- Author: Thomas Getts
- Author: Rob Wilson
- Posted by: Gale Perez
Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) also known as tall whitetop is a root-creeping perennial weed. It is commonly found along roadsides, ditches, and drains. It is also a big problem in pastures, non-cropland, and even cropland that is not tilled on a yearly basis. Unlike many other weeds of the state, pepperweed is problematic throughout many ecotypes, from low elevation wetlands around the delta up to high elevations in the Sierra's. Perennial pepperweed spreads by seed and root fragments and is very persistent and difficult to control once established.
Up in the Klamath basin, I've been amazed at the number of perennial pepperweed patches flowering along the road and ditches this year. The plants' tiny white...
- Author: Ben Faber
- Posted by: Gale Perez
Here's the latest from the UC ANR Topics in Subtropics blog written by Ben Faber, Farm Advisor, UCCE Ventura County.
It really has gotten out of hand--Hairy Fleabane and Horseweed which are both Conyza weed species that have run rampant this year because of the extra rain. It's also because they have become resistant to glyphosate herbicide. The problem has shown up all over the US and other parts of the world. Gradually as resistance has grown and their resistant fairy seeds have floated wherever the winds go, the weed is having a field day everywhere in...
/h3>- Author: Guy B Kyser
Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) kept a low profile during the drought years but seems to have exploded following this year's rains. (It is still ‘lying low', so to speak, but there is a lot more of it.)
Also known as goatheads or caltrop, puncturevine is a prostrate annual that produces large, hard, spiked seeds. The seeds disseminate by sticking to animals, tires, and feet, and can easily puncture bike and ATV tires. I tried to do a puncturevine study once but couldn't get the seeds to germinate; my theory now is that the seeds have to be run over by a vehicle before they'll sprout. Conveniently, the plant is commonly found along dirt roads, on roadsides, and on the edges of ag...
- Author: Carl E. Bell
- Posted by: Gale Perez
From the Invasive Plants in Southern California blog
You can't have too much information on how to control pests. The second edition of the UC IPM Forest and Right-of-way Pest Control compendium is now available from the UC ANR publications catalog. For more information on the publication and how to order it, click here.
Enjoy - Carl Bell
- Author: Richard Smith
- Author: Shimat Villanassery Joseph
Bagrada bug, Bagrada hillaris is a new invasive insect that arrived in the Salinas Valley in the summer of 2013. It is a potential pest of cole crops which is of particular concern in Monterey County which has 97,830 acres of cole crops and other crops in the mustard family including bok choy, Napa cabbage, rappini, and component s of spring mix such as, mizuna and arugula. Paving the way for the movement of this insect into the valley are weeds in the mustard family.
Bagrada bug was first observed in fields of spring mix and broccoli in the south end of the valley between King City and San Ardo. Upon inspection of the weeds in the areas surrounding these fields, bagrada bug was observed on shortpod mustard...