Integrated Pest Management

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A stand of weedy grass with many five-part flower heads growing against a redwood fence.
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Bermudagrass Control

July 17, 2025
There are many weedy grasses that can invade a lawn or landscaped area, but bermudagrass is one of the most hated and difficult to control weeds. It’s a low-growing, wiry perennial that has above and belowground structures which are both capable of rooting and growing into new plants.  The secret…
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Adult coyote walking through grass area with prey in its mouth.
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Rodenticides: Further Restrictions in 2025

July 14, 2025
Toxic baits, or rodenticides, used to control rodents around the home and garden can harm nontarget animals, such as pets, birds, coyotes, and other wildlife. To reduce these negative impacts, California has passed several laws to limit what rodenticides can be used, how, and by who. Here’s what you need to…
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weevil on leaf
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Good Bugs, Big Impact: The Secret World of Biological Control (Part 2)

July 8, 2025
By Lindsey Hack
In Part 1 of this story, we covered some basics of biological control. Now let’s talk about some of the good bugs helping to control invasive pests in California. Controlling yellow starthistle one weevil at a timeYellow starthistle (YST) is a harmful invasive plant that is established and widespread in…
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A close up of a mosquito feeding on a person
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Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile Virus Throughout CA

July 7, 2025
By Lauren Fordyce
Mosquito season is in full swing in California, and the deadly West Nile virus is making its way around the state. Health officials have identified the virus in 17 counties and there has been 1 confirmed human death so far this year. West Nile virus is one of several diseases that can be transmitted to…
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Person with a black dog that is standing ontop of a white box
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Dogs Sniff Out Pest Problems

July 2, 2025
By Lindsey Hack
Dogs use their keen sense of smell to help humans every day. Their powerful noses alert us to danger, aid in search and rescue operations, and even have the potential to diagnose diseases. But did you know that some dogs have been trained to sniff out potential invasive pests? Enter—the detector dogs! …
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Dotted paropsine leaf beetle adult and larvae on a leaf. Chris Shogren
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Dotted Paropsine Leaf Beetle Threatens California’s Eucalyptus

June 30, 2025
By Christopher J Shogren
The dotted paropsine leaf beetle (Paropsis atomaria), an invasive pest native to Australia, was first discovered in California in 2022 and is rapidly spreading throughout Southern California targeting eucalyptus trees. Both adult beetles and their larvae feed on eucalyptus leaves, causing significant…
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Ladybug larva hunting on borage leaf
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Good Bugs, Big Impact: The Secret World of Biological Control (Part 1)

June 24, 2025
By Lindsey Hack
You have probably heard about the “good bugs” that eat pest insects around your home and garden, like ladybugs, lacewings, and spiders. You may have even purchased some beneficial insects or nematodes at a garden store. Good bugs can also help us manage invasive species, but the process is a bit more…
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Tumbleweeds piled up against the front of a home.
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Tumbleweeds Invading?

June 23, 2025
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes
Tumbleweeds rolling across the landscape may make you think of classic old Western movies, but tumbleweeds, or Russian thistle, is more common today than you might think. This invasive plant can grow anywhere the soil is disturbed and once it matures, it breaks off its stem and the dried plant blows across…
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A shiny green and bronze beetle on a heavily damaged leaf.
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Wrapping Up Invasive Species Action Week

June 12, 2025
By Cherie Shook, Lindsey Hack
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…
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Tall, green stalks of giant reed towering over two humans standing in front.
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Keep Invasive Plants Out!

June 11, 2025
By Lindsey Hack
The golden flowers of French broom covering hillsides and the tall, striking stalks of pampasgrass stand out on trails and roadsides. These plants may be beautiful, but they are invasive and harm California’s natural landscapes.  Invasive plants outcompete and crowd out native plants, damaging…
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