Pests in the Urban Landscape

It’s that time of year when yellowjackets can ruin your outdoor picnic or gathering. Yellowjacket wasps prey on other insects and scavenge on human food and garbage. Keep reading to learn what they are looking for and ways to get rid of them! Yellowjackets, sometimes called “meat bees,” defend their…

This article covers kissing bugs (also known as conenose bugs). They are an occasional summertime insect pest of sparsely-inhabited rural or suburban areas.

Want to control pests but don’t want to use pesticides? Good news—there are many alternative options, and most are more effective than pesticides and last longer!  In general, there are three main methods to controlling pests nonchemically: cultural control, physical control, and biological control…

While they may look cute, no one really wants a mouse around the house. House mice eat up to 20% of their body weight daily, eating whatever food is available. They can contaminate our food and their gnawing can damage buildings, wiring, insulation, food packages, and more. Many fires of unknown origin are…

Invasive species are reshaping California’s natural and urban landscapes. UC IPM’s new Invasive Species Mini-Series explores the many ways invasive species impact our lives, from harmful garden pests and aquatic hitchhikers to destructive tree pests, invasive weeds, and the policies that guide prevention and…