Alex Muniz, environmental scientists with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, releases a vial of Tamarixia wasps in the citrus grove at Cal Poly Pomona in hopes of combating the citrus greening disease in Pomona on Tuesday, October 30, 2018. More than three million natural predator wasps have been reared and released in California this year. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A tiny insect called Tamarixia radiata is being released in urban areas of Southern California to battle the Asian citrus psyllid and prevent the spread of the citrus disease Huanglongbing.
The disease, which kills citrus trees, has been found in more than 900 residential citrus trees – including hundreds in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties.
Alex Muniz, environmental scientists with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, releases a vial of Tamarixia wasps in the citrus grove at Cal Poly Pomona in hopes of combating the citrus greening disease in Pomona on Tuesday, October 30, 2018. More than three million natural predator wasps have been reared and released in California this year. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Alex Muniz, environmental scientists with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, holds a vial of the Tamarixia wasp before releasing in the citrus grove in hopes of combating the citrus greening disease at Cal Poly Pomona in Pomona on Tuesday, October 30, 2018. More than three million natural predator wasps have been reared and released in California this year. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Alex Muniz, environmental scientists with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, releases a vial of Tamarixia wasps in the citrus grove at Cal Poly Pomona in hopes of combating the citrus greening disease in Pomona on Tuesday, October 30, 2018. More than three million natural predator wasps have been reared and released in California this year. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Rocio Moreno, agriculture specialist, holds a vial of the Tamarixia wasp in the ‘dug dorms’ at Cal Poly Pomona in Pomona on Tuesday, October 30, 2018, where researchers are raising insects in a controlled environment to help battle the Asian citrus psyllid and huanglongbing. More than three million natural predator wasps have been reared and released in California this year. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Rocio Moreno, agriculture specialist, aspirating (vacuuming) the Tamarixia wasp from small greenhouses at Cal Poly Pomona in Pomona on Tuesday, October 30, 2018. The Tamarixia wasp, a natural predator of the psyllid, More than three million natural predator wasps have been reared and released in California this year. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Rocio Moreno, agriculture specialist, aspirating (vacuuming) the Tamarixia wasp from small greenhouses at Cal Poly Pomona in Pomona on Tuesday, October 30, 2018. The Tamarixia wasp, a natural predator of the psyllid, More than three million natural predator wasps have been reared and released in California this year. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Alex Muniz, environmental scientists with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, releases a vial of Tamarixia wasps in the citrus grove at Cal Poly Pomona in hopes of combating the citrus greening disease in Pomona on Tuesday, October 30, 2018. More than three million natural predator wasps have been reared and released in California this year. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Tamarixia radiata attacks the Asian citrus psyllid that can carry Huanglongbing and infect other trees as it feeds on citrus tree leaves.
Through a partnership with Cal Poly Pomona, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Citrus Research Board and the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program, more than three million of the predator wasps have been reared and released in California this year.
Researchers and students at Cal Poly Pomona use a dedicated greenhouse and research facility to rear Tamarixia for release by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Loma Linda nursing school partners with MSJC
Loma Linda University School of Nursing and Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta have signed a transfer agreement with Mt. San Jacinto College to provide qualified MSJC students with seamless access to the university’s Registered Nursing to Bachelor of Science program.
Under the agreement, MSJC students who earn an associate degree in nursing and receive a registered nurse license will be able to transfer to Loma Linda University School of Nursing to earn their bachelor’s degrees in nursing.
MSJC’s nursing program is based at its Menifee campus, and Menifee city officials helped coordinate the agreement.
In addition, a set number of clinical rotations will be guaranteed to MSJC students at Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta to keep local students in the region once they earn their nursing degrees.
“This partnership will reduce the nursing shortage in the Menifee community.” said Crystal Nasio, interim associate dean of Nursing and Allied Health at MSJC.
La Verne professor focuses on climate change
A University of La Verne biology professor has co-authored an article that examines how scientists can better monitor and assess the effect that climate change is having on ecosystems and species.
David Bickford, the Fletcher Jones Endowed Chair in Biology, is among 18 international scientists who collaborated on the work, “Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment of Species,” published in WIREs Climate Change.
The paper sets out to review the emerging field of climate change vulnerability assessment of species and to provide clarity on the key concepts, steps, terminology and aspects to consider.
“We have to ask, ‘What’s the ultimate impact on people?’” Bickford said. “If we’re worried about people we have to worry about the desert, the ocean, about crops, about the ecosystem.”
