Attend our training to become an Invasive Shothole Borer Monitor in Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura Counties
October 27, 2021
Invasive shothole borers (ISHB) are invasive wood boring beetles that attack numerous native and non-native trees in Southern California. These beetles mechanically damage trees by boring tunnels into trunks and branches and carry a fungal disease called Fusarium Dieback. This fungus is “farmed” by the beetles as food and supports their reproduction.
This is concerning because trees that become infected with this fungal disease are prone to branch dieback, canopy loss, and mortality. Once infected, mortality can quickly occur within 1-5 years. Infested trees become sources of beetles that can spread to the neighboring areas. The rate of spread can be drastically increased by humans if infected wood gets moved out of the infected area. This beetle-disease complex can affect hundreds of tree species in both urban and natural areas. In Southern California, drought has already weakened many trees and now they must also fight infestations!
How you can help: Knowing where beetles have spread will assist scientists and many other conservation agencies plan for management. Your participation is needed to detect early infestations in Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura Counties.
Training for Monitors: Those in close proximity to Los Angeles, Orange, and/or Ventura counties can become trained monitors by scientists from UC Cooperative Extension. California Naturalists, Project Learning Tree Educators, and Master Gardeners are especially encouraged to attend.
Dates: The training includes one online session on October 27 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, and one in-person session (you can choose from three different locations, see agenda below) on November 1, 2, or 3 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM.
Cost: Free.
Training Requirements: To receive the full training,
- Attendance of online session is required.
- Attendance to in-person session is optional, but highly recommended.
- Completion of the 1 hour online eXtension Invasive Shotholes Borer training is required before October 27.
- Monitors must create or already have an account on iNaturalist.
- After the training, monitors must upload at least 5 observation to iNaturalist using the correct protocols.
Registration: Please complete the survey here.
Training Agenda:
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Pre-Training Assignments: |
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Online Session - Oct. 27 (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM) Location: Virtual Zoom meeting. The meeting access information will be sent to registrants prior to October 27. Speakers will cover how this project fits into the big picture of efforts to manage emerging tree pests in California. There will be a short review of ISHB identification, look-alikes and tree species identification, and then an overview of how to use iNaturalist for this project. |
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Before In-person Session Assignment: |
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In-Person Session: Attendance of in-person session is optional, but highly recommended. Volunteers should pick one of the three locations/dates: Nov. 1 (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Ventura County – Old Agoura Park: 5301 Chesebro Rd, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 Nov. 2 (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Los Angeles County – Sycamore Grove Park: 4702 North Figueroa Street Los Angeles 90042 Nov. 3 (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Orange County – Pioneer Park: 2565 E Underhill Ave, Anaheim, CA 92805 Speakers will review ISHB symptoms and iNaturalist collection protocols; observation of infested trees and filed identification of signs and symptoms; troubleshooting based on their experiences with the practice observation. |
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Nov. 8 (11am - 1pm): Online office hours - We will be available to answer any questions regarding the training, how to ID infestations, and general questions about ISHB. |
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Known infestation sites by county: Ventura County:
Los Angeles County:
Orange County:
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Presenters:
Beatriz Nobua-Behrmann, Ph.D.
Urban Forestry and Natural Resources Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension – Los Angeles and Orange County
Contact:
Eliot Freutel - Community Education Specialist, UC California Naturalist program, Southern California.
Julie Clark DeBlasio - Community Education Specialist, UC Cooperative Extension, Ventura Co.
Registration
Complete the survey using the link to confirm your attendance.
Deadline to register is 12:00 PM October 26th.
Contact
Questions or more information about the training can be directed to:
Eliot Freutel - Southern California Community Education Specialist for the California Naturalist Program
etfreutel@ucanr.edu
Julie Clark DeBlasio - Community Education Specialist, UC Cooperative Extension, Ventura Co.
