Pest Management & Plant Health

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A brown insect on a green leaf.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Invasive Pest Spotlight: Glassy-winged Sharpshooter

June 6, 2024
By Lauren Fordyce
The glassy-winged sharpshooter is a large leafhopper that can transmit several important, often fatal, plant diseases in California. This includes Pierce's disease of grape, alfalfa dwarf, almond leaf scorch, and mulberry leaf scorch.
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A hand holding a dark green aquatic plant.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Invasive Pest Spotlight: Hydrilla

June 5, 2024
By Lauren Fordyce
Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) is an invasive, aquatic weed that can be found in many slow-moving fresh water bodies in California. The plant forms large mats that can crowd out native plants, restrict water flow, and interfere with boating and fishing.
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Black and white striped mosquito on human skin
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Invasive Pest Spotlight: Aedes Mosquitoes

June 4, 2024
By Lauren Fordyce
Aedes mosquitoes can transmit some of the most debilitating and deadly mosquito-borne pathogens to humans, such as Zika virus, dengue virus, chikungunya virus, and yellow fever virus. One Aedes species is also capable of transmitting heartworm to dogs.
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Palmer amaranth
UC Weed Science (weed control, management, ecology, and minutia): Article

New Avocado Herbicide

June 3, 2024
By Ben A Faber
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has approved the herbicide Rely 280 (glufosinate-ammonium) for use in avocado groves in California. Rely 280 is a post-emergence broad-spectrum herbicide for use against broadleaf and grassy weeds.
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California Invasive Species Action Week is June 1-9, 2024.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

California Invasive Species Action Week 2024

June 3, 2024
By Lauren Fordyce
Help increase public awareness of invasive species and encourage participation in the ongoing fight against invasive species by celebrating California Invasive Species Action Week (CISAW) June 1- 9, 2024.
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UC Davis distinguished professor James R. Carey has written numerous research articles on the Mediterranean fruit fly.
Bug Squad: Article

Medfly Invasion Crisis in California: What Should Be Done?

May 31, 2024
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
During the initial throes of the Mediterranean fruit fly invasion in California, protesters disagreeing with the California Department of Food and Agriculture's eradication procedures and policies used to sing the catchy tune, "There Ain't No Bugs on Me," the work of Jerry Garcia and David Grisman.
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UC Rice Blog: Article

Tadpole Shrimp Issues in 2024

May 31, 2024
By Luis Espino
I received several calls and comments about issues with tadpole shrimp this spring. While this pest is well known to growers and PCAs, it can still be difficult to manage during planting time. Mistiming of insecticide application can result in shrimp damage.
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Mediterraneanfruitfly
Bug Squad: Article

Why California's Fruit Fly Invasion Is in a Crisis Mode

May 29, 2024
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
A noted authority on California's tropical fruit fly invasion says the state is in "crisis mode." "It's really serious," says UC Davis distinguished professor James R. Carey, a noted authority on the invasion of tropical fruit flies.
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A brown rodent sticking its upper body out of a hole in the ground.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

FAQ: Moles, Voles & Gophers

May 28, 2024
By Lauren Fordyce, Roger A Baldwin
In this blog article we answer some frequently asked questions about moles, voles, and gophers and their management. How can I tell if I have moles, voles, gophers, or something else? Moles: look for circular or volcano-shaped mounds with the plug in the middle, or a plug may not be apparent.
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