Pests in the Urban Landscape

Urban neighborhood and park.

The Pests in the Urban Landscape blog shares the latest resources and information from the UC IPM Urban & Community team to help you sustainably manage pests in the home, garden, and landscape. 

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Unlabeled seeds from unsolicited packages.

Report Unsolicited Seeds to APHIS

July 28, 2020
Have you had unexpected seeds show up in the mail? Unknown seeds could be invasive plants, contain invasive insects, or have plant disease causing agents. Here's what the United States Department of Agriculture Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) has to say about it.
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Head lice adults, nymphs, and eggs (nits). [Credit: Dr. Shujuan (Lucy) Li]

Want Another Reason to Practice Social Distancing? Head Lice.

July 20, 2020
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas, Belinda Messenger-Sikes
Most people are practicing social distancing due to the current pandemic, so contracting head lice might not be a top concern right now. However, many families with young children have at least one encounter with head lice at some time or another.
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Figure 1. A healthy backyard lawn. (Credit: C Reynolds)

Lawn Problems: Diseases Are Not Always To Blame

July 16, 2020
By Janet S Hartin
Your customers want their lawns to be beautiful and functional (Figure 1) but dead patches or other problems sometimes occur. Figuring out the cause of turfgrass damage can be a challenge since many plant pathogens affect grasses as well as numerous abiotic (non-living) disorders.
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Figure 1. Disinfecting wipes contain different pesticide ingredients such as the ammonia compound shown here.

Using Disinfectants and Sanitizers Safely

July 14, 2020
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas, Belinda Messenger-Sikes
In order to stay healthy and keep our spaces clean during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are using disinfectants and sanitizers more than they may have before.
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Juvenile racoon (Credit: L Fitzhugh)

Masks and Covers in the Garden

July 8, 2020
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas
These days, most people are wearing masks when out in public for personal protection for themselves or others. In nature, there are a few pests that have their own type of face coverings, markings, or that other types of protective covers or behavior.
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