PUBLIC MEETINGS SCHEDULED IN SAN DIEGO, LOS ANGELES AND ORANGE COUNTIES REGARDING DIAPREPES ROOT WEEVIL INFESTATIONS

SACRAMENTO – August 30, 2006 - The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has scheduled a series of public meetings in Southern California to inform residents about local infestations of the Diaprepes root weevil, a significant pest to both agricultural crops and landscaping plants and trees.  This pest has been discovered on a variety of ornamental plants in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.

DIAPREPES ROOT WEEVIL PUBLIC MEETINGS
San Diego County                                                             San Diego County
Tuesday September 5, 2006                                              Friday September 8, 2006
City of Encinitas Community Center (Oakcrest Park)   Carmel Valley Public Library
1140 Oakcrest Park Drive                                                  3919 Townsgate Drive
Encinitas, CA 92024                                                           San Diego, CA 92130
Meeting hours:  6 to 8 p.m.                                               Meeting hours:  6 to 8 p.m.

Newport Beach, Orange County                                   Long Beach, Los Angeles County
Wednesday September 6, 2006                                      Thursday September 7, 2006
Bonita Creek Park Community Center                           Recreation Park Golf Club (Ballroom)
3010 La Vida (off University near Jamboree)               5001 Deukmejian Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660                                              Long Beach, Ca 90804
Meeting hours:  6 to 8 p.m.                                             Meeting hours:  6 to 8 p.m.

In an effort to quickly detect any additional infested sites, CDFA has sent more than 1.7 million postcards to residences and other sites in targeted areas in 29 counties in California, and has distributed fliers and posters to nurseries and other sites in and near infested areas in San Diego, Los Angeles and Orange counties.

The public’s cooperation in detecting these infestations is greatly appreciated.  The pest threatens more than 270 plant species including many landscaping plants.  Left unchecked, the root weevil infestations could also impact the nursery industry and damage a wide range of California’s agricultural crops.

CDFA is working with local officials to determine the best methods to achieve eradication of this pest based on the kinds of host plants and other conditions at each infested site. Current plans include scheduled treatments of host plants and trees as well as soil in the infested areas.  Additional information will be available at the public meetings.

Diaprepes root weevils are native to the Caribbean. The pest has generally infested Florida and has also infested a part of Texas. Adult weevils feed on the leaves of plants, and their larvae plunge underground and feed on plant roots. The larvae can encircle or “girdle” the root systems of trees, cutting off the supply of water and nutrients and eventually killing the host plant.

For more information, please go to http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pdfs/Diaprepes.pdf or San Diego County’s web page www.sdcawm.org.

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The California Department of Food and Agriculture protects and promotes California’s $31.8 billion agricultural industry. California’s farmers and ranchers produce a safe, secure supply of food, fiber and shelter; marketed fairly for all Californians; and produced with responsible environmental stewardship.