Pests in the Urban Landscape

All mistletoes infest and grow as parasites on trees and large shrubs. In some cases, the host plant can be severely damaged. But recent studies have shown that broadleaf mistletoes can shelter and feed wildlife, including birds and small mammals.

UC IPM is excited to continue with our monthly urban and community IPM webinars. Webinars cover pest identification, management, and pesticide use around homes and gardens for California residents. Spring webinar registration is now open to the public.

Recent wet weather in many parts of the state has spurred emergence of winter weeds. How these weeds are managed varies by the type of weed and where it's growing. In IPM, identification is always the first step toward effective pest management.

If you have peach or nectarine trees that typically have distorted or reddened leaves in spring, they may be affected by peach leaf curl. Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease caused by a fungus that only affects peach and nectarine trees.

We all encounter pests in our homes, gardens, and landscapes, but which ones are most popular in California? While we can't say for certain, website traffic to UC IPM's Pest Notes gives us a glimpse of popular pests. Here are the top ten most frequently viewed publications in 2021.