Pests

Winter rains and damp conditions in many parts of California may have brought a surprise visitor to your lawn: mushrooms! A few mushrooms sprouting in your lawn can be a good sign: it means there's plenty of organic matter in the soil. But if patches of mushrooms are sprinkled across your lawn, something…

From the UC IPM Urban and Community team, we’d like to wish you a happy holiday season! As we reflect on this past year, we’d like to express our gratitude to all of you for joining us to learn about pest management around the home and garden.  This year, we’ve connected with you in various ways:…

The black stuff on your leaves is likely sooty moldThe black stuff on your leaves is probably sooty mold, a fungal disease growing on plants and other surfaces, and it is often seen in the spring and summer. The leaves or stems have a black coating that looks like soot. If you look closely, it is growing…

This week, we shared information about important invasive species, what to do if you find them, and how you can help prevent their spread. To wrap up California Invasive Species Action Week, we’d like to highlight a few key takeaways: Don’t pack or plant a pest Whether you’re traveling or gardening…

Be on the lookout for invasive species threatening California! While state and federal agencies actively monitor for new invasive pests, the public serves a critical role in early detection and often are the ones who find new invasive species first.  During California Invasive Species Action Week …

The brown marmorated stink bug is an invasive pest in California, damaging gardens, crops, and invading homes. Learn how to identify and manage it.