If you are seeing black and red bugs scurrying about near trees and buildings, they may be boxelder bugs. Boxelder bugs (Boisea rubrolineata) feed on the flowers, leaves and seedpods of female boxelder trees (Acer negundo) and occasionally are found on maple and ash, and sometimes on certain stone fruits and grapes.
Boxelder bugs are often confused with other insects that look similar such as red-shouldered bugs, squash bugs, the bordered plant bug, and leaffooted bugs.
This insect doesn't usually cause significant damage to landscape plants, but when their numbers are high during fall, they can build up on outside walls or sometimes enter houses and may be considered a nuisance.
If you have a...
Have you noticed small, rounded beetles that resemble miniature lady beetles crawling your home lately? If so, you may have carpet beetles.
Carpet beetles can be pests in homes, museums, and warehouses, where they feed on food such as fabric, wool carpet and rugs, stored food, and natural animal products including furs, feathers, bone, silk, and preserved specimens.
Adult carpet beetles don't feed on fabrics but instead feed on the pollen and nectar of outdoor plants. However, once they find their way indoors-- which could be through an open door or on cut flowers brought inside-- adults lay their eggs on a food source and within two weeks, their eggs hatch and begin to feed. Larvae feed in dark, secluded places and as...
If you subscribe to our Pests in the Landscape blog, you'll notice that we frequently post updates about Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and huanglongbing (HLB). Educate yourself about ACP and HLB so you can help prevent its spread. Here are a few things you can do:
- Read the Pest Note: Asian Citrus Psyllid and Huanglongbing to learn how to identify the psyllid, host plants, and what you can do.
- Visit this Distribution of ACP/HLB website to find out if ACP/HLB has been found in your area.
- Watch this
Are you and your staff registered for one of UC IPM's hands-on, train-the-trainer workshops? Are you UC Master Gardener who would like more IPM training? If so, spaces are still available in both our January 24 and January 31 workshops. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about some important topics to better serve your clientele. Only $30 and includes breakfast, lunch, lots of training materials to take home, and great information!
Oakland Workshop, Jan. 24, 2017
Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 17, is the final day to register for the Oakland IPM Training for Retail Nurseries and Garden...
- Author: Anne Schellman
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Now is the time to prepare your garden and landscape for winter. The simple tasks recommended below will help prevent perennial weeds, insect pests, and certain disease pathogens so these problems don't get established and become difficult later.
Weeds
- Manage weeds using nonchemical methods such as cultivation, handweeding, or mowing.
- Prevent weeds using competitive plants, mulches, and hand removal.
- Herbicides (weed killers) are rarely needed in established landscape plantings when nonchemical controls are used regularly.
To learn more about managing weeds, see the UC IPM Pest Note: Weed...