Bagrada Bug Continues To Spread In California’s Brassica Crops
October 15, 2014 The bagrada bug is known to be present in virtually all counties in Southern California and continues to move north in the state.
According to Shimat Joseph, an IPM advisor the University of California Cooperative Extension, the pest situation is “getting bad, and I think it will continue up to December.”
He says both the organic and conventional brassica crops are affected, and organic producers are finding it difficult to manage bagrada bug. Specifically, he says those growing leafy brassicas organically, such arugula and mizuna, are most affected by the pest.
“Maybe, we will see the same thing next year,” he says. “This year [bagrada bug] populations started growing from late August. Bagrada bug is now well established in the agricultural landscape of Central Coast and we have a lot brassica crops grown.”
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