- Author: Beatriz Nobua-Behrmann
- Author: Randall Oliver
- Posted by: Elaine Lander
Two identical looking species of wood-boring beetles, collectively known as invasive shothole borers (ISHB), have killed thousands of trees in Southern California and pose an ongoing threat to California's urban and wildland forests. These beetles, which are not native to the United States, were first identified in Los Angeles County in 2012 and have since spread to six other counties: Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.
Beetles, Fungus, and Impact
The polyphagous shothole borer (Euwallacea fornicatus) (Figure 1) and the Kuroshio shothole borer (Euwallacea kuroshio) are small ambrosia beetles that have a symbiotic relationship with several species...
- Author: Belinda J. Messenger-Sikes
(Credit: J DiTomaso)
The best way to avoid exposure to poison oak is knowing how to identify it. While the classic adage “leaves of three, let them be” can help differentiate poison oak from true oaks, it's not always correct. Poison oak is also deciduous so detecting it in the winter or spring when there are no leaves can be tricky.
More information on about this plant can be found in the recently updated
- Author: Belinda J. Messenger-Sikes
Have you seen wild turkeys wandering through your neighborhood? These American birds were once on the verge of extinction but now can be found foraging for food in urban and suburban neighborhoods. Some people enjoy the sight of a flock of wild turkeys strutting by their house. However, others may consider wild turkeys pests because of the droppings they leave behind, blocking traffic, destructive foraging, or aggressive behavior.
Whether you're a turkey fan or not, you can find out more in the brand new Pest Notes: Wild Turkeys. Author...
- Author: Elaine Lander
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
“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.
There...
- Author: Donald R. Hodel
- Posted by: Elaine Lander
