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Center for Invasive Species Research

DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY

UCR-Mike Lewis-CISR-Goldspotted Oak Borer
Center for Invasive Species Research (CISR)


The Center for Invasive Species Research Mission
 

The Center for Invasive Species Research (CISR) is based on the University of California Riverside Campus, providing a forward-looking approach to managing exotic pests and disease invasions in California. The long-term goal of CISR is to develop a systematic methodology for dealing with such exotic pests. 

CISR will relate to the economic, ecological, and sociological effects of exotic pest introductions on the well being of California, primarily through cooperation and coordination of research efforts, UC campuses, USDA, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), conservation organizations, and the agricultural industry.

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On The Fly

The spirited search for an insect that could save your syrah.

When describing Mark Hoddle, it’s easy to think of him as the Indiana Jones of the entomology world.

And it’s not just because of his shirt.

This summer, he led a team of UC Riverside researchers on a 600-mile journey to Southern Arizona, where the group trekked 5,500 feet above sea level to a remote “sky island” to find an elusive insect that almost no one has studied.

Why go all that way to look for a tiny bug? Because it could be the key to controlling a looming threat to much of California’s agriculture — including its wine, nuts, and avocados.

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Why are invasive species a problem?

 
Invasive species cause a wide diversity of economic and environmental problems which almost always arise from uncontrolled population growth and spread in the area which has been invaded. Economic problems arise from the costs required to control invasive species, to reduce their rate of spread, or the need to inspect agricultural products that are being exported that may accidentally move the invasive pest to a new area.

 

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Red gum lerp psyllid
Mark Dery, 2019 Scholarship Recipient
Harry Scott Smith Scholarship Fund
Mark Dery, 2019 Scholarship Recipient
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The Center for Invasive Species Research Blog

Ornamental Canary Islands date palms

The South American Palm Weevil Invasion in San Diego County, California

The South American Palm Weevil Invasion in San Diego County, California The Situation: The South American palm weevil (SAPW), Rhynchophorus palmarum, is a non-native pest of palms that has established populations in San Diego County in California. In December 2010...
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Asian Citrus Psyllid Biocontrol Taskforce

Asian Citrus Psyllid Biocontrol Taskforce Awarded the 2017 California Department of Pesticide Regulation IPM Achievement Award

Mark Hoddle, Director, Center for Invasive Species Research, University of California Riverside 2017 IPM Achievement Awards for advancing reduced-risk pest management practices through innovation, leadership, and education and outreach. On 13 February 2018 at the California Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters...
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Red palm weevil

The Red Palm Weevil Crisis in Tunisia: A Potential Threat to Food, Economic, Social, and Political Security?

Written by: Mark Hoddle Department of Entomology, UC Riverside Email: mark.hoddle@ucr.edu More Research: UCR Biocontrol Website The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, is a highly invasive and extremely damaging pests of palms, especially ornamental Canary Islands date palms (...
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Palm Tree

The Making of a South American Palm Weevil Mini-Documentary for “Deep Look” with KQED

The South American palm weevil, Rhynchophorus palmarum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is well established in parts of San Diego County in California and is responsible for killing numerous Canary Islands date palms. The spectacular damage this invasive pest causes and the large...
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More Blog Entries

Invasive Species

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (c) CISR
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Asian Citrus Psyllid (c) CISR
Asian Citrus Psyllid
Brown Widow (c) CISR
Bed Bugs
Brown Widow (c) CISR
Brown Widow