Pest Management & Plant Health

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Two black house flies mating.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Flies in Prime Time

October 8, 2020
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas
We don't often find flies such a popular topic of conversation, but given recent events, we'd like to seize the moment to share some science-based information about their status as both pests and beneficial insects. Flies can be nuisance insects both indoors and outdoors.
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Close up photo of blackish sooty mold covers a branch of green pomegranate leaves and some pomegranate fruit.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Finding Soot Afoot? It Could be Sooty Mold

October 6, 2020
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes, Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Sooty mold is a black fungal growth that looks like a layer of soot covering the leaves of a plant or a sidewalk. The aptly named disease is common in gardens and landscapes, appearing wherever a large infestation of plant-sucking insects are found.
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A screen shot of Christian Nansen's keynote presentation that he delivered to the 47th Congress of the Colombian Entomology Society. The meeting focused on the theme, "Frontiers in Entomology."
Entomology & Nematology News: Article

Christian Nansen: Importance of Technology-Driven Frontiers in Entomology

October 5, 2020
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Technology plays a crucial role in the development of insect science--and entomologists, their students and society must embrace it, says Christian Nansen, an associate professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology, who keynoted a presentation at the virtual meeting of the 47th Congress o...
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Roof rat
Spill the Beans: Article

Oh, Rats!

October 5, 2020
by Cindy Watter Having a rat invasion is a bit like having salmonella at the potluck someone must be blamed.
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An alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme, nectaring on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

October 1, 2020
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
For the first butterfly, it was the right place at the right time. An alfalfa or sulfur butterfly (Colias eurytheme) fluttered into our pollinator garden in Vacaville to sip some nectar from a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia). It lingered for several minutes.
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Ian Grettenberger
Entomology & Nematology News: Article

Department's Fall Seminar Schedule Announced

October 1, 2020
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
UC Cooperative Extension specialist Ian Grettenberger, assistant professor, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, is coordinating the department's fall seminars, held virtually on Wednesdays at 4:10 p.m. Zoom links will be accessible via the Google form link. The schedule: Oct.
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Person's hand scratching their arm.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Itching and Infestations: Explaining the Unexplained

October 1, 2020
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Most of us have experienced itchy skin from a biting insect at least once in our lives. Insects and spiders such as mosquitoes, ticks, mites, bed bugs, fleas, and head lice can and do bite people.
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Good Planning: A lady beetle laid her eggs (right) next to oleander aphids (left) on a tropical milkweed plant. The lady beetle larvae will eat the aphids. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

Lady Beetles Know Where to Lay Their Eggs

September 30, 2020
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Ladybugs--actually "lady beetles" as these insects are beetles--know exactly where to lay their cluster of eggs--where the aphids and other prey are. Thoughtful of the moms, isn't it? Moms are like that. Look on or under your rosebush leaves. Look under your milkweed leaves.
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spider salticidae I-AR-PHID-AD.004
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

How to Catch a Spider

September 30, 2020
While you are home working, learning, or relaxing, you may have noticed a few other critters sharing space with you.
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Pest Notes-Pokeweed cover
UC Weed Science (weed control, management, ecology, and minutia): Article

New publication on pokeweed

September 29, 2020
By Gale Perez
There's a new weed science publication: Pest Notes: Pokeweed Author: Scott Oneto, UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) is a robust, non-woody shrub that is spreading in parts of California.
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