![CDC General Recommendations for Flea Disease Prevention: reduce rodent and animal habitat around your home; limit exposure to wild or stray animals; wear repellent if you will be exposed to fleas; keep pets on flea control products year round; bathe and brush pets regularly; limit pet time outdoors; clean pet bedding frequently with soap and water; do not allow pets to sleep on your bed; do not accidentally swallow a dead flea.](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/108312small.png)
Fleas can be found on pets year-round, but populations tend to increase dramatically in spring and summer when temperatures are warmer. Larvae develop rapidly in areas where temperatures reach 70° to 90°F. Fleas are a major concern for pet owners as they can give dogs and cats tapeworms, but they can also transmit flea-borne typhus to people and spread plague to wild animals like ground squirrels. These blood-sucking pests can be introduced to backyards from feral cats, squirrels, opossums, and other wildlife.
To learn more about fleas, the diseases they can spread, and their management, check out the recording of UC IPM's Urban & Community IPM Webinar from June 2024 at
![Pest tips for August](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/108210small.png)
Summer is in full swing and while it's been quite hot in many parts of California, it's been very cool in others. That's why UC IPM's Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist is a useful tool to help you figure out what to do in your region each month!
Here are some general tips for the month of August to prevent pests and their damage in the garden and landscape. Visit the tool to see more pest management to-dos in your region.
- Manage ants around landscapes and building foundations using insecticide baits and trunk barriers.
- Prune off...
- Author: Lauren Fordyce
![Cobwebs on top of a patch of brown grass.](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/108085small.jpg)
Are you noticing an abundance of cobwebs outside, on plants, fences, homes, or outdoor furniture?
While many people fear spiders or dislike their cobwebs, most spiders are beneficial to have around– even in the home! Spiders are predators of many insect pests and rarely cause harm to people. The only medically significant spiders in California are brown and black widows. While these spiders have the potential to cause harm, it is rare that they will bite, even in areas where they are very common. Like most spiders, they prefer to stay hidden and avoid people.
Some common web-spinning spiders you might encounter outdoors...
- Author: National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)
![A person looking at a bottle of 20% acetic acid vinegar weed killer with a signal word DANGER.](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/107876small.png)
Acetic acid, also known as vinegar, is used in products for weed control. Many people choose it because it is natural. However, acetic acid can damage skin and eyes, especially at concentrations commonly found in weed killers.
What is the difference between acetic acid, vinegar, and horticultural vinegar?
You may know acetic acid best as vinegar. Vinegar is a solution of acetic acid in water. Acetic acid is a naturally occurring substance that is found in all living things. It is formed during fermentation. Acetic acid can also be made industrially. It is used in many industrial processes, including the manufacture of dyes, plastics, some drugs, and other industrial chemicals. It is also used in textile...
- Author: Belinda Messenger-Sikes
![A long, speckled brown insect with a pointed head on a green leaf.](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/107885small.jpg)
Exotic and invasive pests threaten California's natural environments, agricultural production, structures, landscapes and gardens. Exotic pests are organisms introduced into an area beyond their natural range and become pests in the new environment. Most introductions have been unintentional and accidental, but some invasive plant problems began as ornamental plants for sale.
Invasive species prevention is the most economical and desirable approach to invasive species management. However, when prevention isn't successful, pesticides may be needed to eradicate or control invasive species.
What are some problematic invasive species?
Aedes mosquitoes can transmit...
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