Unwanted insects in your lawn, garden, or home can be a source of frustration and damage the plants that you are trying to grow and maintain. Some pests can also potentially transmit disease. In order to effectively prevent or remove these pests, it is important to understand what is attracting them, how they are entering the home or garden, and what control is best for that specific pest. Approaching pests in this manner will save money, have a longer-lasting effect on the pest, and protect the environment.

TAKE ACTION! The next time you need to address a pest in your home or garden, follow the steps below.

 

1. Identify if the Bug is Good or Bad

   Check if the bug you are seeing is a beneficial insect that eats the “bad” bugs and pollinates your plants. Click here for the 10 Most Wanted Bugs in Your Garden or here to identify typical beneficial insects.

2. Identify What Controls are Best for Your Pest
   The OWOW partnership and the UC Integrated Pest Management Program have detailed information that can help you determine the best method to control your pest.
   English: Ants | En Español: Hormigas
   English: Aphids | En Español: Áfidos o pulgones 
   English: Bed Bugs | En Español: Chinches
   English: Cockroaches | En Español: Cucarachas
   English: Fleas | En Español: Pulgas
   English: Moles, Voles, Gophers | En Español: Tuzas
   English: Mosquitoes | En Español: Mosquitos
   English: Rats and Mice | En Español: Ratas y Ratones
   English: Snails and Slugs | En Español: Caracoles y babosas
   English: Spiders | En Español: Arañas
   English: Yellow Jackets | En Español: Avispas chaqueta amarilla
   
   
3. Consider No or Less Toxic Alternatives
   First, try control pests with less toxic methods, such as traps, mulch, insecticidal soap, or beneficial insects like ladybugs. To learn more about less toxic pest management methods and products, visit the OWOW partnership or University of California.
   
   
4. If You Must Use Pesticides – Follow These Best Practices

• Read labels and apply pesticides using recommended amounts and application methods.
• Use the least amount of chemical needed. Remember, more is not always better.
• Avoid application when it is windy or before it rains.
• Don’t overwater the area immediately after pesticide application. Excess water will carry the chemicals straight to the storm drain system and then to the local streams and rivers.
• Take care not to spill the product, and don’t rinse spills into the street. If a spill occurs, absorb it with sawdust or kitty litter, sweep the absorbent material into a paper bag, and take absorbent material to your local hazardous waste collection facility. You may also contact your County Agricultural Commissioner or the County Office of Environmental Health to ask how to dispose of the bagged absorbent material.

Additional best practices can be found here.

If you have pesticides (liquid or solid) that you no longer need, they must be disposed of properly so that they do not harm you or the environment. Any leftover pesticides must be taken to your local household hazardous waste (HHW) facility. You can find your nearest HHW location by calling the California Environmental Hotline (1-800-253-2687). Residents may only dispose of empty pesticide containers in the trash without rinsing them.

TAKE ACTION! Any amount of unused pesticide must be disposed of at your local household hazardous waste facility or event. Regardless of what the label may say, it is illegal in California to dispose of any amount of pesticide in the trash. To properly dispose of your unused chemicals, take them to the San Joaquin County Household Hazardous Waste Consolidation Facility (7850 R. A. Bridgeford Street, Stockton, CA 95206). This facility is open to the public, free of charge on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 9 AM – 3 PM. For more information, call the County Solid Waste Office at (209) 468-3066 or visit their website: https://www.sjgov.org/department/pwk/solid-waste/san-joaquin-county-solid-waste-facilities/san-joaquin-county-household-hazardous-waste-facility

When dealing with unwanted pests around your home or business, you may want to hire a pest control service to take care of the problem for you. Pest control professionals have access to different products, specialized training, and other equipment that may be needed in order to manage a serious infestation or problem.

Pest management professionals can learn more about integrated pest management approaches and available training by visiting the UC IPM Program for structural pest management or landscape pest management.

TAKE ACTION! By following these steps, you can support pest control companies that understand and implement integrated pest management and less toxic approaches.

1.  Do some research about the pest you have and how it can be controlled.

2. Ensure the pest control operator has a license issued by the California State Structural Pest Control Board and any other registrations, certifications, or insurance required. To verify the license for a pest control operator, visit the Department for Consumer Affairs.

3. Hire a pest control operator who is certified as using integrated pest management practices, applies effective non-chemical strategies first, and knows how to effectively manage pests. Some questions that you can ask and things to consider can be found here and here. Several certification groups can also be helpful in finding a pest control company:

• Eco Wise Certified
• Green Shield Certified
• Green Pro Certified 

Proper design and management of the landscaping around our homes and businesses can help prevent pesticide runoff from these areas into local waterbodies. Some ways to reduce your landscaping irrigation needs and keep irrigation water onsite can be found here and here. Discover county-specific tips by using the UC Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist.

TAKE ACTION! Slow the flow by following the University of California’s Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program recommendations for pesticide-smart landscape design:

• Help water soak into the ground.
  • Use stones, pavers, gravel, mulch, or other materials that allow water to soak into the ground in areas where you don’t have plants.
  • Aerate your soil and use organic material, like compost, as well as perforated drainage lines, to reduce areas of water pooling in your landscaping.
• Create landscape features to collect runoff water.
  • Consider using trees, rain gardens, terrace walls, rain barrels, or swales (long, shallow, grassy depressions) to hold water within the landscaped area and allow it to soak into the ground rather than draining directly to our surface waterbodies.
  • Consider using river-friendly gardening approaches such as selecting appropriate plants, minimizing the use of chemical pesticides, and creating "hydrozones" by grouping plants according to water needs. Learn more about how to make your yard river-friendly on the Lodi Watershed Friendly Landscaping website or by following these River-Friendly Landscape Guidelines.
• Install and properly operate irrigation systems and equipment.
  • Make sure your irrigation equipment is working properly by regularly inspecting it and consider installing a “smart” irrigation controller to reduce overwatering.