The Urban Entomology Program at the University of California, Riverside and AgriTurf Distributing are joining forces to present The UCR Fumigation School on Wednesday and Thursday, November 15 and 16, 2017. Classes will be held at UCR Extension, 1200 University Ave., Riverside, CA.
The 2-day program will feature presentations on the biology of termites, wood-destroying beetles, and bed bugs, physical properties and mode of action of fumigants, structural inspections, and regulatory issues. In addition to classroom training activities, participants will visit an actual demonstration site to review aspects of the preparation of structures prior to fumigation. The class size will be limited to 50 attendees to enhance interaction...
If you have insects invading your kitchen or pantry, or if you've ever opened stored food products and discovered pests inside, you'll want to watch this new video from UC IPM. It describes several types of pantry pests, foods they are attracted to, and includes steps on how to prevent, manage and eliminate them from your home.
For more detailed information, read the Pantry Pests Pest Note. You can also read an article about pantry pests in the Retail and Garden Center IPM News at
If you plan to camp this summer, remember to wait until you arrive at your destination before you purchase firewood. Why?
If you bring your own firewood to a campground, you could unknowingly spread invasive pests and diseases that can harm local trees. New infestations of tree-killing insects and diseases are often found in campgrounds and parks as a result of campers moving firewood.
Once you arrive at your destination, pests can emerge from the firewood and spread to the trees and forests where you camp. Invasive and hard-to-control pests kill several million native trees every year, causing environmental and economic problems.
Ways You Can Help
- Buy it where you burn it! Purchase firewood...
![Male (left) and female walnut twig beetles. [L. Strand]](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/34720small.jpg)
Today's post for National Invasive Species Week highlights two ambrosia beetles that are detrimental to certain trees. Ambrosia beetles are highly specialized beetles that excavate tunnels in usually weakened or dead trees and cultivate fungal gardens, which they feed upon. Below are two such invasive beetle-fungal complexes that are currently impacting trees and forests in California.
Walnut twig beetle and thousand cankers disease. Walnut twig beetle, Pityophthorus juglandis, is a tiny bark beetle that attacks only walnut trees. The beetle has been in California for many decades but recently became associated with a new fungus, Geosmithia morbida. The fungus kills the phloem and cambium of...
- Author: Akif Eskalen
![Figure 4. Foamy liquid oozing from an infected tree. [A. Eskalen, UCR]](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/31730small.jpg)
[From the August 2015 issue of the UC IPM Green Bulletin]
Declining coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) trees have recently been found throughout urban landscapes in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Monterey counties. A fungus associated with a specific beetle is causing the decline by spreading what is known as “foamy bark canker disease” (Figures 1 and 2).
The fungal species, Geosmithia pallida, was recovered from symptomatic plant tissues in association with the western oak bark beetle...
