If you've noticed tiny, dark insects flying around your houseplants, you likely have fungus gnats. These tiny flies can be a nuisance indoors and may also damage your plants.
Fungus gnats lay their eggs in moist soil and their larvae feed on plant roots and decaying organic matter. Because of this, the key to managing fungus gnats is to let the soil dry out in between watering and don't overwater plants. Water plants from the bottom using saucers under pots. This keeps the top of the soil dry, discouraging fungus gnats.
Sticky traps can be placed in pots or near plants to catch fungus gnat adults. This is also a great way to monitor for fungus gnats. Pesticides, including several biological pesticides like...
Just a few more weeks of summer remain! As the weather begins to shift, you may need to adjust your landscaping practices to prevent and monitor for fall pests. The UC IPM Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist is a monthly guide to help you avoid common pests of landscape plants.
Here are some general tips for the month of September to prevent pests and their damage in the garden and landscape. Visit the checklist online to see more pest management to-dos for your region.
- Monitor citrus plants for signs of pests such as
Nobody wants cockroaches in their home, especially since these pests can cause and worsen allergies in children, transmit diseases and bacteria, and contaminate foods.
If you find cockroaches in or around your home, do you reach for a do-it-yourself spray product? Well, you might not want to waste your money!
New research shows that some common consumer-grade insecticide sprays don't work to get rid of cockroach infestations. The study focused on products containing pyrethroids, which is a group of pesticides commonly found in many household insecticide products. Examples of...
Fleas can be found on pets year-round, but populations tend to increase dramatically in spring and summer when temperatures are warmer. Larvae develop rapidly in areas where temperatures reach 70° to 90°F. Fleas are a major concern for pet owners as they can give dogs and cats tapeworms, but they can also transmit flea-borne typhus to people and spread plague to wild animals like ground squirrels. These blood-sucking pests can be introduced to backyards from feral cats, squirrels, opossums, and other wildlife.
To learn more about fleas, the diseases they can spread, and their management, check out the recording of UC IPM's Urban & Community IPM Webinar from June 2024 at
Summer is in full swing and while it's been quite hot in many parts of California, it's been very cool in others. That's why UC IPM's Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist is a useful tool to help you figure out what to do in your region each month!
Here are some general tips for the month of August to prevent pests and their damage in the garden and landscape. Visit the tool to see more pest management to-dos in your region.
- Manage ants around landscapes and building foundations using insecticide baits and trunk barriers.
- Prune off...
