Termite Awareness Week (March 16-22) is a campaign created by the National Pest Management Association to call attention to the damage termites can cause to structures and to make sure homeowners understand how to prevent and deal with termite infestations.
Did you know?
- Of the 23 species of termites in California, only three are considered pests. The three pest species are dampwood, drywood, and subterranean termites.
- Subterranean termites are the most common in California. They can be found infesting wood that is in contact with the soil, including structural lumber in homes and landscapes, as...
Completely revised and expanded, Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs, 3rd Edition, is a comprehensive, how-to integrated pest management (IPM) resource for landscapers, arborists, home gardeners, retailers, and parks and grounds managers. This easy-to-use guide covers hundreds of insects, mites, nematodes, plant diseases, and weeds that can damage California landscapes.
The book's 435 pages present the practical experience and research-based advice of more than 100 University of California (UC) and industry experts, including:
• Pest-resistant plants and landscape design:
• Planting, irrigating, and other cultural practices that keep plants healthy:
• Conserving natural enemies to...
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
- Author: Anne Schellman
Did you know that every 60 days, California gains a new and potentially damaging invasive species? Once established, invasive species are extremely difficult to eradicate and can cause not only ecological disruption, but economic problems as well.
This week (February 21-27) is National Invasive Species Awareness Week. The goal of the week is to raise awareness and identify solutions to invasive species.
What is an invasive species? The term “invasive” is often used to describe something that appears to be taking over a garden or landscape. However, according to the National Invasive Species Council, a true invasive species is...
Seeing ants inside your house lately? As Californians enjoy the long-awaited rainfall, something linked to rain is not as welcome: ants.
Ants often enter buildings seeking food and water, warmth and shelter, or refuge from dry, hot weather or flooded conditions. They may appear suddenly in buildings if other food sources become unavailable or weather conditions change.
One such ant we see headed indoors during rainy conditions in California, is the Argentine ant. The Argentine ant is about 1/8 of an inch long and dull brown in color. It's normally found living in the landscape in shallow nests, and might even be living just outside your building. When rainy weather floods their nest, Argentine ants may use your home or...
Did you make a resolution to be healthier in 2016? If so, why not add keeping your landscape healthy to your resolution? UC IPM has a new resource that can help.
The Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist or SLIC is a regional decision-making tool that can help you keep your landscape healthy by preventing pests and plant problems. It was designed to help landscape professionals and home gardeners know which activities to do to prevent, monitor, or manage pests each month. Monthly lists can be viewed online or printed as a PDF and you can carry it with you to ‘check off' activities as you work outside.
The newest feature of the tool...