Pests in the Urban Landscape

Sooty mold is a black fungal growth that looks like a layer of soot covering the leaves of a plant or a sidewalk. The aptly named disease is common in gardens and landscapes, appearing wherever a large infestation of plant-sucking insects are found.

Most of us have experienced itchy skin from a biting insect at least once in our lives. Insects and spiders such as mosquitoes, ticks, mites, bed bugs, fleas, and head lice can and do bite people.

While you are home working, learning, or relaxing, you may have noticed a few other critters sharing space with you.

American pokeweed is a large weedy shrub also known as pokeberry, American nightshade, poke salad, and a variety of other names. It is native to the eastern U.S. but is spreading in parts of California.

Beneficial insects can provide a lot of support in the garden. Natural enemies, which include predators, parasites, and pathogens, reduce pest populations and can help prevent damage to plants.