Bugs and Insects

What’s the Big Deal?  The invasive glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca vitripennis, is a large (~0.5 inch long) leafhopper that feeds on plant fluids in the xylem, a plant’s water-conducting tissue. The glassy-winged sharpshooter was first found in California in 1990 after it was…

Black fig fly, now in the Bay Area.  A new invasive pest, the black fig fly, Silba adipata, has been found in Alameda County.  This pest exclusively feeds and reproduces on figs, and California produces almost 100% of the U.S. fig crop. The black fig fly (BFF) causes major fruit drop, a…

Climate Change and Weather in the Bay Area   March 2026 was one of the driest and warmest Marches in recorded history in the Bay Area. The March heat wave pushed temperatures across much of the West 3 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit above average, according to the Climate Prediction Center. In the…

Introduction   Mosquitoes are not just pesky biters that may cause allergic reactions; they can be vectors (that is, they transmit parasites) for worrisome diseases that may cause severe health problems and even death. Mosquito-borne diseases caused by protozoa (very small, single-celled organisms…

The black stuff on your leaves is likely sooty moldThe black stuff on your leaves is probably sooty mold, a fungal disease growing on plants and other surfaces, and it is often seen in the spring and summer. The leaves or stems have a black coating that looks like soot. If you look closely, it is growing…

The brown marmorated stink bug is an invasive pest in California, damaging gardens, crops, and invading homes. Learn how to identify and manage it.

Protect citrus trees from the invasive Asian Citrus Psyllid. Learn how you can help prevent the spread of this harmful pest.

Learn how to identify and manage the invasive Tree of Heaven with guidance from UC Master Gardeners of Alameda County. Protect your landscape today!

Learn how the Mediterranean Fruit Fly affects Alameda County crops and what you can do to prevent invasive pests from spreading.

Learn to identify and manage common tomato problems in Alameda County. Expert solutions for blight, pests, fruit issues, and plant diseases.