News & Information Outreach

Blog article by Michelle SchlegelLast month, I was wandering through a nursery, knowing that I usually get myself in trouble looking at the plants. Looking at all the vegetables, I came across a Cucamelon. What is that, I thought?  I’ve never seen or heard of these!  A Cucamelon (Melothria…

Time to round up the usual suspects! When talking about arthropod control in California, the usual suspects are rice seed midge, tadpole shrimp, and armyworms. I will focus on rice seed midge and tadpole shrimp in light of recent pyrethroid exceedances detected in the Sacramento Valley. The challenge…

 What's buzzing? What's fluttering? What's crawling?Planet Bee Foundation is encouraging all folks interested in native bees and native pollinators to join its Buzzwatch 2025, which it launched June 1 during National Pollinator Month and will continue through Aug. 31."Use iNaturalist to document native…

Plumerias! Maybe the most coveted of the tropical flowers grown and blooming now in Southern California! While more likely identified as Hawaiian being a favorite flower for leis, they are actually endemic to Mexico and Central America. But any tropical environment in the world is ideal for the growing…

California Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) mandates a 75% reduction in organic waste disposal (compared to 2014 levels) to reduce methane emissions from landfills. This ambitious law requires residents, businesses, and local governments to divert organic waste—including food scraps, yard trimmings, and soiled…

En la feria de Del Mar en San Diego, el Programa Ampliado de Educación Alimentaria y Nutricional (EFNEP) y los UC Master Food Preservers ofrecieron educación práctica para preparar comidas nutritivas y conservar alimentos de manera segura y económica. A través de demostraciones y charlas, enseñaron a las…

 Ever held a tobacco hornworm?You can when the Bohart Museum of Entomology at UC Davis hosts its annual "Moth Night" open house on Saturday, July 12. It takes place from 7 to 11 p.m. and it's free and family friendly, Parking is also free.Bohart Museum scientists will be displaying, among other live…

In Part 1 of this story, we covered some basics of biological control. Now let’s talk about some of the good bugs helping to control invasive pests in California. Controlling yellow starthistle one weevil at a timeYellow starthistle (YST) is a harmful invasive plant that is established and widespread in…

Branched broomrape (Phelipanche ramosa) is an invasive parasitic plant that poses a significant threat to California’s processing tomato industry. Known for its ability to attach to and draw nutrients from host roots, this pest can cause yield losses and trigger strict quarantine measures in California…

On our hot summer days, shady garden areas can offer welcome respite from the heat. One of the challenges of gardening in shade, though, is adding interest through color, because it can be difficult to find plants that bloom in shade. Incorporating native plants in your garden can greatly increase the…

 Like a moth to a flame...That typifies the attraction of folks who plan to attend the Bohart Museum of Entomology's annual "Moth Night" on Saturday, July 12. The open house, set from 7 to 11 p.m., is free and family friendly. Just head over to Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker…

  The long-awaited summer harvest time is approaching, and our mouths are watering in anticipation of those first juicy tomatoes and sweet, crisp cucumbers. But it is not always obvious when some fruits and vegetables are at their peak and ready to pick. Here are some tips for knowing when to…

Mosquito season is in full swing in California, and the deadly West Nile virus is making its way around the state. Health officials have identified the virus in 17 counties and there has been 1 confirmed human death so far this year. West Nile virus is one of several diseases that can be transmitted to…

 The British are coming! The British are coming!The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere?No, just soldier beetles, family Cantharidae, scrambling for aphids.Soldier beetles are so named because they sport a color pattern reminiscent of the British soldiers who battled The Thirteen Colonies (then known as "Great…

Dear Colleagues,I am writing to inform you the reconciliation bill has passed both the Senate and the House and is on its way to President Trump. To our extreme dismay, this bill will eliminate all funding for SNAP-Ed, which we know in California as CalFresh Healthy Living. The president is expected to sign…