Pest Management & Plant Health

Although all cockroaches in California are considered pests, the Turkestan cockroach is of particular concern.

The warm weather has arrived, and so have the pests! By now you've probably noticed a few munching on plants in your vegetable garden.

The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive pest that poses a great threat to California's agriculture. It was first discovered in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has since taken the east coast by storm, causing damage to many plant species and proving to be difficult to control.

There are several flatheaded boring beetles in California, however only a few are of particular concern. The goldspotted oak borer (GSOB), Agrilus auroguttatus, is a metallic wood-boring beetle that threatens our native trees.

Invasive Spotlight: Highway Iceplant You've probably seen this invasive plant growing along highways or the coast in California.

The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive pest that poses a great threat to California's agriculture. It was first discovered in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014, and has since taken the east coast by storm, causing damage to many plant species and proving to be difficult to control.

Remember back in 2013 when scientists verified the reintroduction of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, in California? Infected mosquitoes can transmit such viruses as yellow fever, dengue and Zika. Alarm bells went off.

You've probably seen this invasive plant growing along highways or the coast in California. Highway iceplant, Carpobrotus edulis, was intentionally introduced to prevent soil erosion along highways and coasts but it has since invaded many different ecosystems and outcompetes native plant species.

California Invasive Species Week is June 3-11. This is the perfect time to raise awareness about the impact of invasive plants on our natural ecosystems and the importance of making informed plant choices.

A scientific paper on pesticide-detection research, funded by UC Davis and Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences grants, and authored by 14 scientists, including UC Davis distinguished professor Bruce Hammock, has just been named the Extramural Paper of the Month by the National Institute of Envi...