- Author: Elizabeth E Grafton-Cardwell
- Author: Cheryl A. Wilen
- Author: Matthew Daugherty
[From the April 2015 issue of the UC IPM Retail Newsletter]
In June 2013, we wrote about the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) in UC IPM's Retail Nursery and Garden Center News. At that time, ACP was mostly found in parts of Southern California. It has since been detected in multiple locations in the Central Valley and has been detected in the San Francisco Bay Area. Thus, the psyllid is established near, or threatening much of, California's commercial, nursery, and residential...
/span>- Author: Christopher Crawford, PlantRight
- Editor: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
[From the April 2015 issue of the UC IPM Retail Newsletter]
Choosing the right plant for the right place is a key element to protecting California's rich natural ecosystems. When used appropriately, plants offer us nourishment, beauty, sanctuary, and habitat; but some plants may have adverse environmental consequences.
Since 2005, PlantRight has worked with a diverse alliance of stakeholders to address the problem of horticultural plants that become invasive in California (Figure 1). Run by non-profit Sustainable Conservation, PlantRight tackles this...
/span>- Author: Niamh Quinn
[From the May 2015 issue of the UC IPM Green Bulletin]
Squirrels can be problem pests in many landscapes, gardens, and structures. California is home to several species of squirrels which can be divided into three groups: tree squirrels, ground squirrels, and flying squirrels. While ground squirrels and some species of tree squirrels can be pests, flying squirrels are very elusive and not often seen and not considered...
/span>- Author: Andrew Mason Sutherland
[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...
Most people in California have had some experience with skunks, whether getting a whiff of their distinctive skunk scent in the air or having the unfortunate experience of a pet that's been sprayed.
Two skunk species call California home: the spotted skunk and the striped skunk. About half the size of a house cat, the striped skunk is mostly active at dawn, dusk and at night, but can be active during the daytime, especially in human-use areas; the spotted skunk rarely ventures outside during the daytime.
Skunks are attracted to residential areas due to the availability of food, water, and shelter and often den under decks, porches, or buildings. Most people never see the skunks that travel through their...