This trip and the associated overnight stay would serve to begin scouting locations of plants and field sites to possibly use in future field studies. The days would be spent hiking with a GPS and lab notebook around the UCNRS property as well as Anza-Borrego State Park and surrounding areas. The night would be spent blacklighting near the field station to survey vector species present. Target plant species include all members of Cucurbitaceae and Solanaceae as well as members of the genus Mimulus (Phrymaceae). Target insect species are vectors of viruses that infect these plants. This includes whiteflies (Aleyrodidae), aphids (Aphididae), and psyllids (Triozidae). Any plants found would be marked as a waypoint with the GPS unit and would be inspected for the presence of vectors. Leaves would simply be turned over and preliminary estimates of vector species identity and density would be recorded in a lab notebook. Unless permits are secured beforehand, no damage or harvesting of tissue will be conducted. Photographs will also be taken of plant locations as well as insects found on the plants.

Approved