Ongoing research

Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Fuchsia Gall Mite

Some older gardeners may remember the days when fuchsias were free of this tiny pest. Fuchsia gall mites were inadvertently introduced into California in the 1980s and very quickly spread throughout the state.
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Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Gophers

The sandy and sandy loam soils found in many areas of the Central Coast plus irrigated fields and landscapes are near ideal habitat for gophers, squirrels, moles, and other critters that like to burrow and also like green vegetation.
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Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Grasshoppers

Grasshoppers are native to much of the rangeland along the Central Coast. The adults lay eggs in early to mid-summer and die. The eggs survive the winter and hatch in spring as temperatures (day degrees) accumulate.
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Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Ground Squirrels

Ground squirrels reproduce once a year and give birth in the spring. There are several kinds of kill traps or live-catch traps on the market. If a live-catch trap is used, you still have to dispose of the live squirrel in the trap.
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Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Irregular Pine Scale

Irregular Pine Scale. is the accepted common name. The scientific name is Toumeyella pinicola. Monterey pine is an especially favorite host, but seven other pine species are also attacked. When irregular scale is present, you should also look for ant activity.
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Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Ladybird Beetles

Both the larval stage and adult ladybird beetle are beneficial. They prey mainly on aphids, but will also feed on scale insects, whitefly larva, mealybugs, spider mites, insect eggs, and other small insects.
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Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Leafcutter Bees

These are the little grayish-black bees that cut circular notches out of the leaves of your rose bushes, bougainvillea, and other plants. It seems that once they decide on a particular plant, they can almost defoliate it by their cutting activities.
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Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Santa Barbara County Coastal Gardener

This garden column provides information on home, garden and landscape problems. It was created by Frank Laemmlen Ph.D., Farm Advisor Emeritus in the Santa Barbara County Cooperative Extension Office.
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Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

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Cooperative Extension Ventura County: Page

Booklice

Booklice are found in moist, dark places and usually feed on decaying vegetation. They are so small that unless you are looking for them you would not notice them in nature. Unfortunately, they have also found human dwellings to their liking.
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