UCCE Master Gardeners of San Joaquin County

 When the Bohart Museum of Entomology hosts its open house on Sunday, May 18, expect to see some "insect wedding photography."In other words, when insects "get busy."The theme: "Insects: Life Stages."The event, free and family friendly, takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge…

Squash bugs are a common pest in vegetable gardens, where they can be found on squash, pumpkin, and melon. They can cause leaves to become speckled and turn yellow. Heavy feeding can cause plants to wilt or die, and fruit to rot.These pests remain in the garden during the winter, hiding under dead leaves,…

 If you were a honey bee queen, you'd be laying eggs all day on Mother's Day (not to mention the other days!).You'd be the mother of all the bees in the hive.During the peak season, the queen can lay up to 1500 to 2000 eggs a day. That can amount to about 50,000 to 80,000 workers (sterile females) and…

 Groundbreaking research that began with how caterpillars stay young drew acclamation and applause when the UC Davis School of Medicine (SOM) hosted its 2025 Convergence Research Celebration, held in the UC Davis Conference Center.The joint TEDx presentation, “Staying Young, Feeling Younger, and Slowing…

Tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima, was originally from China and became a popular landscape shade tree in the 1800’s. However, its rapid growth, aggressive spread, and native habitat disruption have made it a global problem. Reproducing rapidly through dense root suckers and wind dispersal of its “winged”…

 Where are all the bumble bees?This spring they seem quite scarce in Solano and Yolo County gardens, but a trip to Bodega Bay, Sonoma County, reveals different results.They're all over the Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans), a species in the family Boraginaceae, and genus Echium, native to the island…

 If you grow tomatoes, you may have encountered root-knot nematodes."Knot" what you want.USDA-ARS research plant pathologist William Rutter will speak on "Investigating the Mechanisms that Underlie Host Plant Resistance Against Root-Knot Nematodes" at a seminar hosted by the UC Davis Department of…

Note: I'm sharing a survey request related to grower and industry needs related to novel weed control technologies in orchards, vineyards, and other perennial specialty crops.  Our team of research collaborators is developing this information as a first step towards a future coordinated national…

 Bring on the bugs!The Bohart Museum of Entomology will host an open house, themed "Insects: Life Stages," on Sunday afternoon, May 18. The event, free and family friendly, takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, UC Davis campus."It's all about…

Some indoor pests can just be a nuisance; others can also be a health risk. Did you know that cockroaches and rodents are known to trigger asthma symptoms and lead to the development of allergic asthma for some people? This month, we recognize Asthma Awareness Month and share how you can reduce indoor…

 If you missed World Robber Fly Day on Wednesday, April 30, not to worry.There's still time to celebrate."The first-ever International Fly Week started April 30 on World Robber Fly Day and ends on World Bee Fly Day on May 6," said UC Davis alumna Brittany Kohler, research assistant in the lab of ant…

 Congrats to Alison!Doctoral candidate Alison Blundell of the laboratory of associate professor Shahid Siddique, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, is the recipient of the 2025 John M. Webster Outstanding Student Award from the Society of Nematologists.We are so proud of her and her…

7:30 – 8:00       Coffee etc.8:00 – 8:15       Welcome – Ashraf El-KereamyWelcome and introduction – Leonel Jimenez8:15 – 8:45       Ray Yokomi (pending approval from ARS) - update on the citrus and non-citrus host…

 Humans aren't fond of ectoparasites, such as ticks, fleas, lice, parasitic flies and mites.Neither are chickens. In a timely talk, veterinary entomologist Amy Murillo, an assistant professor in the UC Riverside Department of Entomology, will discuss "Tiny Terrors: How Ectoparasites Undermine…

When you spot a plant in your garden that doesn’t look healthy, how do you figure out what’s wrong with it? Plant problems can be caused by insects, mites, vertebrates, environmental conditions, and diseases, but it can sometimes be hard to tell which is causing the problem. UC IPM's Plant Problem…

 Bug Squad BlogBy Kathy Keatley GarveyThe Disappointing News: The California Honey Festival, initially scheduled for Saturday, May 3 in downtown Woodland, has been postponed due to a forecast of inclement weather. The festival has been rescheduled for Saturday, June 21.The Good News: The Hive at 1221…

 Breaking News: Due to the weather forecast of inclement weather, the 2025 California Honey Festival has been rescheuled from May 3 to June 21.  The California Master Beekeeper Program and the UC Davis Arboretum will be providing fun and educational activities at the “mini-honey festival” from 11 a…

Citrus Mealybug Field Day at Lindcove Sign up clicking on this link or email sangautam@ucanr.edu Instructors: Dr. Sandipa Gautam and David Haviland Course Objective: To teach PCAs about citrus mealybug, an emerging concern for citrus growers. The field day will focus on lectures on pest…