Integrated Pest Management

 A little red-eyed fly is trending on social media for all the wrong reasons. Why? Because people are finding maggots in some of their berries! Sounds gross, but what is it?   This small fly, called spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), love soft-skinned fruits such as cherries, blueberries,…

A South Lake Tahoe resident has recently tested positive for plague, likely transmitted by the bite of an infected flea. While human cases of plague are rare, they can be serious. Before this most recent case, the last reported case was also in El Dorado County in 2020. Plague is caused by bacteria,…

It’s that time of year when yellowjackets can ruin your outdoor picnic or gathering. Yellowjacket wasps prey on other insects and scavenge on human food and garbage. Keep reading to learn what they are looking for and ways to get rid of them! Yellowjackets, sometimes called “meat bees,” defend their…

We’re thrilled to celebrate the incredible success of the tree-of-heaven scouting portion of the Invasive Species Scout Project. Thanks to the passion, curiosity, and dedication of our UC Master Gardener volunteers, this community science initiative surpassed all expectations. Over the past year and a half,…

This article covers kissing bugs (also known as conenose bugs). They are an occasional summertime insect pest of sparsely-inhabited rural or suburban areas.

Please join us for the 2025 Lettuce Fusarium Wilt Trial Field Day in Soledad - August 26, 2025 10 am - 12 pm. Trials include variety evaluations, steam treatment evaluations, and fungicide evaluations. Pre-registration is strongly suggested. Please see full article for additional info and directions.

Want to control pests but don’t want to use pesticides? Good news—there are many alternative options, and most are more effective than pesticides and last longer!  In general, there are three main methods to controlling pests nonchemically: cultural control, physical control, and biological control…

While they may look cute, no one really wants a mouse around the house. House mice eat up to 20% of their body weight daily, eating whatever food is available. They can contaminate our food and their gnawing can damage buildings, wiring, insulation, food packages, and more. Many fires of unknown origin are…

 In July's edition of the Pesticide Regulation bulletin published by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, urban pest expert Dr. Andrew Sutherland outlines key strategies for implementing effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. These include using physical control methods like…

Invasive species are reshaping California’s natural and urban landscapes. UC IPM’s new Invasive Species Mini-Series explores the many ways invasive species impact our lives, from harmful garden pests and aquatic hitchhikers to destructive tree pests, invasive weeds, and the policies that guide prevention and…