Summer 2013 New Publications

Compiled by Steve Tjosvold

Floriculture and Ornamental Nurseries: UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines

These official UC-approved guidelines for pest monitoring techniques, pesticide use, and nonpesticide alternatives are essential tools for anyone making pest management decisions in the field. This guideline covers floriculture and ornamental nursery plants. Order this publication for $15.00, or access it for free as an HTML web page or as a PDF document.

Publication Number: 3392
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=3392

Grasshoppers: Pest Notes for Home and Landscape   

Grasshoppers are sporadic pests. However, in some years large populations may build up in foothills and rangelands, especially after a wet spring and then migrate into gardens and nurseries, often defoliating everything in sight. Free.

Author: M. L. Flint

Publication Number: 74103

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=74103

Horsehair Worms: Pest Notes for Home and Landscape

Horsehair worms belong to the phylum Nematomorpha (from the Greek meaning "thread-shaped"), class Gordioida. They are also called Gordian worms because they will often twist into a loose, ball-shaped knot resembling the baffling one created by Gordius in the Greek myth. They occur in water sources such as ponds, rain puddles, swimming pools, animal drinking troughs, and even domestic water supplies.  Free.

Author: H. K. Kaya

Publication Number: 7471

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=7471

Low-Cost Methods of Measuring Diverted Water

California Water Resources Board rules say you have to measure and report the amount of water you divert from surface waters for farming. Pasture and low-value crops can't cover the cost of commercial measuring tools, but there are cheaper alternatives. Free.

Author: L. Forero, A. Fulton

Publication Number: 8490

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=8490

Moles: Pest Notes for Home and Landscape

Moles live underground in a network of shallow tunnels where they capture worms, insects, and other invertebrates. Their burrowing can dislodge plants and dry out their roots; in lawn areas the resulting mounds and ridges are unsightly and disfiguring.

Author: R. Baldwin, T. Salmon, et al.

Publication Number: 74115

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=74115

Oak Pit Scales: Pest Notes for Home and Landscape    

Several Asterolecanium species of pit scales attack many  common deciduous and evergreen oaks in California. The valley oak is especially susceptible. Pit scales suck juices from twigs and cause twig dieback, which first becomes apparent in mid- to late summer. A severe infestation delays leafing-out for as long as 3 weeks in spring and heavy attacks year after year may kill young trees. Free.

Author: P.M. Geisel and E.J. Perry

Publication Number: 7470

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=7470

Pitch Canker: Pest Notes for Home and Landscape

Pitch canker is a disease of pine trees that is caused by the fungus Fusarium circinatum. The fungus causes infections (lesions) that can encircle or girdle branches, exposed roots, and the main stems (trunks) of pine trees. The tips of girdled branches wilt as a result of obstructed water flow, causing the needles to turn yellow, and then red. Free.

Author: C. L. Swett, T. R. Gordon

Publication Number: 74107

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=74107