California IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : Poinsettia Whitefly Found in Nurseries
The poinsettia whitefly, scourge of Southern California produce, has been found in greenhouses as far north as Monterey County, but officials there say they don’t believe the incursion is a serious problem. The whiteflies have been found by county inspectors on poinsettias grown at half a dozen local nurseries, but agriculture officials don’t plan to block shipments of the colorful Christmas plants. “We’re not really expressing too much concern about this pest here at this time,” said Monterey County Agriculture Commissioner Dick Nutter. Entomologists they consulted don’t believe the whiteflies are a particular menace in Northern California because low temperatures slow their rapid breeding tendencies, Nutter said. The pests have also devastated crops in Imperial and Riverside counties and have been found in the San Joaquin Valley, where 60% of the state’s crops are grown.
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