- Author: Elaine Lander
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
While we continue to spend more time than usual indoors, you may have noticed a few unexpected (and perhaps unwanted) co-occupants like ants, cockroaches, or mice. Luckily, UC IPM has a series of fact sheets called Pest Notes to help you identify and manage hundreds of different pests in and around the home, only a portion of which might come indoors.
Any room in the home can attract and harbor indoor pests including kitchens, pantries, bathrooms, closets, storage areas, or other living spaces. Prevent and reduce indoor pest problems by cleaning and decluttering indoor spaces. This removes access to food, water, and shelter for pests such as ants, carpet beetles,...
- Author: Belinda J. Messenger-Sikes
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
- Author: Elaine Lander
Sooty mold is a black fungal growth that looks like a layer of soot covering the leaves of a plant or a sidewalk. The aptly named disease is common in gardens and landscapes, appearing wherever a large infestation of plant-sucking insects are found. Sooty mold grows on honeydew, a sticky substance excreted by plant-sucking insects.
While sooty mold doesn't actually damage plants or other surfaces, a thick growth of the fungus can block light to plant leaves, reducing photosynthesis. This can lead to stunted growth and premature leaf drop.
The key to reducing sooty mold is management of honeydew-producing insects,...
Centipedes and millipedes are most often seen in yards and gardens, sometimes finding their way into houses. They are not insects, but they belong to the same group in the animal kingdom as insects and crustaceans.
While centipedes have 1 pair of legs per body segment, millipedes have 2 or 4 pairs of legs per body segment. Centipedes move more quickly than millipedes and are more prone to biting.
In the garden, centipedes are typically found in dark, damp areas under stones or mulch. House centipedes are so named because they are mainly encountered indoors. All centipedes are beneficial arthropods, feeding on insects. Millipedes live and feed on rotting leaves and other moist, decaying plant...
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
When using any kind of pesticide, including herbicides, it's important to read the pesticide label carefully and to be sure that you have the proper equipment for applying the pesticide correctly and safely. You will need certain clothing to protect yourself from the unwanted effects of acute (immediate) and chronic (long-term) exposure, even when applying organic or lesser-toxic pesticides.
Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is the term used for clothing and eyewear that act as a barrier between your body and the pesticide. However, for home use pesticide products, PPE is not always listed on the label—some simply say to avoid contact with eyes, skin, or clothing. So how do you know what to wear?
Before using...
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
[Originally published in the Winter 2019 issue of the Green Bulletin]
What is UC IPM?
UC IPM is a statewide program within the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. We are dedicated to helping all Californians manage pests around the home, in the landscape, on the farm, in schools, and even on the pet. Our philosophy focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through using a combination of techniques such as building out pests, modifying maintenance practices, excluding pests, using...
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