So far, the tiger mosquito has found its way into Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and San Diego counties in Southern California, but only Shasta County in Northern California, according to the California Department of Public Health. But it’s expected that it’s only a matter of time before it finds its way into the Central Valley.

Much more widespread is its close cousin, Aedes aegypti , the yellow fever mosquito. It’s been found in 22 counties including Sacramento, Placer, San Joaquin, Sutter and most recently Yolo.

Both mosquitoes have the ability to transmit Zika virus and yellow fever among other diseases. But first, they must bite someone carrying that disease. Fortunately, those tropical diseases remain rare in California.

Health officials warn residents to be on the lookout for these little monsters, only about 1/4-inch in size.

Mosquito
Aedes aegypti , the yellow fever mosquito, has been found in
Citrus Heights, Antelope, Roseville, Winters and Davis.

“Unlike most native mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus bite during the day,” says the state’s public health website. “Both species are small, black mosquitoes with white stripes on their back and on their legs. They can lay eggs in any small artificial or natural container that holds water.”

In fact, the eggs of Aedes aegypti can live without water, then hatch when they become wet. Adapted to living close to people, this mosquito will lay eggs in such places as the inner rim of a flower pot or the saucer under the pot. It particularly likes to bite ankles or behind people’s knees.

Locally, the yellow fever mosquito has been found in Citrus Heights, Antelope, Roseville, Winters and Davis. Native to Uganda, this mosquito was first found in California in 2013.

According to Allardo, the Citrus Heights mosquitoes actually may have come from two different populations – one that originated in Los Angeles County and one that started in the Central Valley.

That discovery adds another wrinkle to how this mosquito has migrated throughout California.

To sign up for the seminar or to learn more:
https://bit.ly/3m4JEoq

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Garden checklist for week of March 15

Enjoy these sunny days and show your garden some TLC. Don’t forget to water.

* Weed, weed, weed! Get them before they flower. Take a hoe and whack them at the base.

* Prepare vegetable beds for summer favorites. Spade in compost and other amendments.

* In the vegetable garden, transplant lettuce. Last chance this spring to transplant cole family plants such as broccoli, collards and kale. 

* Seed chard and beets directly into the ground. Soak beet seeds before planting to aid germination.

* Harvest fall-planted lettuce and cabbage before it “bolts” – sending out flower shoots.

* Fertilize roses, annual flowers and berries as spring growth begins to appear.

* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs after bloom.

* Feed camellias at the end of their bloom cycle. Pick up browned and fallen flowers to help corral blossom blight.

* Feed citrus trees, which are now in bloom and setting fruit. To prevent sunburn and borer problems on young trees, paint the exposed portion of the trunk with diluted white latex (water-based) interior paint. Dilute the paint with an equal amount of cold water before application.

* Feed roses with a balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10 or 4-4-4, the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium available in that product).

* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs and trees after they bloom. Try using well-composted manure, spread 1-inch-thick under the tree. This serves as both fertilizer and mulch, retaining moisture while cutting down on weeds.

* Cut back and fertilize perennial herbs to encourage new growth.

* Plant summer bulbs, including gladiolus, tuberous begonias and callas. Also plant dahlia tubers.

* Shop for perennials. Many varieties are available in local nurseries and at plant events. They can be transplanted now while the weather remains relatively cool.

* Seed and renovate the lawn, if you have one. Feed cool-season grasses such as bent, blue, rye and fescue with a slow-release fertilizer. Check the irrigation system and perform maintenance. Make sure sprinkler heads are turned toward the lawn, not the sidewalk.

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Lessons learned during a year of edible gardening

WINTER

Is edible gardening possible indoors?

Hints for choosing tomato seeds

Starting in seed starting

Why winter is the perfect time to plant fruit trees

When to plant? Consider staggering your transplants

How to squeeze more food into less space

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Plant a fruit tree now -- for later

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Tips for planting bare-root trees, shrubs and vegetables

Time to give vegetable seedlings some more space

Ways to win the fight against weeds

FALL

Dec. 16: Add asparagus to your edible garden

Dec. 9: Soggy soil and what to do about it

Dec. 2: Plant artichokes now; enjoy for years to come

Nov. 25: It's late November, and your peach tree needs spraying

Nov. 18: What to do with all those fallen leaves?

Nov. 11: Prepare now for colder weather in the edible garden

Nov. 4: Plant a pea patch for you and your garden

Oct. 27: As citrus season begins, advice for backyard growers

Oct. 20: Change is in the autumn air 

Oct. 13: We don't talk (enough) about beets

Oct. 6: Fava beans do double duty

Sept. 30: Seeds or transplants for cool-season veggies?

Sept. 23: How to prolong the fall tomato harvest 

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Sept. 16: Time to shut it down? 

Sept. 9: How to get the most out of your pumpkin patch

Sept. 2: Summer-to-fall transition time for evaluation, planning

Aug. 26: To pick or not to pick those tomatoes?

Aug. 19: Put worms to work for you

Aug. 12: Grow food while saving water

Aug. 5: Enhance your food with edible flowers

July 29: Why won't my tomatoes turn red?

July 22: A squash plant has mosaic virus, and it's not pretty

July 15: Does this plant need water?

July 8: Tear out that sad plant or baby it? Midsummer decisions

July 1: How to grow summer salad greens

June 24:  Weird stuff that's perfectly normal

SPRING

June 17: Help pollinators help your garden

June 10: Battling early-season tomato pests

June 3: Make your own compost

May 27: Where are the bees when you need them?

May 20: How to help tomatoes thrive on hot days

May 13: Your plants can tell you more than any calendar can

May 6: Maintain soil moisture with mulch for garden success

April 29: What's (already) wrong with my tomato plants?

April 22: Should you stock up on fertilizer? (Yes!)

April 15: Grow culinary herbs in containers

April 8: When to plant summer vegetables

April 1: Don't be fooled by these garden myths

March 25: Fertilizer tips: How to 'feed' your vegetables for healthy growth