Pest Management & Plant Health

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Feathertop (© 2023 Ron Vanderhoff - Calflora)
UC Weed Science (weed control, management, ecology, and minutia): Article

Feathertop

April 28, 2024
By Ben A Faber
For years, I thought I was seeing fountain grass, an invasive grass that is found in all kinds of wild and disturbed settings.
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Rice (photo credit: Brad Hooker)
UC Weed Science (weed control, management, ecology, and minutia): Article

New herbicides bring additional tools to California rice weed management in 2024

April 25, 2024
By Whitney B Brim-Deforest
This year brings several new chemical tools to California rice. With many herbicide-resistant species as well as emerging problematic weed species, the new chemistries are a welcome tool for managing resistance and preventing the selection of resistant biotypes.
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Interviews on electric weeding research
UC Weed Science (weed control, management, ecology, and minutia): Article

Electric weed control research updates

April 21, 2024
By Gale Perez
From the eOrganic and Performance and Economics of Electric Weed Control in Organic Perennial Crops Project: (Click HERE to see the presentations) Electric Weed Control in Orchards Tong Zhen, Ph.D.
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Three white grubs of varying sizes curled up in a c-shape on-top of dark brown soil.

Grubs in your garden?

April 18, 2024
By Lauren Fordyce
While preparing your garden for planting this spring, you may have found white grubs in the soil. Discovering these fairly large, white grubs can be alarming, but they usually won't cause significant plant damage.
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Doctoral candidate Matt Fatino, center, is one of the 'weed doctors' who will be available during Picnic Day 2024 to answer people's questions about the pesky plants growing in their lawns, fields and pastures. Whitney Brim-DeForest, left, is a Department of Plant Sciences graduate and expert in rice-field weeds who now is the UC Cooperative Extension County Director for Sutter and Yuba counties. (UC Davis)
UC Weed Science (weed control, management, ecology, and minutia): Article

Weed doctors seek solutions for pesky plants

April 15, 2024
By Gale Perez
Dandelions are pretty, but weeds nationwide cost homeowners, farmers, ranchers and land managers tens of billions of dollars each year in control measures and lost production. They also endanger fragile ecosystems and can increase threats of erosion and wildfire.
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A lady beetle, aka ladybug, devouring on aphid on the UC Davis campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

The Good Luck at UC Davis Picnic Day

April 15, 2024
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Remember when San Francisco 49'ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk credited his spectacular 51-yard catch in the 2024 NFC championship game with the Detroit Lions to a ladybug (note that entomologists correctly call it a "lady beetle") landing on his shoe before the game?
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Our Student Winners! From left to right: Sawyer Claussen, Robert Willmott, Jennifer Valdez Herrera, Erika Escalona, and Stephen Chang
UC Weed Science (weed control, management, ecology, and minutia): Article

CWSS: Student Winners and Schlorship Opportunity!

April 12, 2024
By Thomas J Getts
**** Students, it is the time of year to apply for the CWSS Student Scholarship! Awards will be given to both graduate and undergraduate students ranging from $1,000-2,000. Any students interested in Weed Science should apply! Click here to submit an application and for further instruction.
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Two Flying insects on flowers pictures
The Coastal Gardener : Article

What's Bugging Me?

April 11, 2024
I can name that flying insect in 3 clues how about you? Match the clue to the insect's image. Place an X in the appropriate column. Resources: UC IPM, Syrphids (Flower Flies or Hover Flies) https://ipm.ucanr.edu/natural-enemies/syrphids/ University of Florida, European honey bee https://entnemdept.
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Honey bee scientist Zac Lamas, a National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) postdoctoral fellow with the USDA's Agricultural Research Services.
Bug Squad: Article

'Dr. Zac' to Present UC Davis Seminar on Honey Bee Research, Life Experiences

April 9, 2024
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
"A lot of students take a gap year between their undergrad and grad program," says honey bee scientist Zac Lamas, a National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) postdoctoral fellow with the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS). "I took a gap decade.
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