Voles are small, mouselike rodents that can be pests in gardens and landscapes. They damage many types of plants with their gnawing, from vegetables to turf to trees. Voles can gnaw completely around the trunk or roots of trees, causing girdling, which can kill trees.
Voles spend most of their time below ground in their burrows, but you can spot their presence by the well-traveled runways connecting the burrow openings. They prefer not to feed in the open to keep away from predators.
Voles are normally found in areas with dense vegetation, so clearing brush is one way to discourage them. Find out more about managing these rodents in the newly updated
This Saturday, April 15th, is the annual UC Davis Picnic Day event!
Stop by the UC Statewide IPM Program's booth from 9am to 3pm in the entomology building, Briggs Hall.
We'll have ladybugs (lady beetles) for you to take home, fun insect temporary tattoos for all ages, preserved insects on display, and a “good bug” scavenger hunt! You can also find information on various pests as we will showcase our publications, online tools, and resources.
Visit us with your pest-related questions and learn about all of the free UC IPM resources available to help you manage pests in the home, garden, or landscape!
Below are answers to the 2023 Easter Egg Hunt! How did you do?
Some mosquitoes lay single eggs on water surfaces, while others, like Culex species, lay batches of 100 or more eggs, called rafts, pictured above. Other species lay single eggs just above the water line in moist soil, tree holes, or containers where later flooding is likely. Eggs deposited on water surfaces usually hatch within a couple of days, but eggs laid on the sides of saucers under plants, jars, cans, or soil surfaces won't hatch until flooding occurs, which can be months or even years later. Read the
It's time for UC IPM's Easter egg hunt!
Can you guess which insects laid the eggs pictured below? Some may be pests, while others may be beneficial! Leave a comment on this blog post with your guesses, or on our Facebook and Instagram posts.
Answers will be posted on Friday, April 7th.
B.
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Weed management in landscaped areas can be challenging. Weeds may need to be controlled for public safety, fire reduction, aesthetics, and elimination of harborage for other pests. While many nonchemical options for controlling weeds exist—such as physical removal with tools, steam, flame or steam devices, grazing animals, and others—there are some situations that may require the application of herbicides.
For decades, glyphosate has been a common active ingredient used to control weeds in both agricultural and nonagricultural settings. However, there has been significant public concern about the use of glyphosate and other herbicides due to their potential...