Pests in the Urban Landscape

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…

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…

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…

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…

You may not see them, but small hitchhikers can cling to your boats, trailers, fishing gear, kayaks, and paddleboards. These hitchhikers are aquatic invasive species like plants, fish, and mussels. Once introduced to a body of water, they can displace native species, clog motors, damage water delivery…