2025 Goldspotted Oak Borer Symposium

The goldspotted oak borer (GSOB) is an invasive wood-boring beetle that attacks and contributes to the mortality of oaks throughout southern California and remains a considerable threat. This FREE Goldspotted Oak Borer Symposium will provide current information gleaned from the latest research, monitoring, management and outreach activities conducted over the last several years. 

Target Audience

Information presented will be helpful to land managers, parks and campground personnel, arborists, landscape professionals, and others who are interested in the stewardship of oaks and oak woodlands. Experts will share about the distribution, impacts and continued threats; GSOB life-cycle, and best practices for assessing and managing infestations to reduce its continued spread in oaks and oak woodlands, including practical examples of management at varying landscape scales.

Proposed Agenda

Introduction to the Goldspotted Oak Borer: Threatened trees, biology, life cycle and distribution -

Kim Corella, Forest Pathologist – Forest Entomology and Pathology Program, CALFIRE

Best Management Practices for Goldspotted Oak Borer: IPM – monitoring, cultural, mechanical, chemical, and biological practices –

Dr. Beatriz Nobua-Behrmann, Urban Forestry and Natural Resources Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE)

Infested Wood and Firewood Management Planning -

Dr. Beatriz Nobua-Behrmann, Urban Forestry and Natural Resources Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE)

Agency and Industry Perspectives Roundtable –

Ricardo Aguilar, Owner, Aguilar Plant Care; Ian McBride, CALFIRE; and Ron Durbin, Chief, Forestry Division, Los Angeles County Fire Department

Management in the Communities and Landscapes: Public and Private Lands -

- Oak Grove, San Diego County; Stan Hill, Forestry & Fire Prevention Project Manager, Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County

- GSOB Management in the Inland Empire – Kayla Thompson, Forestry Programs Specialist, and Jocelyn Perez, Forest Ecologist, Inland Empire Resource Conservation District

New in Monitoring, Survey and Detection -

- GSOB Blitz and Distribution Map Development - Kim Corella, Forest Pathologist – Forest Entomology and Pathology Program, CALFIRE

- GSOB Blitz Project: Introduction-Jan Gonzales, UCCE; Group Leader/Lessons Learned- Rachel Burnap, Inspector II, Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures; Working with Specific Volunteer Audiences- Callie Squires, Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council 

Research Update: Understanding Emergence Season, Insecticide Timing, and the Fundamentals of Handling Infested Wood - Joelene Tamm, Natural Resources Director, La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians

Next Steps: GSOB Education and Outreach Resources and Closing – Jan Gonzales, Community Education Supervisor, University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE)