Pests

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Campfire burning
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Camping, Firewood, and Hitchikers

June 4, 2026
By Cherie Shook
Visiting Yosemite National Park is an awe-inspiring experience, even for the most seasoned of travelers. The valleys, waterfalls, giant sequoias, and iconic Glacier Point are all bucket list destinations ideal for a family camping vacation. To continue enjoying beautiful parks like Yosemite, it is important…
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Hand and arm covered with glove and long sleeve spraying clear mist from a bottle onto a green shrub.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Understanding Pesticides

June 2, 2026
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes
Many tools are available to help gardeners, pest management professionals, and growers practice sustainable pest management without the use of pesticides. Sometimes, however, a pest infestation is too high or nonchemical methods haven’t worked, so the next solution might be to use a pesticide. Pesticides are…
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Glassy-winged sharpshooter adult and (out-of-focus) nymph on green lemon twig.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Purchased a Grapevine at Costco in N. CA Recently? Read This!

May 28, 2026
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Updated May 29, 2026 at 4:30pmAn invasive insect called the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) has been found on grapevine shipments sold at select Costco locations in Northern California between April 21 and May 21, 2026. Note that the timeframe for grapevine plants sold at Costco has been extended to April…
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UC Master Gardeners of the Lake Tahoe Basin: Article

Central Sierra: It's June Bug Season

May 27, 2026
June bugs are among the most familiar insects of early summer. Although people commonly call them “bugs,” they are actually scarab beetles in the genus Phyllophaga. These beetles are usually brown, oval-shaped, and active at night, often flying clumsily around porch lights. Their larvae, known as white grubs…
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Pruning out old roses with bypass pruners.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Jump into Summer with these IPM Webinars!

May 21, 2026
By Yulie Velez
Looking to keep your brain stimulated this summer? Need information about garden pests? Join us every third Thursday of the month from 12:00 to 1:00pm PST to learn about a wide range of urban pest management topics. This series is free and open to the public, but advance registration is …
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A close-up of a California burclover plant showing deep green compound leaves with 3 leaflets, small yellow flowers, and green, round, spiny seeds.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Shamrocks, Clovers, or Weeds?

March 18, 2026
By Lindsey Hack
St. Patrick’s Day makes us think about shamrocks and all things green. With recent warm weather following winter rains, your lawn or garden might be dressing up for Saint Patrick’s Day and Spring with clovers and other weeds.  Clovers begin to germinate in the fall and continue throughout winter…
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The green foliage of a small sycamore tree coated with fluffly, white patches of powdery mildew fungus.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

What's That Powdery Stuff on My Plants?

March 5, 2026
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes
Have you seen white powdery-looking patches appearing on the leaves of your roses or sycamore trees? While home gardeners may be familiar with this sign of the plant disease powdery mildew on their veggies, ornamental plants and landscape trees can also be infected. In addition to those powdery spots, the…
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Japanese beetle. Credit: D. Cappaert, Bugwood.org)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

National  Invasive Species Awareness Week 2026

February 18, 2026
By Lindsey Hack
This week (February 23-27, 2026) is National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW), an event dedicated to raising awareness about invasive species, the threats they pose, and how we can slow their spread. When it comes to invasive species, your actions can have a big impact! What Can You Do? Take…
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