Have you seen large black or golden-brown bees foraging in your garden? These could be carpenter bees. Carpenter bees bore into lumber or trees to make nests for their brood and can damage structural wood or leave unsightly holes and stains. Multiple bees may use a common entry hole, tunneling several feet into wood to create chambers for their offspring, and the sound or sight of these large bees may be disturbing to some people. However, carpenter bees are considered mostly beneficial because of their role in pollination. Males can't sting and females rarely do.

Prevention is the best approach for management. Use hardwoods in structures where possible and paint or varnish exposed surfaces. If you find carpenter bee holes and...

The Bagrada bug is a small, colorful stink bug that is becoming more common in California gardens and landscapes. First found in Los Angeles County in 2008, this new invasive pest has spread to all the southern California counties and has been moving steadily northward with recent finds in Fresno, Tulare, Monterey and San Francisco counties.

Bagrada bug prefers to feed on plants in the mustard family and can be devastating to young mustard greens or cole crops in vegetable gardens. It feeds on buds and seeds as well as leaves, stems and flowers and can build up in huge numbers on alyssum and related bedding plants.   The pest is favored by warm temperature, so the greatest numbers will likely be found in late summer...

Elm leaf beetles frequently defoliated elm trees in landscapes, parks and along streets in the 1970s, 1980s and mid 1990s, eliminating shade and weakening these important components of California's urban forests. Fortunately, the elm leaf beetle has been in decline since the late 1990's. Although the beetles and their larvae are still found, defoliation is uncommon and treatment rarely required. The reason for this change in pest status is unknown. A revised Pest Note: Elm Leaf Beetle by entomologists Steve Dreistadt, UC Statewide IPM Program and Andrew Lawson, California State University Fresno, provides information on identification and biology of the pest and...

Finding out that your house is infested with subterranean termites is among many homeowners' greatest fears. Mud-covered shelter tubes in the basement or crawl space may be the first sign that homeowners observe; these tubes allow termites to travel from the soil beneath the house to the wooden structure above. Or you may simply see swarms of winged termites in the spring or fall on a sunny day after rain. If you think you have a termite infestation, you need to call a professional for help. A newly revised Pest Note: Subterranean and Other Termites by Vernard Lewis, UC Berkeley, Andrew Sutherland, UC IPM, and Mike Haverty, UC Berkeley, provides information on...