Urban Integrated Pest Management

A brown shield-shaped insect walking on a green leaf.

Article

New Invasive Pests Webinar Mini-Series

July 22, 2025

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…

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

Article

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…

Adult coyote walking through grass area with prey in its mouth.

Article

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…

A variety of colorful produce at an outdoor market

Article

Updates to Invasive Fruit Fly Quarantines

July 9, 2025

By Lindsey Hack

In the last two years, California has experienced a surge of invasive fruit fly infestations. Invasive fruit fly outbreaks endanger our state’s agriculture and economy, as well as homegrown fruits and veggies. They can infest many different fruit, nut, and vegetable crops. Adults lay their eggs under the…

A close up of a mosquito feeding on a person

Article

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…

Person with a black dog that is standing ontop of a white box

Article

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! …

Dotted paropsine leaf beetle adult and larvae on a leaf. Chris Shogren

Article

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…

Tumbleweeds piled up against the front of a home.

Article

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…

A shiny green and bronze beetle on a heavily damaged leaf.

Article

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…

Tall, green stalks of giant reed towering over two humans standing in front.

Article

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…

A staff person from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife inspects a boat.

Article

Clean, Drain, Dry: Protect Our Waters

June 10, 2025

By Cherie Shook

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…

Stacks of firewood for sale below a canopy with a sign that says "firewood."

Article

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…

Red, black, and white spotted lanternfly nymphs on a plant.

Article

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 …

The letters "CISAW" animated as invasive species organisms.

Article

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…

Cross section of a tree trunk that has trellis-like tunnels throughout. The tunnels are dark stained and go deep into the wood.

Article

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…

Bright orange and red flowers.

Article

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…

An adult emerald ash borer beetle on a leaf damaged by its feeding.

Article

Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week 2025

May 15, 2025

By Lindsey Hack

Tiny but destructive, the emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle that has killed millions of ash trees across North America. In some cases, infested regions have lost nearly 100% of their ash trees to this pest. Though EAB has not yet been found in California, it was detected on the West Coast for the…

Clusters of round, reddish-brown eggs scattered across the underside of a leaf.

Article

Time to check for squash bug eggs!

May 12, 2025

By Belinda Messenger-Sikes

Squash bugs are a common pest in vegetable gardens, where they can be found on squash, pumpkin, and melon. They can cause leaves to become speckled and turn yellow. Heavy feeding can cause plants to wilt or die, and fruit to rot.These pests remain in the garden during the winter, hiding under dead leaves,…

Tree-of-heaven growing over a sidewealk in a neighborhood.

Article

Invasive Pest Spotlight: Tree-of-Heaven

May 7, 2025

By Cherie Shook

Tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima, was originally from China and became a popular landscape shade tree in the 1800’s. However, its rapid growth, aggressive spread, and native habitat disruption have made it a global problem. Reproducing rapidly through dense root suckers and wind dispersal of its “winged”…

A person holding an inhaler in their hand and clenching their chest.

Article

Cockroaches, Rodents, and Asthma

May 5, 2025

Some indoor pests can just be a nuisance; others can also be a health risk. Did you know that cockroaches and rodents are known to trigger asthma symptoms and lead to the development of allergic asthma for some people? This month, we recognize Asthma Awareness Month and share how you can reduce indoor…

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Urban Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

We work with professionals to improve pest control through research and education in order to protect our communities and the environment.

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This website provides information about urban integrated pest management (IPM) and highlights the activities of UC ANR's urban IPM program in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Residential Home and Garden IPM

IPM for your Home & Garden

Commercial Landscape IPM

IPM for Commercial Landscapes

Structural Industrial IPM

IPM for Structural & Industrial Settings

amsutherland@ucanr.edu

Contact information:

Dr. Andrew M Sutherland

SF Bay Area IPM Advisor

(510) 670-5624 office

(510) 499-2930 cell

visit the University of California's Integrated Pest Management website: http://ipm.ucanr.edu/

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