Gardening

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Urban coyote sightings can be recorded at the Coyote Cacher website. (Credit: National Park Service)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Are coyotes becoming bolder in California while humans shelter in place?

April 17, 2020
Coyote sightings are on the rise in San Francisco, even taking naps in patches of green spaces in the city, reported Uma Chrobak in Popular Science. However, it is unlikely they indicate a change in wildlife behavior, said UC Cooperative Extension human-wildlife interactions advisor Niamh Quinn.
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Adult varied carpet beetle on a flower. (Credit: DH Choe)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Carpet Beetles in the Home

April 15, 2020
Like many, you have probably been doing extra cleaning around the house lately. Have you been finding furry-looking brown casings in the corners of drawers, in the carpet, or in the closet? These might be carpet beetles.
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Adult <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquito.<br>(Credit: James Gathany, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Mosquito Prevention

April 10, 2020
With recent rains in many parts of California and the weather warming up, it's time once again to think about mosquito prevention and control.
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Green stink bug egg cluster. (Credit: Jack Kelly Clark)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Virtual Easter Egg Hunt

April 8, 2020
For the last two years, UC IPM has shared an Easter egg photo quiz with insect and spider eggs and egg cases. In case you want to play again, this post is from our 2018 egg hunt and this post is our 2019 egg hunt.
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Adult honey bee (Credit: Jack Kelly Clark)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Webinar on Pollinator Health This Wednesday, April 8

April 6, 2020
On Wednesday, April 8, UC Ag Experts Talk will be hosting a webinar titled From Integrated Pest Management to Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management: An Update on Current Research on Pollinator Health. This is a 2.5 hrs in-person meeting converted into a webinar.
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A clothes moth larva with its feeding case attached. (Credit: DH Choe)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Spring Cleaning for Pest Prevention

April 2, 2020
Spring has arrived and with many Californians at home due to local coronavirus directives, now could be an opportune time for some spring cleaning. This annual ritual also has the benefit of preventing and reducing indoor pests.
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Antimicrobials include several categories of products. To maintain virus-free surfaces use a disinfectant or a virucide. Sterilants are generally more toxic and reserved for critical environments like hospitals. Infographic courtesy Enviroxyclean.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Disinfectants are pesticides–so use safely!

March 30, 2020
What do pest control and public health campaigns against SARS Cov-2 have in common? Both activities use pesticides. In the eyes of the law, sanitizer and disinfectant products are considered pesticides.
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Figure 1. Western yellowjacket baiting with the hydrogel bait. After a short handling behavior on the bait, yellowjackets flew away with a small piece of the hydrogel bait. (Credit: DH Choe)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Using hydrogels to develop a yellowjacket bait

March 29, 2020
By Dong Hwan Choe
Many parks, recreational areas, and outdoor venues in California are home to yellowjacket wasps (Vespula spp.). Yellowjackets are commonly attracted to human food items, creating a serious nuisance and a potential stinging threat.
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Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

"Virus Shut Out" is Illegal Product in U.S.

March 25, 2020
HONOLULU Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it has prevented several shipments of an illegal health product from entering U.S. Pacific ports under federal pesticide laws. The item, Virus Shut Out, is not registered with the EPA.
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