- Author: Belinda J. Messenger-Sikes
Are bats good for the environment or are they pests? How about both? Almost all of the 25 species of bats in California eat lots of flying insects during their night flights, making them an important part of the ecosystem. But when they roost in buildings such as your home, they can become pests.
Bats roosting in outbuildings away from dwellings aren't much of a problem. Some people even place bat houses on their property to attract bats for assistance with pest control. But a colony of bats in your attic is cause for concern. Bats can spread human diseases like rabies and their droppings (called guano) can make a smelly mess.
If bats are a problem in your home, UC IPM has useful information to help exclude these unwelcome visitors. UC IPM's free publication Pest Notes: Bats was updated in March 2021 by A. Michael. Glassey, Medical Entomologist at the U.S. Army National Training Center in Fort Irwin, CA, and John F. Karlik, UC Cooperative Extension Advisor in Kern County. The publication describes public health concerns associated with bats living near humans and detailed management techniques for dealing with bats roosting in structures.
Roses in the garden can be infected with a variety of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, leading to diseases like powdery mildew and rust. Roses may also be damaged by nutrient deficiencies and other environmental problems.
This updated Pest Notes includes additional details about the biology and management of downy mildew and anthracnose, as well as information about emerging viral diseases. The authors also added new photos, references, and an updated list of fungicides.
Roses can grow well with little to no pesticide use and numerous natural enemies, or “good bugs” exist to help hunt or parasitize common rose insect pests.
Find solutions for common invertebrate pests on roses in UC IPM's recently updated Pest Notes: Roses: Insects and Mites. This revised publication by rose experts Mary Louise Flint, Extension Entomologist Emerita, and John Karlik, UC Cooperative Extension Advisor, Kern County will help you identify insect pests, select rose varieties, and consider management options. The Pest Notes has been expanded to include color photographs as well as updates on the rose midge and other new pests.
Many gardeners and landscapers enjoy growing and caring for roses. Through careful selection of varieties and appropriate cultivation, roses can be grown with a minimum of pest problems. Establishing rose plants to grow in environments with adequate conditions will allow them to grow well, while reducing their susceptibility to pests.
Find more information on growing healthy roses in UC IPM's newly updated Pest Notes: Roses in the Garden and Landscape: Cultural Practices and Weed Control, authored by John Karlik, Environmental Horticulture Advisor with UC Cooperative Extension, Kern County.
What's new in this version? You'll find examples of new cultivars with color photographs, additional information on establishing bare-root stock, and updated information about appropriate herbicides for use in controlling weeds in a rose garden.