Mealybug Jumps to Third Greenhouse at Cal Poly
By Sally Connell, The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Apr. 26–The rare and exotic insect playing havoc with educational programs at Cal Poly has been found once again, this time in a greenhouse a quarter mile from where its discovery caused quarantines earlier this month.
A state laboratory confirmed the discovery Tuesday in samples taken from two plants in different sections of a biological sciences department greenhouse near the campus core, officials report. The greenhouse is now under federal quarantine.
If and how the bug might have moved from one location to the other is a major focus in the ongoing investigation into how the passion vine mealybug, also known as the Pacific mealybug, showed up at Cal Poly for its first known appearance inside the continental United States.
The tiny insect, indistinguishable to the naked eye from common mealybugs, poses a threat to 250 preferred hosts including grapes, citrus, avocados and cotton.
The most recent finding is prompting agriculture inspectors to plan random sampling for the insect in neighborhoods surrounding Cal Poly starting today. They will ask property owners if they can take samples of mealybugs from known host plants such as orange trees, said Brenda Ouwerkerk, assistant county agricultural commissioner.
Officials report there are no holds on any county or Cal Poly plant products, other than those in the three greenhouses where the insect was found.
The newest epicenter for the problematic mealybug is the greenhouse by Building 53, across from the University Police Headquarters.
“We have what we call the Cal Poly Plant Conservatory in there,” said Michael Yoshimura, biological sciences department chair. He said the plants are often checked out for class work.
Cal Poly pest management professor Robert Rice said there have been at least two instances in the last two years of students transferring plants or clippings between the two distinct locations.
The bug was first found in two of 13 greenhouses in the Cal Poly ornamental horticulture unit. Quarantines, more sampling and some spraying with pesticides followed. Students can now enter most horticulture greenhouses, except the two where the insects were found.
The battle plan also calls for live samples to be taken for DNA and breeding research by state and federal officials in a highly secure and quarantined environment, Rice said.
“We’re frankly missing some of the most basic research on this particular insect,” said Larry Hawkins, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
PRODUCE SALES This weekend’s Tomato Mania sale, postponed once, is set up for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the campus horticultural unit parking lot.
Vegetables from the Cal Poly organic farm, lemons and avocados all remain clear for sale in their respective sections.
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