- Author: Lauren Fordyce
Did you know that UC IPM has an online tool that provides month-by-month pest prevention and management tips? It's called the Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist! You can select your region of California to view activities to do in the landscape each month. You can also subscribe to receive an email at the beginning of each month for your designated region.
Follow these general tips for the month of January. To view more tips specific to your region, visit the checklist on the UC IPM website.
- Monitor for damage and pests such as
- Author: Belinda Messenger-Sikes
The invasive pest spotlight focuses on emerging or potential invasive pests in California. In this issue we are covering the Oriental fruit fly.
Oriental Fruit Fly Facts
The Oriental fruit fly (OFF) is an invasive pest that attacks over 230 crops including citrus and other fruits, nuts, vegetables, and berries. The short life cycle of the OFF allows rapid development of serious outbreaks, which can cause severe economic losses. Heavy infestations can cause complete losses of crops. Fruit that has been attacked may be unfit to eat as larvae tunnel through the flesh as they feed. Fungi and bacteria enter, leaving the interior of the fruit a rotten mass. Infested fruit does not always...
/h2>- Author: Belinda Messenger-Sikes
During the holiday season, the only creatures you want stirring in your home are your family, friends, and pets. But as temperatures drop, and the rain returns, some pests may seek shelter indoors with you. Rats and mice can be problems all year but in the cold weather, they prefer the warmth of your home to being outdoors and you might see more in your home.
Pests invade homes for varying reasons during autumn and winter. Common outdoor species such as Argentine ants, Oriental (or Turkestan) cockroaches, sowbugs and pillbugs, springtails, and earwigs, may simply be escaping harsh conditions such as freezing temperatures or small-scale flooding. Some insects, especially true bugs (Hemiptera); such as boxelder bug, bordered plant...
- Author: Lauren Fordyce
Mark your calendars and register now for these free IPM webinars! Learn about pest identification, prevention, and management in and around the home, garden, and landscape. Webinars are open to all members of the public and we encourage you to share them with anyone who may be interested in joining!
The UC Statewide IPM Program Urban and Community Webinar Series occurs on the third Thursday of every month from 12:00-1:00pm PST. All webinars are recorded and posted to the UC IPM YouTube channel– so don't worry if you can't attend!
January 18, 2024 – Peach Leaf Curl &...
- Author: Lauren Fordyce
Healthy Soils Week (Dec. 4-8) is a week-long initiative by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to highlight the importance of soil health throughout California.
Healthy soils can improve crop yields, sequester carbon, reduce erosion, and increase biodiversity. In addition, they can reduce pest problems and pesticide and fertilizer use. Healthy soils lead to healthy plants which are less susceptible to pest attacks and can better tolerate and recover from pest pressure.
In integrated pest management (IPM) we promote the use of cultural control methods to improve soil and plant health, making an environment less conducive for pests to...