UC Master Gardeners of San Joaquin County

up close image of California poppies

A variety of colorful produce at an outdoor market

Article

Updates to Invasive Fruit Fly Quarantines

July 9, 2025

By Lindsey Hack

In the last two years, California has experienced a surge of invasive fruit fly infestations. Invasive fruit fly outbreaks endanger our state’s agriculture and economy, as well as homegrown fruits and veggies. They can infest many different fruit, nut, and vegetable crops. Adults lay their eggs under the…

Many agaves plants on tables.

Article

UC ANR shares prospects for sustainably farming the ‘agave rush’

July 9, 2025

By Caroline D Champlin

The popularity of farming agave is taking off in California, with climate change motivating growers to consider planting drought-tolerant crops. With all that buzz, UC Organic Agriculture Institute hosted a field day for current and prospective agave growers to learn more about farming the plant with…

Leafcutter bee on stem. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Article

Buzzwatch 2025 Underway

July 8, 2025

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

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…

Tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Article

Ever Held a Tobacco Hornworm?

July 8, 2025

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

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…

Article

Good Bugs, Big Impact: The Secret World of Biological Control (Part 2)

July 8, 2025

By Lindsey Hack

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 in a tomato field near Santiago, Chile.

Article

Chemigation Alternatives for Branched Broomrape Control in Processing Tomato: Promising Steps Forward

July 8, 2025

By Matthew Fatino, Brad Hanson

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…

Ranchman's tiger moth. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Article

Like a Moth to a Flame...

July 7, 2025

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

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…

A close up of a mosquito feeding on a person

Article

Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile Virus Throughout CA

July 7, 2025

By Lauren Fordyce

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…

A man stands by roses in a garden

Article

UC Master Gardener chronicles his path to tending The Huntington's roses

July 7, 2025

By Caroline D Champlin

Stephen Reid credits the UC Master Gardener program for preparing him for his role as assistant curator for the rose portion of the famous botanic garden in Pasadena.

A soldier beetle sunning itself on a yellow rose petal. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Article

Just Soldiering On...

July 4, 2025

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

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…

Stink bugs on a zinnia in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Article

Stink Bugs Suck

July 3, 2025

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

It seems like a good day to post images of stink bugs..We spotted a pair of stink bugs on our zinnias "keeping busy" today.They suck. Truly.Stink bugs are shield-shaped sucking insects, family Pentatomidae, and California is home to more than 50 stink bug species. How did they get their name? When…

A control for a citrus bacteria

Article

HLB Solutions from Ohio

July 3, 2025

By Ben A Faber

A promising solution to HLB is advancing to Phase 2 field trials following research by a Central State University scientist in Ohio. Anthony Arment, a molecular biologist and professor of biology at Central State University, played a key role in early research and ongoing consultation for the project.Pop…

Attack on Science blog

Article

Illuminating the Attack on Science

July 2, 2025

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

If you missed the July 1st UC Davis-based webinar, "Beyond the Headlines: The Invisible Power of Academic Research in America," featuring Nobel Laureate Randy Schekman of UC Berkeley and other Nobel Laureates and two dozen other scholars, not to worry.The webinar is on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Tq5…

Person with a black dog that is standing ontop of a white box

Article

Dogs Sniff Out Pest Problems

July 2, 2025

By Lindsey Hack

Dogs use their keen sense of smell to help humans every day. Their powerful noses alert us to danger, aid in search and rescue operations, and even have the potential to diagnose diseases. But did you know that some dogs have been trained to sniff out potential invasive pests? Enter—the detector dogs! …

A stick insect at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, UC Davis.

Article

A UC Davis Scientist's Thoughts About the Future of Science

July 1, 2025

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

You may know UC Davis Professor Jason Bond of the Department of Entomology and Nematology,He's the Evett and Marion Schlinger Endowed Chair of Insect Systematics; the director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology; associate dean of the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,…

UC Davis Distinguished Professor Walter Leal

Article

The Nobel Laureates and 'The Invisible Power of Academic Research'

June 30, 2025

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Federal funding of scientific research in our academic institutions is in jeopardy, but interest is swelling for the UC Davis-based webinar, “Beyond the Headlines: The Invisible Power of Academic Research,” set from 1 to 3 p.m., Tuesday, July 1 (Pacific Time).Today UC Davis Distinguished…

Dotted paropsine leaf beetle adult and larvae on a leaf. Chris Shogren

Article

Dotted Paropsine Leaf Beetle Threatens California’s Eucalyptus

June 30, 2025

By Christopher J Shogren

The dotted paropsine leaf beetle (Paropsis atomaria), an invasive pest native to Australia, was first discovered in California in 2022 and is rapidly spreading throughout Southern California targeting eucalyptus trees. Both adult beetles and their larvae feed on eucalyptus leaves, causing significant…

Gobabeb Desert Research and Training Center

Article

UC Davis Doctoral Student Iris Quayle to Study Darkling Beetles in Africa

June 27, 2025

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

UC Davis doctoral student Iris Quayle of the Department of Entomology and Nematology is heading to the Namib Desert of southwestern Africa in October to do research on darkling beetles.And she could not be more excited.Quayle, advised by Professor Jason Bond—he is the Evert and Marion Schlinger Endowed…

webinar en espagnol

Article

Sanidad Vegetal y Agua de Riego para cultivos de invernadero y vivero

June 27, 2025

By Ben A Faber

July's Ask-the-Advisor seminar will be in Spanish. See below, or in this link for more details.Wed, Jul 16, 2025 @ 10:00am - 11:00am¡Acompáñenos a un panel de discusión sobre Sanidad Vegetal y Agua de Riego para cultivos de invernadero y vivero!El evento es gratuito y se realizará a través de…

Banded alder borer on leaf. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Article

What's That Bug?

June 26, 2025

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

What's that bug?If you're painting your house, a mural, or your vehicle, you have a better chance of seeing it.Vacaville artist Joi McNeill, who is painting a mural on a building in the 300 block of Merchant Street, Vacaville, saw one today. She's working on a mural that includes the Old Town Hall, a…

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