Urban Integrated Pest Management

Let’s be real—California's rodent issue is extensive. In some areas, it may seem like an infinite sea of rats and mice. Commensal rodents, those that live among and benefit from association with humans, significantly affect public health, environmental sustainability, and urban infrastructure.  …

Botryosphaeria canker, sometimes called Bot canker, is a common fungal disease that can affect many tree species including ash, eucalyptus, fig, maple, pistachio, and walnut. Plants infected with this disease typically develop cankers (dark sunken lesions in the bark) and can lose branches. The whole…

It’s almost Halloween, so many of us are thinking about jack-o-lanterns, skeletons, and mummies. When you think of a mummy, you probably imagine the scary kind inspired by the ancient Egyptian ritual of preserving the bodies of the dead. When we talk about mummies at UC IPM, we mean something completely…

Have you noticed groups of black bugs with colorful markings hanging out on the sidewalk or your porch? Maybe you’ve seen them on fruit trees or in your veggie garden. It can seem like they’re everywhere, but what are they? Where you find them can give you a clue about what they are and how to handle…

Urban and suburban areas are important habitats for migrating birds, but birds can also quickly become a nuisance or economic issue when they nest on buildings, homes, and other structures. Their activities can result in disruptive noises, lead to potential structural damage, and their droppings can create…

Crabgrass popping up in your lawn or landscape can be aggravating, but don't despair -- you can manage this common annual weed with integrated pest management!  First, make sure that you are dealing with crabgrass and not a lookalike grass like dallisgrass or bermudagrass. The newly revised Pest Notes:…

Fall is officially here! Even though the weather is still warm in many places in California, leaves are beginning to drop and things are starting to slow down in our gardens. It’s time to prepare for garden and landscape pest problems that could come with the changing season. Did you know that UC IPM…

UC IPM recently hosted a webinar about invasive plant management in California. During the presentation, our speakers Constance Taylor and Jutta Burger from the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) answered live questions from attendees. Below are some of those questions and answers. If you…

Succulents like aloes and agaves are common landscape plants throughout much of California and are prized both for their beauty and their drought tolerant features. Unfortunately there are several arthropod pests that can damage or even kill these hardy plants. Below are three pests you should be aware of if…

 A little red-eyed fly is trending on social media for all the wrong reasons. Why? Because people are finding maggots in some of their berries! Sounds gross, but what is it?   This small fly, called spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), love soft-skinned fruits such as cherries, blueberries,…

A South Lake Tahoe resident has recently tested positive for plague, likely transmitted by the bite of an infected flea. While human cases of plague are rare, they can be serious. Before this most recent case, the last reported case was also in El Dorado County in 2020. Plague is caused by bacteria,…

It’s that time of year when yellowjackets can ruin your outdoor picnic or gathering. Yellowjacket wasps prey on other insects and scavenge on human food and garbage. Keep reading to learn what they are looking for and ways to get rid of them! Yellowjackets, sometimes called “meat bees,” defend their…

This article covers kissing bugs (also known as conenose bugs). They are an occasional summertime insect pest of sparsely-inhabited rural or suburban areas.

Want to control pests but don’t want to use pesticides? Good news—there are many alternative options, and most are more effective than pesticides and last longer!  In general, there are three main methods to controlling pests nonchemically: cultural control, physical control, and biological control…

While they may look cute, no one really wants a mouse around the house. House mice eat up to 20% of their body weight daily, eating whatever food is available. They can contaminate our food and their gnawing can damage buildings, wiring, insulation, food packages, and more. Many fires of unknown origin are…

Invasive species are reshaping California’s natural and urban landscapes. UC IPM’s new Invasive Species Mini-Series explores the many ways invasive species impact our lives, from harmful garden pests and aquatic hitchhikers to destructive tree pests, invasive weeds, and the policies that guide prevention and…

There are many weedy grasses that can invade a lawn or landscaped area, but bermudagrass is one of the most hated and difficult to control weeds. It’s a low-growing, wiry perennial that has above and belowground structures which are both capable of rooting and growing into new plants.  The secret…

Toxic baits, or rodenticides, used to control rodents around the home and garden can harm nontarget animals, such as pets, birds, coyotes, and other wildlife. To reduce these negative impacts, California has passed several laws to limit what rodenticides can be used, how, and by who. Here’s what you need to…

In the last two years, California has experienced a surge of invasive fruit fly infestations. Invasive fruit fly outbreaks endanger our state’s agriculture and economy, as well as homegrown fruits and veggies. They can infest many different fruit, nut, and vegetable crops. Adults lay their eggs under the…