Pest Management

In EnglishLa temporada de los mosquitos sigue en su apogeo en California y el mortal virus de Nilo Occidental continúa abriéndose camino por el estado. Los funcionarios de salud han identificado la presencia del virus en 17 condados y confirmado una muerte humana en lo que va del año. El virus del Nilo…

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…

You have probably heard about the “good bugs” that eat pest insects around your home and garden, like ladybugs, lacewings, and spiders. You may have even purchased some beneficial insects or nematodes at a garden store. Good bugs can also help us manage invasive species, but the process is a bit more…

You may not see them, but small hitchhikers can cling to your boats, trailers, fishing gear, kayaks, and paddleboards. These hitchhikers are aquatic invasive species like plants, fish, and mussels. Once introduced to a body of water, they can displace native species, clog motors, damage water delivery…

While bringing firewood from home for your weekend camping trip may seem harmless, many invasive pests can hide in firewood and cause serious harm to California’s forests and urban landscapes. You can help limit the spread of these unwanted hitchhikers by collecting or buying firewood close to where you plan…

Social media summaryAfter participating in a hands-on workshop at the Agricultural Application Engineering (AgAppE) Lab at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension (KARE) Center, 100% of undergraduate students reported learning gains in spray application technology, sparking interest in careers in…

Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), also called buttercup oxalis or sourgrass, might be a familiar sight in winter and spring, particularly to those who live in coastal regions or the Sacramento Valley. Some people enjoy seeing this plant’s cheerful yellow flowers pop up in their spring gardens, but for…

General situation, thrips population developmentPlanting is in full swing. Temperatures and precipitation this spring are close to historic norms, and the thrips population predictions are very similar to those we saw last year. We’re currently at the peak of 1st-generation adults; they’ll be laying their…