![Poison oak leaves and flowers. [Jack Kelly Clark]](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/46190small.jpg)
Summer is a great time for outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and backpacking. During your adventures in natural areas, be on the lookout for poison oak. Poison oak, a well known plant for most people in California, is widespread in our state and can be encountered in open woodland areas, grassy hillsides, coniferous forests, and open chaparral.
Poison oak looks different depending on the time of year, and may be difficult to recognize. In spring, it has young leaves that are green or sometimes light red, along with small, white-green flowers. In late spring and summer, poison oak foliage is glossy green. As we head into late summer and early fall, the leaves will turn shades of orange and red with whitish-green,...
![Catchweed bedstraw. [K. Windbiel-Rojas]](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/42858small.jpg)
Catchweed bedstraw. It's that weed that tugs at your clothes while you pass by or attaches to your dog or cat's fur. It's also known as the “Velcro plant” since it easily clings to anything that touches it.
In the garden, catchweed bedstraw competes with landscape plants for nutrients, water and light. Once mature, it can reach 6 feet long and be problematic when it smothers desirable plants. It can also make it difficult for gardeners to harvest produce.
Catchweed bedstraw is a winter or summer annual in California. The best control is to physically remove it as soon as it appears so it does not spread. For tips on how to manage this weed in your landscape, please visit the
Every summer, a handful of insect pests can become a real nuisance when they invade your space, bite, or sting you. Whether you take a staycation or a vacation, you'll want to watch our videos for tips on how to deal with these pests when you encounter them.
1 Ants: What to do if you have an ant emergency
2 Bed bugs: Don't bring bed bugs home when you travel!
3 Mosquitoes:...
- Author: Andrew Mason Sutherland
[From the July 2015 issue of the UC IPM Retail IPM Newsletter]
Insect pests, though actually quite rare in well-managed lawns and turf, can sometimes jeopardize a flawless appearance, potentially sending people running to their local nursery or garden center for help.
The recently revised UC IPM Pest Note: Lawn Insects can prepare you with answers to keep lawns pest-free and BBQ ready this summer. This resource contains a wealth of information about lawn insect...
Summer is in full gear and along with warm weather comes the abundance of some seasonal insect pests such as flies. Of the thousands of fly species, only a few are pests in and around the home, the most common one being the house fly.
Flies can carry bacteria and viruses that cause conditions such as diarrhea and food poisoning. House flies pick up disease agents while feeding on materials like feces and then deposit them onto human food after contact with or feeding on human food.
The best way to deal with house flies is to use a combination of exclusion and sanitation practices. While humans commonly find adult flies to be the most bothersome life stage, the larval stage is the best target for management efforts....
