Pest Management & Plant Health

Diamondback moth (DBM) is a persistent pest in the Salinas-Castroville area. We were able to find late instar caterpillars in several spots along Blackie road on Tuesday, January 22nd. Basically, these caterpillars were feeding on brassica weeds, located along the side of the road (Fig. 1).

Diamondback moth (DBM) is a persistent pest in the Salinas-Castroville area. We were able to find late instar caterpillars in several spots along Blackie road on Tuesday January 22nd. Basically, these caterpillars were feeding on brassica weeds, located along the side of the road (Fig. 1).

No winner yet. The annual Beer for a Butterfly" or "Suds for a Bug" contest has not produced a winner. But somewhere out there, is a cabbage white butterfly taking its first flight.

In a period when we've had high rains, it's very difficult to manage excessive winter growth in a Mediterranean climate.

Are you ready for the eighth annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day on Saturday, Feb. 16 when 13 museums and collections will be open on the University of California, Davis, campus? The event, free, family friendly and educational, is always held on Presidents' Day weekend.

When you're munching on French fries or potato chips, you're probably not thinking about the potato psyllid. But you should be. You should especially be thinking about the zebra chip. No, it's not a newly marketed potato chip or computer chip.

Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County Client's Request: Thank you for calling the UC Master Gardener Program Help Desk this morning with a question about your young peach tree.

Doesn't Santa give everyone a Mexican redknee tarantula for Christmas? Oh, you didn't get yours? Well, Delsin Russell, 9, of Vacaville, did, and he and his mother journeyed Saturday, Jan.

Some that Martin Guerena shared with us... From Ag Web :: January 14, 2019 January 14, 2019 08:27 AM By Chris Bennett Farm Journal Technology and Issues Editor Email One touch from old sparky and the current brings down the curtaindeath by electricity.

Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County Client's Request: I'd like to feed my horses with Orchard Grass Hay. I'd like to be assured that it is "safe" for the horses and get it tested and analyzed to assure that it is "safe".