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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Adult flower or crab spider. (Credit: Jack Kelly Clark)
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Summer Spider Sightings

July 8, 2018
By Anne E Schellman
When you see spiders in your garden, you may wonder if they can hurt you or your pets. The good news is, most spiders are not likely to bite or cause lasting harm if they do.
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A pest management professional making a liquid application of fipronil. (Credit: Les Greenberg, UC Riverside)
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Fipronil Labels Have New Restrictions

July 6, 2018
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes, Karey Windbiel-Rojas
[Article modified on April 13, 2019 to correct inaccuracies.] New label changes will alter how fipronil is applied by pest management professionals (PMPs) in urban environments, particularly between November and February, during California's typical rainy season.
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Fig 1. Large crabgrass. (Credit: Clyde Elmore)
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Managing Weedy Grasses

June 20, 2018
By John A Roncoroni
[From the Spring issue of the UC IPM Retail Nursery & Garden Center News] I hate crabgrass! is a common lament I've heard from residents during my 35 years as a UCCE Weed Science Farm Advisor.
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Fig 1. Argentine ants feeding on green or red hydrogels to demonstrate liquid bait uptake.
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Using Seaweed to Kill Argentine Ants

June 19, 2018
By Anne E Schellman
[From the Spring issue of the UC IPM Green Bulletin] Argentine ants can be a damaging ant pest species in both agricultural and urban environments in California. Outdoors, they disrupt biological control by tending honeydew-producing pests and protecting them from natural enemies.
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