[From the May 2015 issue of the UC IPM Green Bulletin]

For landscape professionals: Turf areas, such as residential lawns, commercial landscape features, municipal rights-of-way, sports fields, and golf courses, can be challenging to manage since they often require substantial inputs and may be expected to always look clean, green, and uniform by clients. Insect pests, though actually quite rare in well-managed turf, can sometimes jeopardize a flawless appearance (Figure 1), leading to further inputs in the form of pesticide applications. With proper monitoring, however, pest...

To successfully eliminate bed bugs, pest management professionals (PMPs) say they need the cooperation of people living the pests, according to a survey conducted by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources scientists.

California's pest management pros are divided over whether they believe that some of the state's bed bug populations are resistant to insecticides, but they agree that the bugs may survive treatments by finding safe harbor in excessive clutter and personal items that tenants didn't want treated or thrown away. In addition, some settings – such as hotels, motels, college dorms and homeless shelters – may be continually reinfested.

Bed bugs are among the most...

California requires that pest control companies providing services in schools and licensed child care centers comply with a series of laws called the Healthy Schools Act (HSA). The HSA promotes IPM and seeks to minimize pesticide exposure to children in all public K–12 schools and licensed private child care centers.

Providing Integrated Pest Management Services in Schools and Child Care Settings is the new free online training module available from UC IPM that explains the history of the Healthy Schools Act and details what schools, child care centers, and pest control companies are required to do to follow the...

As temperatures drop and seasonal moisture returns to California, some pests may seek shelter or overwintering sites within homes and other structures. These seasonal nuisance pests (or “occasional invaders”) can cause concern in residents and may lead to unnecessary, ineffective, and potentially harmful pesticide applications, both inside and out. Be prepared to educate your customers about nonchemical exclusion tools, materials, and techniques that can prevent pest entry over the long term, helping to reduce pesticide use around our homes and environment.

Pests invade homes for varying reasons during autumn and winter. Common outdoor species such as