- Author: Chris M. Webb
As previously mentioned on our blog, the spotted wing drosophilia (formerly known as the cherry vinegar fly) has caused much damage to fruit in some California counties, including ours. UCCE scientists have worked hard since its arrival to find ways to minimize the damage to crops.
A UC Pest Management Guidelines publication for the spotted wing drosophila has recently been released. It can be downloaded for free. Other free UC Pest Management publications, arranged by crops, can be found here. Free pest information for homeowners and natural environments can be found at UC’s IPM home page.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Did you know that the brown garden snail, the most common snail in California gardens, was introduced from France during the 1850s for use as food? Or that slugs take 3 to 6 months to mature? Snails take even longer at about 2 years to maturity.
To find out more about these mollusks, check out UC ANR’s recently updated Snails and Slugs Pest Note . Here you will find more information about them, including multiple ways of minimizing or eliminating their negative impact to your garden.
Adult snail feeding on cabbage
Gray garden slug feeding on a ripe strawberry
Falling trees and limbs are more likely to happen during and right after a storm. With the anticipation of much rain in our area next week, now is a good time to check your trees to minimize the risk of injury and damage. Check out our previous blog post, Recognizing Tree Hazards, for tips.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
One of the most common home related questions we receive is for spiders. Most specifically the questions tend to relate to concern about black widow, or others that pose a risk to humans.
UC ANR has recently added a pest note, which can be downloaded for free, to help with these questions, “Black Widow and Other Widow Spiders” This publication will quite possibly tell you more than you wanted to know about these creatures. However, there are great tips for reducing your chances of being bitten and for reducing the habits they favor, which further reduces your chances of being bitten.
Other free spider pest notes (and much more) can be found on the ANR catalog site.
Adult black widow
Immature black widow
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Today I will share with you a database developed by the UC Davis Department of Nematology, but first a quick definition is probably in order for some readers: a nematode is a worm with a cylindrical, unsegmented body, often microscopic worm. However, not all are so small. Some can reach up to 20 feet long. Certain species feed on plants, causing much destruction, but many feed on other nematodes and insects.
The NEMABASE designed by the UC Davis Department of Nematology compiles information from thousands of articles written over many decades. The objective of the database was to collate, interpret and evaluate available information on the host status of plants to the plant-parasitic nematodes, and to make it available as a basis for management decisions. It gives fast, easy access to the host status of plants to plant-parasitic nematodes throughout the world, and helps with crop rotation and cover cropping decisions for nematode management. The entire database can be downloaded or you can do simple online searches. Instructions for use are provided.
You will find much at the site, including:
- 6,100 plant taxa, including higher taxonomic information, geographic origin, growth habit, and use of each plant species.
- 3,900 nematodes, including details of the higher taxonomic information for 3,900 of the major plant-parasitic nematodes (to the race level).
- 38,000 interactions, detailing the nature of each plant and nematode interaction, the constraints of the experiment or observation, and the source and quality of the data.
- Relation tables with 47 variables
- A dictionary that lists each field name abbreviation and provides a description
- And much more
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The animals we commonly refer to as gophers, are actually named pocket gophers. They are named this because they come equipped with fur lined external pockets they use to carry food and or nesting material while they tunnel under gardens, agricultural fields, and open space.
We often receive calls for help from home gardeners battling pocket gopher problems. Did you know that the typical lifespan of these creatures are three years? They are well designed for burrowing, for instance they are able to put their lips behind their teeth allowing them to keep dirt out of their mouths while using their teeth to dig.
Even one gopher can do a lot of damage, and they can reach densities of 60 or more gopher per acre. In addition to eating plants, they also damage irrigation lines with their chewing. More water problems and loss of this resource can occur when water meant for irrigation is diverted through their tunnel systems.
They live alone, except when females are caring for young. In irrigated areas gophers can produce up to three litters a year. In non-irrigated areas, only one litter per year is produced. In those areas breeding takes place in late winter or early spring, so if you have gophers in this type of setting, now would be a great time to reduce current numbers.
The University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) has recently updated the free pocket gopher pest note publication. This publication will explain how to determine if you have gophers on your property. It also details several types of control methods. Additional free UC ANR pest notes and other related information can be found at the UC Davis IPM website.
Adult pocket gopher
