Posts Tagged: pests
The Day That Cockroaches Stole the Show
It was the day that cockroaches stole the show. However, bed bugs, carpet beetles and pantry pests...
Karey Windbiel-Rojas' cockroach costume proved a crowd pleaser at the Bohart Museum of Entomology open house. Here entomologist Jeff Smith, who curates the butterflies and moths at the Bohart, gives his approval. Windbiel-Rojas, with the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM) is the associate director for Urban and Community IPM. (Photo by Tabatha Yang)
Pests, including cockroaches, drew the rapt attention of this crowd at the Bohart Museum of Entomology. That's Karey Windbiel-Rojas fielding questions. (Photo by Tabatha Yang)
Senior museum scientist Steve Heydon pins an American cockroach. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bohart Museum Open House: Bed Bugs and Cochroaches and Pantry Pests
Entomology, or the scientific study of insects, is not just rural--it's urban, too. Think bed...
Karey Windbiel-Rojas of the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM), plans to wear this cockroach costume to the Bohart Museum of Entomology open house on Sunday, Nov. 18, when she will greet visitors and answer questions. An urban entomologist expert, she's the associate director for Urban and Community IPM who serves as the area urban IPM advisor for Yolo, Sacramento and Solano counties.
Pantry pests include booklice, pictured here in cornmeal. These nearly microscopic insects, Liposcelis bostrychophila, or "psocids" (pronounced "so kids"), are common pests in stored grains. They're usually unseen because they're about a millimeter long--about the size of a speck of dust--and are transparent to light brown in color. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Summer—it’s a time for swimming, BBQs, camping, and eating invasive species.
Last week during California Invasive Species Action Week (June 2 – June 10), we highlighted several pests, but there are many more invasive species out there. Now that you know about them, share your knowledge of invasive species with others. And no matter what your summer plans, here are some things YOU can do about invasive species from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California Department of Food and Agriculture.
YOU: I'M TRAVELLING TO AMAZING PLACES
- Learn what plants and animals you can bring into California.
- Don't pack a pest! Declare all food and agricultural items from other states or countries.
- Find out which species are threats to California.
- Learn about California's invasive plants.
- Avoid spreading forest pests: buy your firewood where you burn it.
YOU: I'LL BE WORKING IN MY GARDEN
- Remove invasive plants from your property.
- Select native or non-invasive plants for your garden.
- Use only certified weed-free forage, hay, seed, mulch, soil, and gravel.
- Learn alternatives to releasing unwanted fish, aquatic plants, and other pets.
- Monitor plants and trees for symptoms of infestations and disease.
- Learn about California's invasive plants.
- Have you spotted an invasive species? Tell us where by reporting your sighting.
YOU: I'LL BE NEAR THE WATER OR ON A BOAT
- Join the statewide citizen science effort to monitor for quagga mussels.
- Join the iNaturalist project, California Nerodia Watch, and help us find Nerodia watersnakes.
- Make sure to Clean, Drain, and Dry (PDF) your boat after each outing.
- Learn alternatives to releasing unwanted fish, aquatic plants, and other pets.
- Visit your favorite local, state, or national park, ecological reserve, recreational area, or nature center and ask about their volunteer programs.
- Learn about California's invasive plants.
- Have you spotted an invasive species? Tell us where by reporting your sighting.
YOU: I'LL BE OUT AND ABOUT CAMPING, HIKING, OR RIDING HORSES
- Use only certified weed-free forage, hay, seed, mulch, soil, and gravel.
- Avoid spreading forest pests: buy your firewood where you burn it.
- Prevent the spread of plant pathogens that damage and kill California's native plants and trees.
- Learn about California's invasive plants.
- Visit your favorite local, state, or national park, ecological reserve, recreational area, or nature center and ask about their volunteer programs.
- Have you spotted an invasive species? Tell us where by reporting your sighting.
YOU: I'LL DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO LEARN ABOUT INVASIVES
- Get to know your local invaders.
- Learn about California's invasive plants.
- Find out which species are threats to California.
- Learn alternatives to releasing unwanted fish, aquatic plants, and other pets.
- Eat them. Yum. Check out these websites to find out who is edible and how to prepare them.
- Invasive-eats.com (California-specific)
- Invasivore.org (under construction but hopefully back soon)
- EatTheWeeds.com
- EatTheInvaders.org
If you missed it this year, help in the fight next year by learning and participating during California Invasive Species Action Week.
Katja Poveda: Zeroing in on Plant-Insect Interactions
Let's consider plant-insect interactions in agro-ecosystems. That's what Katja Poveda, assistant...
Katja Poveda (left), assistant professor of entomology at Cornell, working on potatoes in her greenhouse.
UC ANR IPM academic coordinator is based at Kearney.
UC ANR IPM academic coordinator is based at Kearney.
Lori Berger is the new academic coordinator for the Pests, Pesticides and IPM Project. Berger joined ANR in 2014 to coordinate a program to identify and manage critical uses of chlorpyrifos in almonds, citrus, cotton and alfalfa. Berger has worked extensively with the regulatory community in developing science-based approaches to pest management and agricultural production, sharing her expertise on pest management, pollinator protection, international MRLs, water quality and soil health.
Based at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Education Center in Parlier, Berger holds a Ph.D. in entomology and is a licensed pest control adviser as well as a certified crop adviser. Read more.