A Mouse in the House can Really Make you Grouse by Peter Newman, UCCE San Diego County Staff Research Associate

Healthy Garden—Healthy Home

Retail Nursery Newsletter An Information Source for Retail Nursery Professionals

Volume 2, Issue 4 December 2006

Healthy Garden—Healthy Home

Helping to improve water quality in

San Diego County through the

implementation of Integrated Pest

Management practices.

It’s The Water

That Connects Us!

IPM Information Kiosk 1

House Mouse 1

Diaprepes Update 2

Thrips 2

Free Workshops and Educational Materials

3 & 4

Inside this issue:

Touch-Screen IPM Information Kiosks Soon to be Available for Local Nurseries and Garden Centers The Healthy Garden/Healthy Home Program, in collaboration with the UC Statewide IPM Pro-gram, is in the final stages of developing an interactive Information Kiosk. The touch-screen units, which will provide the consumer with UC generated IPM informa-tion, will be available for use in early 2007. The IPM Kiosk will provide the consumer with man-agement tips related to irrigation, fertilization, pest identification, pest management, least toxic control tips, safe use and disposal of chemicals, and runoff prevention. Each unit will also have

printer capabilities so that the user can print out useful management tips and contact informa-tion for the Cooperative Extension and Master Gardener program. Retail nursery and gar-

den centers will be able to use these units as part of their customer educa-tion efforts. Each unit is self-contained and only requires a simple electri-cal outlet for operation. We will be looking for 3-5 retailers help in the evaluation of this out-reach tool by placing a kiosk in their store during our initial introductory/evaluation phase (to be held from January 2007 – December 2007). In-terested managers should contact Scott Parker at the UC Coop-erative Extension Office to arrange for the place-ment of a unit in your establishment.

Did you know that mice cause an esti-mated $1 billion in dam-ages annually in the United States? The idea of sharing your kitchen or workspace with a mouse is not something most of us welcome. However, unwanted pests can be avoided as long as you take time for early pre-vention strategies.

As temperatures cooled in the fall, mice began looking for warmer

surroundings. They may have already had their eye on your home! Pests such as mice and other rodents have no respect for any homeowner, re-gardless of how nice

their home is. Manage them by cleaning up de-bris, removing food and shelter, eliminating entry-ways into buildings, and trapping and baiting.

If you spot a mouse or its "calling cards," you can quickly and efficiently control the problem. Detecting mice requires a little sleuthing. Look for droppings, fresh gnaw marks, and tracks. Search behind boxes, in

(Continued on page 3)

Common House Mouse

IPM Touch-Screen Kiosk

PAGE 2 RETAIL NURSERY NEWSLETTER VOLUME 2 , ISSUE 4

Thrips 101 Adapted from “What To Do About Thrips,” by Suzanne Clark, UC ANR Adult thrips have distinctive wings fringed with hairs. In California sev-eral species have as many as seven generations during the year. Some kinds of thrips catch and eat mites and small insects; other thrips eat plants. Those plants particularly susceptible to thrips include garde-nias, gladioli, Indian laurel fig, mar-guerites, onions and roses.

Thrips feed by rasping away at soft plant tissues of leaves and flow-ers, then drink up the juices. They scar fruit and foliage, giving them a russet or silvered appearance. The pests may invade flower buds, causing brown discoloration, distor-tion and wrinkling or failure of buds to open. If thrips infestation is light and your plants’ damage insignificant, you may not need to take action. Other insect predators may be able to keep thrips under control. Non-chemical preventive meas-ures include proper watering of plants since those without sufficient water are particularly susceptible to the insects’ damage. Also, keep

weeds under control because flower thrips breed on weeds and then mi-grate to flowers.

For more information on thrips and thrips management please con-sult the UC IPM Pest Note on Thrips (UC Publication #7429).

QUARANTINES There are now ten Diaprepes root weevil quarantines, with a new one having been added to the Ocean-side area, the Huntington Beach quarantine expanded, and the Fair-banks Ranch/Rancho Santa Fe quarantine has met approval for ex-pansion but the map has not yet been drawn. Boundaries and maps may be accessed at the CDFA Diaprepes web site athttp://pi.cdfa.ca.gov/pqm/manual/htm/417.htm. It is expected that the quarantine boundaries will continue to be expanded and adjusted. The ten areas are listed below.

