Pests in the Urban Landscape

Urban neighborhood and park.

The Pests in the Urban Landscape blog shares the latest resources and information from the UC IPM Urban & Community team to help you sustainably manage pests in the home, garden, and landscape. 

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Stacks of firewood for sale below a canopy with a sign that says "firewood."
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Destructive Pests Hide in Firewood

June 9, 2025
By Lindsey Hack
While bringing firewood from home for your weekend camping trip may seem harmless, many invasive pests can hide in firewood and cause serious harm to California’s forests and urban landscapes. You can help limit the spread of these unwanted hitchhikers by collecting or buying firewood close to where you plan…
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Red, black, and white spotted lanternfly nymphs on a plant.
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Be on the Lookout

June 8, 2025
By Cherie Shook
Be on the lookout for invasive species threatening California! While state and federal agencies actively monitor for new invasive pests, the public serves a critical role in early detection and often are the ones who find new invasive species first.  During California Invasive Species Action Week …
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The letters "CISAW" animated as invasive species organisms.
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Protect California from Invasive Species

June 5, 2025
Invasive species. What does that mean? Invasive species are non-native pests that harm California’s natural areas, public health, and economy. To raise awareness about these pests, UC IPM joins other state agencies to promote the annual California Invasive Species Action Week (CISAW), which goes from June 7…
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Cross section of a tree trunk that has trellis-like tunnels throughout. The tunnels are dark stained and go deep into the wood.
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Mediterranean Oak Borer: Questions & Answers

May 28, 2025
The Mediterranean Oak Borer (MOB) is an invasive ambrosia beetle that infests several species of white oaks in California: valley oak, blue oak, and Oregon oak. The beetle is spreading rapidly in Northern California counties and there is considerable potential for the beetle's range to expand as they…
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Bright orange and red flowers.
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Debunking Pest Myths

May 20, 2025
By Lauren Fordyce
When trying to solve a pest or plant problem, it is likely that you will come across a wide variety of solutions online, passed down through the generations, or shared on social media. While there is plenty of reliable and science-based information out there, such as on the UC IPM website, there are also a…
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