- Author: Lynn S. Kimsey
- Posted by: Lauren Fordyce
![Most spiders, like this jumping spider, prefer to hide from people. [Credit: Dustin Hume, Unsplash]](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/95486small.jpg)
Arachnophobia: Should You Be Afraid of Spiders?
Fear of spiders, arachnophobia, is a widespread problem in western societies. This fear is not only of spiders but can extend to all land arthropods with more than six legs—the arachnids. It can range from simply avoiding arachnids to panic attacks, high heart rates, and flight behavior. It's not clear if arachnophobia is a learned response or something instinctive. However, it is much commoner in western societies than elsewhere. In other parts of the world, spiders
- Author: Lauren Fordyce
The UC IPM Urban & Community Program hosts monthly webinars that are free and open to the public. Join us every third Thursday from 12pm-1pm for helpful pest related information. All webinars are recorded and posted on the UC IPM YouTube channel soon after.
Upcoming
10/20/22: Trees for a Changing Climate
With fall finally here, now is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. However, before you head to the nursery, consider attending this webinar on Trees for a Changing Climate. On October 20, 2022, UC ANR Environmental Horticulture Advisor Janet Hartin will discuss some underutilized trees that are heat, drought, and pest resistant. Sign up...
- Posted by: Lauren Fordyce
![Mature dallisgrass plant, Paspalum dilatatum. [Credit: K Windbiel-Rojas]](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/95301small.jpg)
Knowing what weedy grass you have in your lawn or landscape is very important in being able to properly control it. Dallisgrass is a common perennial weed that is easily identified and grows in uneven clumps in lawns and turf. This growth pattern creates a tripping hazard as well as a poor playing surface for parks, front lawns, and athletic fields. Clumps must be dug out to prevent its growth. Solarization with clear plastic can help control dallisgrass.
For more details about the biology of dallisgrass, management methods, and extensive information about herbicides, see the newly updated Pest Notes: Dallisgrass, authored by UC Cooperative Extension...
- Author: Belinda J. Messenger-Sikes
- Posted by: Lauren Fordyce
![A black-tailed jackrabbit, also known as a hare. [Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service]](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/95300small.png)
Many people think wild rabbits hopping around are adorable—there's even an international rabbit day celebrating wild and domestic rabbits—but they're less welcome when they're eating your carefully tended garden. Wild rabbits in California can devour your garden vegetables, just like Peter Cottontail. And they don't stop at lettuce and beans. Rabbits and hares will gnaw tree bark, flowers, most green vegetation, and even drip irrigation tubing.
UC Davis Wildlife Specialist Roger Baldwin has revised the Pest Notes: Rabbits and included more detailed management methods for jackrabbits, cottontails, and other wild rabbits. Managing...
- Posted by: Lauren Fordyce
- Author: Belinda J. Messenger-Sikes
Abiotic plant disorders are generally caused by environmental conditions, rather than microorganisms. They are sometimes called noninfectious diseases. Abiotic disorders can develop if a plant's needs are not being met. Abiotic disorders can not only damage a plant directly but could predispose trees and shrubs to attack by insects and pathogens. Disorders and pests often act in combination, such as when drought stress or root injuries make trees susceptible to bark beetles and root decay pathogens.
Common causes of abiotic disorders include too much or not enough water, compacted soil, nutrient deficiency (often caused by imbalanced soil pH), excess soil...
