The Board of Mesa County Commissioners announced voters elected to add three new pests to the Upper Grand Valley Pest Control District’s list of regulated species.
Approximately 985 ballots were mailed out asking Upper Grand Valley Pest Control District residents to vote on three particular pests to be added the district’s list of regulated species, with no added cost to taxpayers, to protect the fruit, wine and ornamental industries from outbreaks.
The ballot measures also allow the Mesa County Pest Coordinator to have infestations of these pests controlled within the district.
The three approved species include:
- Grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae), an aphid-like insect that feeds aggressively on grape roots and ultimately kills susceptible grape vines.
- Spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), a fruit fly able to lay eggs into un-ripened fruit and whose larva feed on and damage such fruits.
- Strains of cytospora (including Cytospora leucostoma, Cytospora paraleucostoma, and Cytospora cintum) a fungus which can infect fruit trees, especially peach trees and significantly reduce fruit production and shorten tree longevity.
UGVPCD Advisory Committee will work with CSU Extension, Western Colorado Research Center, and others, to help with monitoring, research and education efforts to promote best management practices for the pests.
For more information, contact Teresa Nees at weed.pest@mesacounty.us or 255-7151.