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Abstract
The goldspotted oak borer (GSOB)
Agrilus auroguttatus (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), has killed over 80,000 oaks across all land ownerships, costing over $8 million in public and private funds for mitigation and response. Linked to oak mortality in San Diego County in 2008, this exotic beetle likely arrived in California through infested firewood from Arizona and attacks three native oak species found through California and southern Oregon: coast live oak (
Quercus agrifolia), California black oak (
Q. kelloggi), and canyon live oak (
Q. chrysolepis). The University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA FS), and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) lead collaborative program development to slow GSOB expansion by educating clientele about GSOB-associated oak mortality and the danger of firewood imports. Over 5,100 stakeholders throughout southern California were identified and contacted utilizing both traditional and digital educational delivery strategies, including outreach and training events, print and online resources and a Citizen Scientist/GSOB Early Warning System for detection and monitoring. While it is impossible to measure the extent of GSOB spread mitigated through this effort, we believe we have dramatically reduced the purchase of GSOB-infested firewood in the communities targeted in our outreach.
Parent Publication
Citation
Gonzales, Janis G.; Scott, Thomas A.; Turner, Kevin W.; Lima, Lorin L. 2015. Outreach and education efforts to counter the spread and impact of goldspotted oak borer. In: Standiford, Richard B.; Purcell, Kathryn L., tech. cords. Proceedings of the seventh California oak symposium: managing oak woodlands in a dynamic world. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-251. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 349-358.
