Agricultural commissioner reports progress on pest monitoring and sharpshooter eradication as board names Invasive Species Action Week

The Solano County Board of Supervisors on June 3 adopted a resolution recognizing Invasive Species Action Week and commended county agricultural and weights-and-measures staff for their work, then heard an operational update from Agricultural Commissioner Ed King.

King told the board the county operates about 2,000 early-detection traps for pests such as Mediterranean fruit fly, Japanese beetle and defoliating moths. He described ongoing programs — including a multi-year effort in Browns Valley, Vacaville, to eradicate the glassy-winged sharpshooter — and said no adult sharpshooters have been found since last July but staff recently discovered a recently emerged egg mass on a crepe myrtle tree.

Nut graf: County staff emphasized early detection and rapid response, and described cooperative work with residents and growers to protect agriculture (the chair said county agriculture generates nearly a billion dollars annually).

King outlined a Suisun Valley effort to remove Tree of Heaven, a state-listed noxious weed and the preferred host for the spotted lanternfly. He said the county and grape growers have treated more than 1,200 Tree of Heaven specimens over the past several years to reduce the spotted-lanternfly establishment risk.

Board action: The board adopted the invasive-species resolution 5-0 and thanked agricultural staff for their surveillance and eradication efforts.

Ending: Commissioners urged continued public reporting and cooperation and said they will continue outreach as traps are deployed for the summer monitoring season.