Soil solarization is a method home gardeners and farmers can use to manage soilborne pests such as weeds, disease pathogens, nematodes and insects. Solarization can reduce help reduce pesticides used to control these pests.

Soil solarization is simple: prepare the site, water it a bit, then cover the soil with clear plastic for an extended period of time to allow the sun to heat the soil to temperatures lethal to a wide range of pests.

Learn more about this process in our recently updated Pest Notes: Soil Solarization for Gardens & Landscapes, by authors Jim Stapleton, Cheryl Wilen, and Richard Molinar of the University of California Cooperative...

As written in my blog post from 2 days ago, I found carpenter ants in my house recently and decided to call a pest control company to help manage them.

Yesterday, the field representative from the pest control company (both of whom will remain unnamed) showed up as scheduled, the day after I submitted a service request. Prompt service, which I appreciated! I had collected some of the perpetrators for him, and had both dead and live specimens on hand for his expert ID and advice.

The job of the licensed structural field rep is to identify the pest. I already knew what I had, having some prior knowledge of ants and having used the UC IPM

Are you interested in urban entomology? Do you wonder what that bug is you found in your carpet? Or maybe you love ladybird beetles and want to find out more about them.

Come learn about and see indoor and outdoor insects this Sunday, November 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, during their next open house. And I will be there so come down and visit with me!

The Bohart Museum is located in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building on Crocker Lane, UC Davis campus.  The event is free and family friendly, with arts and crafts planned for adults and kids alike.

Read more about this event and other upcoming Bohart Museum activities in the