Integrated Pest Management

Intermountain Research and Extension Center 2816 Havlina Road, PO Box 850, Tulelake, California 96134 Phone 530.667.5117 Fax 530.667.5265 Website irec.ucanr.

As winter turns into spring, Southern California residents who live in areas where the red imported fire ant has taken hold will want to keep a close eye out for colonies establishing themselves in lawns, parks, schools and golf courses.

They're small, about 1 mm long or less, with characteristic fringed wings. They fly, but not well. But thrips do pack a powerful punch. A major pest of many agricultural crops, including lettuce, they damage plants by (1) sucking their juices and (2) transmitting viruses.

While we continue to spend more time than usual indoors, you may have noticed a few unexpected (and perhaps unwanted) co-occupants like ants, cockroaches, or mice.

Over 150 current and prospective organic growers gleaned practical information shared by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources experts at the Introduction to Small-Scale Organic Agriculture workshop held virtually on Dec. 15, 2020.

UC ANR Strategic Communications' Linda Forbes and Ricardo Vela made a video highlighting many of UCANR's 2020 accomplishments. The video is posted on YouTube at https://youtu.be/9puxX_HAC1s and the script is below.

Douglas Amaral is the new pomology, water and soils advisor in Kings and Tulare counties Douglas Amaral joined UCCE in Kings and Tulare counties as pomology, water and soils advisor on Oct. 1, 2020.

Happy New Year! Here are two opportunities for virtual continuing education. 1. The California Plant and Soil Conference will be held virtually February 1-3, 2021, and registration is now open. Please see the website for more information and to register.

Dear Colleagues, It's been an emotional week for all of us witnessing the insurrection in our nation's capital. Such violence and vitriol adds to the ongoing stress of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic distress that so many are feeling.

Commensal rodents, rats and mice, are among the most economically significant pests in the world. Three species of commensal rodents (Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus, and Mus musculus) are found in almost all California cities.