- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Weeds can be a real nuisance in gardens and landscapes, and even during the colder winter months, some kinds of weeds continue to grow and thrive. These are called winter annual weeds.
Most weeds are classified as annuals, biennials, or perennials. Annuals complete their life cycle (germinate from seed, grow, flower, set seed, and die) in one year or less, biennials generally complete their life cycle in 2 years, and perennials live longer than 2 years.
Examples of winter annual weeds include chickweed, little mallow, and annual bluegrass. They germinate and actively grow during fall and winter, then produce seed and die by the hot summer months.
If allowed to set seed, annual winter weeds can continue to grow...
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
The redhumped caterpillar is a familiar pest of fruit and nut trees such as plum, almond, cherry, and apple, as well as ornamental trees like liquidambar and birch. These caterpillars can reach high populations in our area, sometimes defoliating entire branches or entire trees.
The newly revised Pest Notes: Redhumped Caterpillar, authored by Area IPM Advisor Emily Symmes and Steve Dreistadt, UC Statewide IPM Program, describes the pest, its life cycle, and how the insect damages plants. The peer-reviewed publication also describes management techniques, including use of insectary plants, cultural controls, and biological control.
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
We've had some rain in our area lately so you are probably seeing some weeds starting to grow in your garden or lawn. Among the few new weeds poking out in my landscape is dandelion, my husband's least favorite weed on Earth.
Hopefully you are aware of UC IPM's YouTube video series, but if not, we have a few dozen short videos cover pest topics such as catching a spider, trapping snails and slugs, and how to remove dandelions.
The "How to Remove Dandelions" talks about different nonchemical tools you can use to pull out unwanted weeds and discusses the importance of getting as much of that tap root as possible.
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
The New Year is a time when many people make resolutions to exercise more, eat better, and be more organized. My resolutions include all of these, but especially getting rid of some stuff around the house my family doesn't need anymore.
Most of us have clutter we've hidden away in closets, drawers, garages, or in other storage space. Although you may not have the time or energy to go through these excess “stuff” and cluttered areas, I have an incentive for you: pest reduction and prevention.
If one of your resolutions is being more organized and get rid of unneeded items in your house, consider how it could help you also reduce the possibility of encountering the following...
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
This week, I received two reports from Davis residents who found the invasive brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) in their house. Although BMSB is typically overwintering (resting stage) in the colder winter months, they can sometimes come out their hiding places, especially where it's warm.
The adult BMSB is about 5/8 inch long, and marbled ("marmorated") brown with beige. It can be distinguished from other stink bugs of comparable size and color by the following characteristics: the antennae have two white bands; the forward edge of the head is blunt; the margin of the shoulder (thorax) is smooth; the legs are marbled brown with faint white bands; the membranous parts of the forewings have dark bands at the tip; and a banded...