AN INVASIVE PEST, THAT WAS FOUND IN OUR TRI-COUNTY AREA LAST MONTH, HAS NOW BEEN SPOTTED IN SOUTH SANTA CLARA COUNTY. BAGRADA BUGS, WHICH ARE NATIVE TO PORTIONS OF AFRICA EUROPE AND ASIA) CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR MANY CROPS INCLUDING BRUSSELS SPROUTS (WHICH ARE A MAJOR CROP FOR SANTA CRUZ, MONTEREY, AND SAN MATEO COUNTIES. THE QUARTER-INCH LONG BUGS SUCK SAP FROM THE LEAVES OF THE PLANTS (AND THAT CAUSES WILTING AND YELLOWING) . ALONG WITH DAMAGING BRUSSELS SPROUTS, THE BAGRADA BUGS ARE PROBLEMATIC FOR MOST CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES (SUCH AS BROCCOLI, CABBAGE, KALE, AND CAULIFLOWER). THE INVASIVE INSECTS ALSO LIVE ON PAPAYAS, MAIZE, CAPERS, AND SOME LEGUMES, AS WELL AS WILD MUSTARD WEEDS (WHICH ARE PERVASIVE IN CALIFORNIA), AND SWEET ALYSSUM (WHICH MANY PEOPLE LIKE TO PLANT IN THEIR GARDENS). BAGRADA BUGS ARE SHIELD-SHAPED AND BLACK, (WITH WHITE AND ORANGE MARKINGS). ANYONE WHO SEES ONE OF THESE INVASIVE INSECTS IS ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE.
