Urban

Primary Image
A jumping worm on top of its coffee-ground like
castings. Photo by M. Bertone, NCSU.
Article

Look Out for the Jumping Worm!

May 18, 2023
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes
The jumping worm, Amynthas agrestis, is an invasive earthworm capable of harming native forests that has been recently reported in some areas of California.
View Article
Primary Image
An adult crane fly.
Article

The “Mosquito Eater” Myth

May 11, 2023
By Lauren Fordyce
Lately you may have seen some large, leggy insects bumbling around on your home, bouncing off walls and ceilings. What are these? While many people call them mosquito eaters or mosquito hawks, they are actually crane flies. And unfortunately, they do not eat mosquitoes.
View Article
Primary Image
Life stages of the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus). From left to right: adult female, adult male, nymph, and larva. Photo by CDPH.
Article

Ticks and Lyme Disease

May 4, 2023
By Lauren Fordyce
In honor of Lyme Disease Awareness Month and in response to some misinformation about ticks on social media recently, we'd like to share some tick and Lyme disease facts. Ticks can spread several diseases to humans and pets, but Lyme disease is the most common.
View Article
Primary Image
Common white grubs. The species left to right are: Japanese beetle, European chafer, and June beetle. Photo by David Cappaert, Bugwood.org
Article

What are white grubs?

May 2, 2023
By Lauren Fordyce
You may be noticing white grubs in your compost piles, lawns, or garden beds. These white, c-shaped critters can be 1/4 inch long or 2 inches long, depending on the species.
View Article
Primary Image
An adult lady beetle (ladybug) on a flower.
Article

Earth Day and IPM

April 20, 2023
By Lauren Fordyce
What do Earth Day and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) have in common?
View Article
Primary Image
A vole, also known as a meadow mouse. [Credit: Jack Kelly Clark]
Article

Voles in Your Yard?

April 12, 2023
By Lauren Fordyce
Voles are small, mouselike rodents that can be pests in gardens and landscapes. They damage many types of plants with their gnawing, from vegetables to turf to trees. Voles can gnaw completely around the trunk or roots of trees, causing girdling, which can kill trees.
View Article
Primary Image
UC IPM staff Belinda Messenger-Sikes interacting with public. Photo credit: Chinh Lam.
Article

Visit UC IPM at Picnic Day 2023

April 10, 2023
By Lauren Fordyce
This Saturday, April 15th, is the annual UC Davis Picnic Day event! Stop by the UC Statewide IPM Program's booth from 9am to 3pm in the entomology building, Briggs Hall.
View Article
Primary Image
Eggs of Culex sp. mosquitoes are laid in floating rafts. Photo by Jack Kelly Clark.
Article

Easter Egg Hunt Answers!

April 6, 2023
By Lauren Fordyce
Below are answers to the 2023 Easter Egg Hunt! How did you do? Some mosquitoes lay single eggs on water surfaces, while others, like Culex species, lay batches of 100 or more eggs, called rafts, pictured above.
View Article
Primary Image
Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Article

Easter Egg Hunt 2023!

April 3, 2023
By Lauren Fordyce
It's time for UC IPM's Easter egg hunt! Can you guess which insects laid the eggs pictured below? Some may be pests, while others may be beneficial! Leave a comment on this blog post with your guesses, or on our Facebook and Instagram posts. Answers will be posted on Friday, April 7th. A. B. C. D.
View Article