Event Description:

So a Drosophila suzukii and a Halyomorpha halys walk into a bar… If you’re like most people, what happens next is a Google search to figure out who, or what this Droso and Haly-thing are. But if you are one of the many growers here in the Gorge you know that when a spotted wing drosophila and marmorated stink bug wander into a bar there’s trouble ahead. Because that bar is actually your orchard, full of plump cherries and pears ready to be sawed into, or pierced, and then sucked by these insects. Cherry growers in Washington and Oregon must watch out for all sorts of insects, including leafhoppers, who can infect their trees with Cherry-X Disease. In 2020 WA and OR cherry growers had an estimated cost impact of $30 million due to Cherry-X Disease. But the battle of the bugs goes both ways. In a pear orchard nearby, Trissolcus japonicas – the samurai wasp – is hard at work destroying the eggs of the stink bug. And several parasitoid wasp species are being used to stem the tide of future spotted wing drosophila populations. Join Maggie Freeman, Entomologist and lifelong bug-lover, for a closer look at how insects impact the Gorge and what the future might hold for our insect allies and adversaries. *Local 4-H Bug Club members will be on-hand in the lobby before the show to share their insect collections.

Speaker Bio:

Maggie Freeman grew up in the Pacific Northwest following her big brother around catching pet praying mantises, getting bugs to fight in jars, and collecting “free food” for pet lizards. After years of thinking she’d pursue a more traditional career, she finally gave into her childhood love of insects and started working at the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s entomology lab in Olympia, WA. From there she went on to get a Master’s in Entomology from Washington State University. After graduating she began working as a Research Assistant in the tree fruit Entomology lab at the Oregon State University Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Hood River. Maggie has a particular love for parasitoid wasps, and hopes she can convince you they are as cool as she thinks they are.

Livestream:

A Livestream of this program will be accessible on the night of the event. To access it, you will need to PUSH THE PLAY BUTTON that will appear on the photo at the top of this page on the night of the event. A reminder will be sent to you by email.

Questions?

Email us at SOP@MtAdamsInstitute.org

Lecture #7 Battle of the Bugs: How Insects Impact the Gorge