Pest Management

A small grey beetle with a long snout that curves downward standing on a green yellow starthistle leaf.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

The Good Bugs That Control Invasive Pests (Part 2)

April 13, 2026
By Lindsey Hack
In Part 1 of this story, we covered some basics of biological control. Now let’s talk about some of the good bugs helping to control invasive pests in California. Controlling yellow starthistle one weevil at a time Yellow starthistle (or YST) is a harmful invasive plant that is established and…
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A small black and orange insect with a somewhat long, spiky body crawling on a leaf.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

The Good Bugs That Control Invasive Pests (Part 1)

April 9, 2026
By Lindsey Hack
You have probably heard about the “good bugs” that eat pest insects around your home and garden, like ladybugs, lacewings, and spiders. You may have even purchased some beneficial insects or nematodes at a garden store. Good bugs can also help us manage invasive species, but the process is a bit more…
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A person's arm wiping a white marble kitchen countertop with a white disinfectant wipe.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Spring Cleaning: Where Indoor Pests Could Be Hiding

April 1, 2026
By Lindsey Hack
Spring has arrived! Along with warmer weather and blooming flowers (and seasonal allergies for some of us!), you may have also noticed more insects and spiders roaming your home. If these unwanted houseguests have you thinking about cleaning and clearing up some clutter, join the UC IPM Urban & Community…
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A close-up of a California burclover plant showing deep green compound leaves with 3 leaflets, small yellow flowers, and green, round, spiny seeds.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Shamrocks, Clovers, or Weeds?

March 18, 2026
By Lindsey Hack
St. Patrick’s Day makes us think about shamrocks and all things green. With recent warm weather following winter rains, your lawn or garden might be dressing up for Saint Patrick’s Day and Spring with clovers and other weeds.  Clovers begin to germinate in the fall and continue throughout winter…
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A dense stand of spiny yellow starthistle plants with light green, spindly foliage and bright yellow flowers.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Invasive Species: Nature’s Troublemakers

March 11, 2026
By Lindsey Hack
California is famous for its scenic wilderness and biological diversity. Unfortunately, our state’s unique ecosystems are in danger, and invasive species are among the biggest threats to our environment. Invasive species can cause all kinds of environmental damage, such as harming wildlife, disrupting our…
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The green foliage of a small sycamore tree coated with fluffly, white patches of powdery mildew fungus.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

What's That Powdery Stuff on My Plants?

March 5, 2026
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes
Have you seen white powdery-looking patches appearing on the leaves of your roses or sycamore trees? While home gardeners may be familiar with this sign of the plant disease powdery mildew on their veggies, ornamental plants and landscape trees can also be infected. In addition to those powdery spots, the…
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Citrus IPM News: Article

Three Updates from the Citrus IPM Program

March 4, 2026
By Sandipa Gautam
⭐Update 1: ACP HLB Outreach Day is tomorrow, March 5 at LREC Conference Room!Asian Citrus Psyllid and Huanglongbing will be held Lindcove Conference Room on Thursday, March 05, 2026. This is a great opportunity for citrus pest control advisors and growers to learn about the current status of ACP and HLB in…
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lady beetle larvae crawling on a leaf
UC Master Gardeners of Solano County: Page

Ask a Master Gardener

Have a question about your garden? The UC Master Gardeners of Solano County are here to help!Our trained volunteers provide free, research-based advice on all aspects of home gardening, tailored to Solano County’s Mediterranean climate (Zones 9a, 9b, and 10a). We can help you:Identify plant problems, pests,…
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Person wearing gloves pouring liquid from a measuring cup into a spray bottle on cement.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Upcoming Webinars from UC IPM

February 9, 2026
By Yulie Velez
If you missed our first Urban & Community IPM webinar of the year, Pests of Backyard Chickens, don’t fret, we have more for you! Join us every third Thursday of the month from 12:00pm to 1:00pm PT to learn about a wide range of urban pest management topics. This series is free and open to the…
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