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UC Master Gardeners of Humboldt & Del Norte Counties

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

Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week 2025

May 15th, 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…
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Clusters of round, reddish-brown eggs scattered across the underside of a leaf.
Article

Time to check for squash bug eggs!

May 12th, 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,…
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Tree-of-heaven growing over a sidewealk in a neighborhood.
Article

Invasive Pest Spotlight: Tree-of-Heaven

May 7th, 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”…
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A person holding an inhaler in their hand and clenching their chest.
Article

Cockroaches, Rodents, and Asthma

May 5th, 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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Dying brown tree branch
Article

What’s Wrong with My Plant?

April 30th, 2025
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes
When you spot a plant in your garden that doesn’t look healthy, how do you figure out what’s wrong with it? Plant problems can be caused by insects, mites, vertebrates, environmental conditions, and diseases, but it can sometimes be hard to tell which is causing the problem. UC IPM's Plant Problem…
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A variety of short-handled tools.
Article

Tools for Removing Dandelions and Other Weeds

April 28th, 2025
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Dandelions can be an especially troublesome weed in lawns and landscapes. Once they're established, dandelions readily regrow from their deep taproot when only the tops are removed or mowed. Dandelions can regrow if even 1 inch of the taproot remains. The best way to get rid of dandelions is to control them…
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Adult convergent lady beetles congregating on a log.
Article

Releasing Ladybugs in the Garden

April 23rd, 2025
Lady beetles (known more commonly as ladybugs) are often sold in nurseries and garden centers to control aphids. But will releasing them actually solve your pest problem, and if so, how can you release them correctly? There are about 200 species of lady beetles in California, varying in color, size, and…
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Brown mouse with a white underside.
Article

Hantavirus: What to Know

April 21st, 2025
By Niamh M Quinn
Hantavirus has been in the news a lot lately. Betsy Arakawa, wife of the late actor Gene Hackman, recently passed away in New Mexico due to the disease and California has already seen 3 hantavirus-related deaths this year. In this article we share information to help you understand hantavirus and what you…
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Bermuda buttercup infesting a bed of landscaped plants.
Article

Spring is in the Air, and Oxalis is Everywhere

April 17th, 2025
By Lindsey Hack
Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), also called buttercup oxalis or sourgrass, might be a familiar sight in winter and spring, particularly to those who live in coastal regions or the Sacramento Valley. Some people enjoy seeing this plant’s cheerful yellow flowers pop up in their spring gardens, but for…
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A person wearing blue gloves on their hands is unscrewing the cap to a white container
Article

What Should You Wear When Using Pesticides?

April 1st, 2025
When using pesticides and other garden chemicals, you should always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep yourself safe. Pesticides can enter the body via the eyes, skin, nose, or mouth. The skin is the most common way pesticides enter our bodies, usually by splashing, spillage, or spray drift…
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Valley oak tree atop a hill of brown grass.
Article

Webinar: Mediterranean Oak Borer and Other Oak Pests

March 26th, 2025
By Lauren Fordyce
Join UC IPM for a free webinar on the invasive Mediterranean Oak Borer (MOB) and other important oak tree pests on April 10, 2025 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. The Mediterranean Oak Borer (MOB) is an invasive ambrosia beetle that infests several species of white oaks in California: valley oak, blue oak,…
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A person wearing rubber gloves using a spray bottle to spray pesticide on a rose bush outside.
Article

Tips for Using Pesticides Safely

February 24th, 2025
By Lauren Fordyce
At UC IPM we recognize pesticide safety education every month, but February in particular is National Pesticide Safety Education Month! Below are some simple tips for using pesticides safely to protect yourself, others, wildlife, and the environment.
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What is an invasive species?
Article

National Invasive Species Action Week 2025

February 24th, 2025
From February 24 - 28, 2025, help increase public awareness of invasive species and join the fight against invasive species by participating in National Invasive Species Action Week (NISAW).
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Person dumping a white bucket of water outside.
Article

Drain After Rain to Prevent Mosquitoes

February 20th, 2025
By Lauren Fordyce
Recent rainfall throughout much of California has created puddles and stagnant water. With the temperature warming up in many parts of the state, this combination can create the perfect situation for mosquitoes to breed. We encourage you to drain after the rain to reduce mosquito-breeding sites.
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A dark haired woman holds a pesticide bottle in her hand to read it.
Article

Tree & Shrub Insecticides Limited in New Law

February 11th, 2025
By Lauren Fordyce
As of January 1, 2025, popular lawn and garden pesticides belonging to the neonicotinoid class, can no longer be used by home gardeners on outdoor fruit trees, lawns, or ornamental plants in California.
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A brown, dying shrub in front of a row of healthy green shrubs.
Article

Wilted plants: lack of water or disease?

February 4th, 2025
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes
A well-watered plant that suddenly wilts or unexpectedly drops its leaves could be infected with the soil pathogen Phytophthora. The disease it causes, Phytophthora root and crown rot, can affect many plants, including ornamental trees and shrubs, fruit trees, and vegetables.
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Two rat traps secured to a tree limb using a piece of wood and tape
Article

Your Rat Management Questions Answered!

January 14th, 2025
By Lauren Fordyce
UC IPM recently hosted a webinar on rat management presented by Dr. Niamh Quinn. During this webinar attendees were able to ask the expert their burning questions about rats and their management. Below are responses to common questions from the webinar.
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Article

Wrapping Up the Year

December 20th, 2024
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas
As the end of 2024 approaches, I'd like to reflect on the UC IPM Urban and Community program's accomplishments and share what's to come from us in 2025.
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Various grains stored in glass jars.
Article

Bugs in Your Holiday Cookies!?

December 16th, 2024
By Lauren Fordyce
In a recent TikTok video, a woman's holiday baking spree came to a halt when she discovered bugs in her flour. While initially alarmed, the woman was also intrigued.
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