- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
From the UCANR Green Blog
In another sign of growing frustration with wildlife in Southern California residential areas, a coyote was shot and killed in a Silver Lake neighborhood by an unknown suspect in June, reported Nina Agrawal in the Los Angeles Times. Residents are taking to social media to commiserate about increasingly bold coyotes, and actions taken to control them.
"It's very disconcerting. Are they coyote vigilantes or something?” the Times quoted one resident.
In a report presented to the L.A. City Council, the...
This week is National Mosquito Control Awareness Week (June 26-July 2nd). The goal of the campaign is to remind people to protect themselves against mosquitoes especially in the summer months.
In the past, information about mosquitoes instructed people to avoid being outside at dusk. However, some of the mosquitoes species that carry the Zika virus are considered “day” biters, so it is important to protect yourself at all times while outdoors. Keep this in mind if you plan to camp, attend a barbecue, or sit by a pool.
Certain mosquitoes can breed in very small amounts of water. Make sure your yard or landscape is not a habitat for mosquitoes by covering or cleaning up an items that can hold...
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
In observance of National Pollinator Week, we thought we'd share how you can manage pests around your home, garden, and landscape and still protect pollinators.
Natural enemies (predators, parasites, and pathogens) reduce pest populations and help prevent damage to plants. Pollinators such as domesticated honey bees, wild bees, and other pollinating insects, are essential in the production of many of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts we grow in California, both in our backyards and in commercial agriculture.
Natural enemies and pollinators can be harmed by pesticides...
If you've noticed some odd-looking bugs in your garden or landscape recently, you might have leaffooted bugs. These medium to large sized insects feed on certain fruits, fruiting vegetables, nuts and ornamental plants.
Life Cycle
Adult females can lay over 200 eggs during a two-month period during spring. The eggs hatch and the nymphs emerge and can be found together with the adults. During spring and summer, there can be two to three generations of leaffooted bugs in your landscape!
In spring, leaffooted plant bugs often feed on thistles and other weeds. When fruits start to ripen, adults migrate into gardens and landscapes and can be found feeding on tomatoes, pomegranates, and citrus as well as ornamental...
/h2>- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
From the UCANR Green Blog
UC entomologist Anton Cornel, based at the UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, is working with the Consolidated Mosquito Abatement District in Fresno County to battle Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the species that can spread zika, chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever viruses, reported Barbara Anderson in the Fresno Bee.
(While populations of aedes aegypti