Enhanced BC: Responding to an ever-changing clientele

According to a recent USDA-NASS survey¹, about 80% of Washington state farmers use computers and have access to the Internet. The numbers are similar for Oregon (a bit higher) and California (a bit lower). This means that we have the opportunity to provide "Digital Outreach" as a key component of our stakeholder educational program. Although we can reach clientele this way, the challenge is to generate interesting, relevant and easy to find content and provide it in a way that can be viewed on a variety of browsing platforms. Our updated website is now responsive to a variety of devices from desktop computers to tablets and smartphones.  While digital outreach is not intended to replace face-to-face education, it can supplement educational programs and provide the content 24/7 and well after the funding for our project is gone. We invite you to visit our website and see what we have to offer. As our project matures, more will be added to the site including a growing video library and natural enemies galleries.

Our site can be accessed using either address: http://EnhancedBiocontrol.org or http://enhancedbc.tfrec.wsu.edu

¹ USDA-NASS Farm Computer Usage and Ownership Survey, August 2011.

Lots of new videos to watch

We've been adding to our video gallery since we started with the flight mill video. Our most recent addition shows you how to raise a colony of lacewings. Check it out!

Over the next few months we will be upgrading the Enhanced Biocontrol website. The plan is to improve the interface and make the site more accessible to mobile visitors. There will also be more videos and insect galleries for all to enjoy. Stay tuned!

Flight Mills Studies

How far does a moth fly? Do pesticides effect the spread (dispersal) of insects? Does wind speed effect how far an insect can fly?  These are just a few questions that can be answered using a Flight Mill. A flight mill is a device that allows you to measure the speed, distance and periodicity of flight of an insect. This is just one of many studies conducted at the Insect Ecology and Behavior Laboratory at WSU's Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee, WA.




The video shows graduate student Teah Smith demonstrating how a moth is attached to the flight mill. The original design of this device is credited to Dr. Steve Naranjo of the USDA-ARS Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center in Maricopa, AZ.
 

Pear Grower Survey: The experiences and perspecitves of OR and WA pear growers

Pear with Convergent Ladybird Beetle Eggs

Biological control is a complex, knowledge‐intensive practice that requires growers and pest management consultants to learn natural enemy and pest life cycles, toxicity and effectiveness of insecticides at different life cycle stages, strategies for managing insecticide resistance, and maintenance of long‐term ecological balance while controlling pests and maximizing production. As part of a large USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) project, researchers at Washington State University, University of California‐Berkeley, and Oregon State University are seeking to better understand apple, pear, and walnut growers’ experiences and perspectives related to pest management, in general, and biological control, in particular. This report presents results from a 2011 survey of Oregon and Washington pear growers. Survey results will inform future educational and outreach efforts.

To read the full results of this survey visit: http://enhancedbiocontrol.org

New look, new address, new features

Adult female Ascogaster wasp

We've just completed the upgrades to our website. All features should now be compatible with most browsers, including  iPhone Safari. We've improved the photo galleries and will be adding more images soon. When you tour the new site you will notice some pages showing "coming soon!" We have many exciting features in the works including:

• Visual ID guides of natural enemies (by type, and by crops) showing pesticide effects for each;
• Downloadable PDF ID guides; and
• Videos of natural enemies in action.

In addition to the new look, we've also simplified the address making it easier to find. The new address is http://enhancedbiocontrol.org Check us out!

Natural Enemies at work

This video shows how a parasitic Tachinid fly finds and lays her eggs on a leafroller larva. (no audio)