It's that time of year again for UC IPM's semi annual Easter Egg hunt!

Can you guess which insect, spider, or mollusk laid the eggs pictured below? These critters may already be hiding in your home, landscape, or garden! Leave a comment with your guesses. Answers will be posted on Friday, April 15.

“Aphids are really bad this year!” This is what we've been hearing on social media and from many home gardeners. Aphids can curl leaves, stunt plant growth, and make a mess by the sticky honeydew they exude. Some aphid species create galls which can also damage plants. Low to moderate aphid infestations usually don't damage plants but if you do have more aphids this year, there are many options for controlling them.

Aphids in landscapes and gardens can be managed by a number of different methods, including biological control. Biological control is when naturally occurring beneficial insects, mites, or other organisms (also called natural enemies) reduce a pest's abundance by eating or parasitizing them.

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October is a perfect time to talk about spiders! People decorate for Halloween with scary images of spiders and webs. Many people fear spiders but what you may not know is that they are helpful in our homes and landscapes.

Spiders you might find wandering in your home or hanging out in your garden are beneficial predators, eating pest insects like flies, mosquitoes, and numerous other undesirable bugs in and around landscapes.

Whether you are curious as to what kind of spider you found or you are looking for ways to get rid of them, UC IPM has the information you need in the newly revised free publication, Pest Notes: Spiders. Author...

While you are home working, learning, or relaxing, you may have noticed a few other critters sharing space with you. If some of these critters have 8 legs, we have a video to show you how to catch and release them!

Why might you release spiders outside? Spiders are beneficial insects called natural enemies. They are predators that help control other pests and insect eggs.