Pest Management & Plant Health

Primary Image
A lady beetle, aka ladybug, with newly deposited eggs. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

Happy Mother's Day!

May 10, 2024
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
In the human world, we recognize Mother's Day as a special day to celebrate all mothers. It's a day that Anna Jarvis of Grafton, West Va., established on May 10, 1909 with a worship service at St. Andrew's Methodist Church, Grafton. Lady beetles, aka ladybugs, are mothers, too.
View Article
Primary Image
Information on the pesticide active ingredient neem oil. From the UC IPM Pesticide Active Ingredient Database.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Updated Pesticide Active Ingredient Database from UC IPM

May 9, 2024
By Lauren Fordyce
The University of California Statewide IPM Program (UC IPM) has an exciting, newly updated resource to help you better understand pesticide active ingredients and the risks different active ingredients pose to people and the environment.
View Article
Primary Image
New IPM webinars announced!
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Summer IPM Webinars

May 7, 2024
By Lauren Fordyce
Need some summer plans? Join UC IPM at 12:00pm on the third Thursday of every month to learn about pest identification, prevention, and management around the home, garden, and landscape! These free IPM webinars are open to the general public so please share with others who may be interested.
View Article
Primary Image
List of options for turf removal
The Bee Gardener: Article

Build Your Own Bee Haven -- Preparation

May 6, 2024
I've spoken with countless gardeners over the years who wish to start their own bee haven. That's great -- the bees need all the help we can give them. But the most misunderstood part of the process is how much preparation needs to take place before a single plant goes in the ground.
View Article
Primary Image
May IPM tips
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

May Pest Prevention Tips

May 6, 2024
By Lauren Fordyce
May is here and with all the fluctuations in our weather lately, there is a lot going on in the landscape! Follow these general tips for the month of May to prevent pests. To see more tips specific to your region, visit the Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist on the UC IPM website.
View Article
Primary Image
Downybrome, Italian ryegrass, winter wheat

Creative weed management approaches using forage crops

May 5, 2024
By Gale Perez
In my previous position as the Extension Dryland Cropping Systems Specialist with the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff, I focused my research efforts on intensifying and diversifying the winter wheat-fallow cropping system.
View Article
Primary Image
Haramrit Gill
ANR News Releases: Article

UC ANR adds 9 experts in water, wildfire, pest management and more

May 3, 2024
By Pamela S Kan-Rice
To help more Californians address challenging issues, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources has hired UC Cooperative Extension experts to work in communities stretching from Humboldt and Siskiyou counties in the north, and south to San Diego County.
View Article
Primary Image
Figure 1. From left to right: Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaegnifolium), Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), Hairy nightshade (Solanum physalifolium). Weeds in the nightshade family can be found in orchards and in annual crops. Silverleaf nightshade produces silver green leaves, violet flowers, and yellow berries. Black and hairy nightshades produce white flowers and black berries. UC IPM.
UC Weed Science (weed control, management, ecology, and minutia): Article

Silverleaf nightshade in young pistachio orchards

May 2, 2024
By Jorge A Angeles
Silverleaf nightshade, Solanum Elaeagnifolium, is perennial weed that is native to South America, Mexico, American Southwest and Southern States.
View Article
Primary Image
Two round beetles with orangish red bodies and black spots on a green leaf.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Is the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle Bad?

May 1, 2024
By Lauren Fordyce
The multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis, has a bad reputation. There is a common myth online that this lady beetle (ladybug) is invasive and aggressive, which can sometimes lead to people killing these beetles.
View Article