Forests

The Mediterranean Oak Borer (MOB) is an invasive ambrosia beetle that infests several species of white oaks in California: valley oak, blue oak, and Oregon oak. The beetle is spreading rapidly in Northern California counties and there is considerable potential for the beetle's range to expand as they…

Urban tree canopies (UTCs), i.e, the layers of leaves, branches, and stems that cover the ground in cities, are essential tools in managing stormwater, particularly in dense urban areas like those across Southern California. In landscapes dominated by impermeable surfaces such as pavements and rooftops,…

General outlook & thrips populationAs planting wraps up, temperatures remain similar to long-term averages. Thrips population predictions are similar to last week’s update. Generation 2 adults peaked a couple weeks ago; generation three adults are predicted to peak 6/8.  The 3rd and 4th…

Tiny but destructive, the emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle that has killed millions of ash trees across North America. In some cases, infested regions have lost nearly 100% of their ash trees to this pest. Though EAB has not yet been found in California, it was detected on the West Coast for the…

When you spot a plant in your garden that doesn’t look healthy, how do you figure out what’s wrong with it? Plant problems can be caused by insects, mites, vertebrates, environmental conditions, and diseases, but it can sometimes be hard to tell which is causing the problem. UC IPM's Plant Problem…

 Droughts in California: A Frequent ChallengeSubject to severe short and long-term drought conditions, California has experienced two consecutive multiyear droughts in the past decade (Figure 1). The drought of 2012–2016, was considered one of the most severe on record, with…

Hantavirus has been in the news a lot lately. Betsy Arakawa, wife of the late actor Gene Hackman, recently passed away in New Mexico due to the disease and California has already seen 3 hantavirus-related deaths this year. In this article we share information to help you understand hantavirus and what you…

Los jardines de lluvia son depresiones del terreno transformadas, diseñadas para almacenar e infiltrar el escurrimiento pluvial proveniente de superficies impermeables cercanas dentro de entornos urbanos. Disponibles en una variedad de formas y tamaños, los jardines de lluvia representan una solución…

Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), also called buttercup oxalis or sourgrass, might be a familiar sight in winter and spring, particularly to those who live in coastal regions or the Sacramento Valley. Some people enjoy seeing this plant’s cheerful yellow flowers pop up in their spring gardens, but for…