Speaker: Dr. Kent Daane, UCANR Specialist in Entomology, UC Berkeley.
The presentation describes the steps taken to discover, import, screen and develop petitions to release a novel bio-control agent into the United States to help suppress the spotted wing drosophila - an invasive pest of soft-skinned fruit. Dr. Daane also describes the potential levels of parasitism expected as well as the administrative process to get material approved by the USDA APHIS for field release.