UC Agriculture and Natural Resources announced on Mar. 11 that a Citrus Thrips Field Day will be held on April 7 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Lindcove Research and Extension Center. The event is designed for pest control advisors, field scouts, and citrus growers to address issues related to citrus thrips, which remain a significant pest affecting fruit quality in California.
The field day aims to help participants identify different life stages of citrus thrips and western flower thrips, recognize predatory mites, and review effective monitoring techniques. Organizers said the program will also present recent pesticide trial results and discuss practical management strategies for controlling thrips in citrus orchards.
Citrus thrips can cause scarring and blemishes on young fruit, reducing market value—especially for fresh-market citrus. Their populations tend to increase rapidly during bloom and early fruit development, making timely monitoring important to prevent outbreaks. Uncontrolled infestations may lead to repeated pesticide applications, raising production costs and increasing the risk of resistance.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources enhances lives statewide by sharing science-based practices according to the official website. The organization maintains nine Research and Extension Centers as living laboratories across diverse ecosystems according to the official website, including Lindcove REC where the event will take place. UC Agriculture and Natural Resources is affiliated with the University of California according to the official website.
The organization operates offices in all 58 California counties along with its research centers according to the official website. It applies University of California expertise through research and outreach initiatives according to the official website, aiming to support communities across California. Glenda Humiston serves as vice president of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources according to the official website.
For more than a century, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources has delivered science-informed knowledge throughout California via research facilities, local offices, nutrition programs, food networks, youth education efforts, environmental conservation projects, wildfire protection strategies, and collaborations in farming according to the official website.