UCCE Master Gardeners of San Joaquin County

Did you know that your backyard, balcony, or community plot is more than just a space for flowers and veggies? It's also a frontline defense against invasive species! As gardeners, we’re uniquely positioned to protect local ecosystems, and the good news is—it doesn’t take a lot to make a big difference.Here…

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…

 Bug Squad BlogBy Kathy Keatley Garvey“The Doctor Is In.”That’s a phrase indicating that a doctor is available to see patients, or that a medical office or clinic is open for appointments. In the Peanuts’ cartoon, Lucy offers psychiatric advice in her "Doctor Is In" booth (for the paltry sum of…

 Bug Squad BlogBy Kathy Keatley GarveyMeet a crab spider on Earth Day.This little fellow was tucked in an African blue basil blossom on Earth Day (April 22),  an annual event launched in 1970 to support environmental protection and now celebrated globally.Who is to say that a crab spider cannot…

 Bug Squad BlogBy Kathy Keatley GarveyIf you're curious about crop protection product development, learn it from an insider.Jared P. Jensen, field research manager at SAN Agrow, will present a seminar hosted by the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology (ENT), on Monday, April 28 on "Crop…

  UC Master Gardeners are sharing their love for growing fresh fruits and vegetables, helping Californians discover and access local, healthy food across the state. From vibrant demonstration gardens in the low desert of Imperial County to the Bay Area region, volunteers are not only growing food…

 Bug Squad BlogBy Kathy Keatley GarveyI'm honored and humbled to have one of my images showcased at the annual Insect Salon hosted by the Pacific Branch, Entomological Society of America (PBESA) at its recent meeting in Salt Lake City. It won a second-place award. PBESA covers 11 Western states, plus…

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…

Bug Squad BlogBy Kathy Keatley Garvey When the Bohart Museum of Entomology erected its pop-up tent on the Briggs Hall lawn during the recent campuswide UC Davis Picnic Day, insects popped up.They included walking sticks (stick insects) and a few specimens from the Bohart Museum's global collection of…

 Bug Squad BlogBy Kathy Keatley GarveyThere she was,  a mining bee (genus Andrena) sunning herself on a Passiflora (passionflower vine). She did not notice me.Such a tiny bee, about the size of a grain of rice. It's a solitary ground-nesting bee known as "an early spring bee" and it lives only a…

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…

Bug Squad BlogBy Kathy Keatley GarveyFlameskimmers bring great joy.Today we saw our first dragonfly of the season in our Vacaville garden.  The flameskimmer, a female Libellula saturata, perched on a stick and allowed me to take a few images. It was just a couple of weeks ago that I reviewed a book…

UC scientists are working with growers in Tehama, Butte, Lake, Amador, Contra Costa, Stanislaus and Yolo counties to test a new way of measuring the irrigation needs of walnut trees. Shackel and team think this new method will allow growers to use less water by not irrigating early in the season, and trees…

 Bug Squad BlogBy Kathy Keatley GarveyUC Davis doctoral alumna Fiona Goggin, professor of entomology and plant pathology at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, will return to UC Davis on Monday, April 21 to deliver a lecture hosted by the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.Professor…

California Avocado Growers Seminars Series 2025 Our Next SeminarApril 16 (1 -3 PM)  Water Knowledge isPower KnowledgeIn-Person and Zoom Topics and Speakers Sources of ET information and their ReliabilityBy Ali Montazar - UCCE Irrigation Advisor, Imperial/San Diego/ Riverside counties…

 UC Master Gardeners are making a difference by combining their expertise in horticulture with a strong focus on climate readiness in their communities. Through innovative climate literacy and soil education, these dedicated volunteers work together with residents to empower them with the knowledge and…

Scientists decode citrus greening resistance and develop AI-assisted treatmentPeeChinese Academy of Sciences HeadquartersYE JianInstitute of Microbiologyjianye@im.ac.cn Cell: 86-10-64807363 image: Decode natural resistance against citrus greening disease and Develop AI-designed disease…

Nature’s plan for delaying pest resistance decipheredA new study cracks the code for increasing sustainability of the pest-killing proteins in genetically engineered crops.University of ArizonaElena LopezUniversity of Arizonapelopez@arizona.edu Cell: 5203428712 Farmers in dozens of countries have…