A line of pushed up grass. A volcano sized mound. Yep, it's probably a mole! While you may never actually see the mole itself, the signs of their presence are pretty clear.
Moles are small burrowing mammals (not rodents) that live almost entirely underground in extensive tunnel networks. Since they prefer worms, they don't typically eat plants, but their burrowing can damage plant roots and leave unsightly ridges in lawns. You'll usually only find one mole per tunnel so if you start your control actions as soon as you spot their burrowing, you can more easily manage them.
Fortunately, UC IPM has a newly updated resource to help in your mole management efforts! This revised fact sheet,
- Author: Cindy Kron
On March 27th, 2024, a flatbed truck carrying a metal art structure originating in New York and headed to Petaluma, California was stopped at the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Agricultural Inspection Station in Truckee, California due to live spotted lanternfly (SLF) egg masses being present on the structure (Fig. 1).
Entry of the structure was denied, and the truck reported to the Nevada Department of Agriculture for inspection and treatment for SLF eggs on April 2, 2024. Approximately 30 egg masses were removed and destroyed (Fig. 2). The structure was power washed with soap and water and cleared to enter California with instructions to not offload the structure at the destination until...
- Author: Karey Windbiel
Change is in the air. Weather, daylight savings, politics, holiday decorations, and yes, websites.
You may have noticed the UC Statewide IPM Program's website is undergoing some style changes. Just this week, the home page changed from the style we've had for the last 15 or so years (Figure 1), to a new look (Figure 2). What does this mean?
The UC IPM Program is making some major style and navigation changes to our website to make our site more modern and accessible. In the coming months, you will see changes to both the style and navigation of the Home and Landscape section of the website. Several pages (such as the
- Author: Cherie Shook
The invasive pest spotlight focuses on emerging or potential invasive pests in California. In this issue we are covering the Mediterranean fruit fly.
Mediterranean Fruit Fly Facts
The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, commonly called Medfly, attacks more than 260 different plant species. It can be especially damaging to mango, citrus, grapes, and stone fruits. The Medfly originated in Africa and has spread around the world, becoming one of the most destructive agricultural pests. Despite recent successful eradication efforts in California, Mediterranean fruit fly was detected in Alameda County and prompted a quarantine in September 2024.
The adult Medfly is...
The common insecticide imidacloprid, and the related active ingredients acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, and thiamethoxam, belong to the pesticide group neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids have been linked to the decline in honey bee and other pollinator populations. To address these concerns, the California legislature recently put into law AB 363.
Starting January 1, 2025, neonicotinoid pesticides in California for non-agricultural outdoor use will only be available for sale at licensed pest control dealers and limited for possession and use by certified pesticide applicators. Sale of neonicotinoids in retail nurseries and garden centers and the possession or use of these pesticides by unlicensed applicators will no...
