Vegetation Management

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A small black brown beetle in a tunnel gallery in a piece of wood.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Invasive Shothole Borers – An Ongoing Threat to California’s Trees

August 9, 2021
By Randall Oliver, Beatriz E Nobua Behrmann
Two identical looking species of wood-boring beetles, collectively known as invasive shothole borers (ISHB), have killed thousands of trees in Southern California and pose an ongoing threat to California's urban and wildland forests.
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Three white and orange insects with waxy strands covering a leaf.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Giant Whitefly: A Tiny Pest

June 17, 2021
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes
The giant whitefly is not a gargantuan monster out of an old sci-fi movie, although it is quite a bit larger compared to other whiteflies. Whiteflies are typically tiny insects that are hard to spot on plants unless they are flying, but the giant whitefly is more obvious.
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Adult insect with pinkish wings that have black patterning and dots resting on bark.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Invasive Species Action Week 2021

June 6, 2021
California Invasive Species Action Week began Saturday, June 5 and runs through Sunday, June 13, 2021. Increasing public awareness of invasive species and their impacts helps protect our natural resources, waterways, native species, agriculture, and health.
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Wild pig
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Stop the Spread of Invasive Pests

December 2, 2020
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Invasive pests threaten California's natural environments, agricultural production, structures, landscapes and gardens, causing billions of dollars of damage to our agricultural systems and natural areas each year.
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Invasive pampasgrass (Credit: J DiTomaso)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

What makes a weed an invasive plant?

November 18, 2020
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes, Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Weeds are usually thought of as native plants we don't want in areas such as landscapes, fields, or vegetable gardens either because they reduce economic output or they are considered aesthetically displeasing.
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Figure 2. Side view of the adult spotted lanternfly.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Keep an Eye Out for Spotted Lanternfly

August 24, 2020
By Cindy Kron
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a new exotic pest that was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has since moved to other nearby states (Figure 1).
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Green fruit beetle (Credit: Jack Kelly Clark)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Green Fruit Beetles or Japanese Beetles?

August 12, 2020
We've had many reports in the last two weeks from people asking what those big green, buzzing, beetles are. Green fruit beetles (Cotinis mutabilis) are members of the scarab beetle family and are sometimes known as fig beetles or figeater beetles. They are related to green June beetles (C.
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Unlabeled seeds from unsolicited packages.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Report Unsolicited Seeds to APHIS

July 28, 2020
Have you had unexpected seeds show up in the mail? Unknown seeds could be invasive plants, contain invasive insects, or have plant disease causing agents. Here's what the United States Department of Agriculture Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) has to say about it.
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