1. Long Beach, Los Angeles County

since 2005 2. Newport Beach, Orange County

since 2006 3. Yorba Linda, Orange County

since 2006 4. Huntington Beach, Orange

County since 2006 (recently expanded)

5. San Diego (Del Mar / La Jolla), San Diego since County 2006

6. Encinitas, San Diego County 2006

7. Carlsbad, San Diego County 2006

8. La Jolla (South), San Diego County 2006

9. Fairbanks Ranch/Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego County 2006 (pending expansion into Carmel Valley area)

10. Oceanside, San Diego County 2006 (new quarantine)

COMMUNITY OUTREACH & ASSISTANCE CDFA Pest Detection and Emer-gency Projects Branch have been handing out flyers to homeowners in areas near find sites because home-owners finds reported to the 1-800-491-1899 number continue to be very important. SPRAYING Most of the wide-scale insecticide spraying by the CDFA Pest Detec-tion and Emergency Projects Branch has been suspended until

spring. However, exceptions exist at new find sites of weevils. Where a new infestation of weevils is found, the property where the find occurred and adjacent properties are being treated with insecticide. COLLABORATIONS For a couple of weeks the CDFA Pest Exclusion Branch has obtained temporary assistance from a dozen or so Agricultural Border Station em-ployees to assist in a regulatory ca-pacity in educating landscapers and the public as well as surveying for Diaprepes within San Diego County.

Diaprepes Root Weevil Update by Tracy Ellis, UCCE San Diego County Staff Research Associate, Diaprepes Research Project

Western Flower Thrips

Thrips Damage on a Leaf—note the black speckles of frass

VOLUME 2 , ISSUE 4 RETAIL NURSERY NEWSLETTER PAGE 3

House Mouse continued from page #1 drawers, in garages, or woodpiles. There is a characteristic ‘musky’ odor associated with mice. Re-member mice are mostly active at night but can be seen sometimes during daylight.

If your home is not tightly constructed and a mouse popula-tion takes up residence, you may spend all winter trying to eliminate the problem. Discourage mice with good housekeeping.

• Feed pets only the amount of

food they eat at a single feed-ing.

• Keep garbage receptacles sealed.

• Seal all cracks, and openings around buildings, all mice need to get into your house is a pencil-sized opening, 1/4inch, to squeeze through.

• Ensure doors, windows, and screens fit snugly.

• Remember mice are excellent climbers!

Any homeowner can usu-ally find a suitable remedy at the nearest grocery or hardware store. Several traps are available. They range from the old ‘Victor' type traps, glue boards, and maze boxes. Place them beneath kitchen

cabinets, water heater closets and other areas where mice signs are obvious. To bait the trap, use pea-nut butter, cheese, or even small grapes.

Effective bait poisons are also available, but you should be aware the mice may take these then die, for example inside a wall, creating an odor problem. Also poi-son baits pose safety risks to chil-dren, pets and other wildlife. If used place baits in tamper proof bait sta-tions and secure them out of reach of children and pets.

Being a rodent, a mouse has a constant urge to gnaw on anything from kitchen cabinets to electrical wiring which can lead to electrical fires. Mice are also asso-ciated with health risks. They can carry bacteria and viruses into your home.

NEW RATS and GOPHERS IPM PEST TIP CARDS ARE NOW AVAIABLE - Plus New and Revised Pest Notes from UC Statewide IPM Program! QUICK TIP CARDS The UC Statewide IPM Program and the Healthy Garden/Healthy Home Program have recently re-vised previously released IPM Quick Tip Cards for Gophers and Rats. The revised cards now in-clude the local UCCE and Master Gardener contact information. These cards will be available for use in local nursery and garden centers in late December 2006. Contact our office for a free supply. PEST NOTES • House Mouse, updated Nov. 2006 • Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot

in the Garden, Aug. 2006 • Damping-Off Diseases in the Gar-

den, Aug. 2006 • Lace Bugs, updated Aug. 2006 • Dandelions, updated July 2006 • Oleander Leaf Scorch, updated

July 2006 Additional resources are available at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu

House Mouse Damage

RAT QUICK TIP CARD GOPHER QUICK TIP CARD

HEALTHY GARDEN—HEALTHY HOME

University of California Cooperative Extension Farm and Home Advisors Office 5555 Overland Avenue, Building #4, Suite #4101 San Diego, CA 92123

Phone: 858-694-2184 Fax: 858-694-2849 E-mail: saparker@ucdavis.edu Web Site: www.cesandiego.ucdavis.edu

FREE Point-of-Purchase Educational Materials and Training Workshops Available for Local Nurseries and Garden Centers!

As part of the Healthy Garden – Healthy Home Integrated Pest Management (IPM) outreach effort, research based educational materi-als, and the fixtures necessary to display them, are available to nurs-ery and garden centers throughout San Diego County. Materials in-clude water resistant pest cards and informational tear-off sheets. Pest Card topics include; Ants, Aphids, Cockroaches, Earwigs, Fleas, Giant Whitefly, Head Lice, Snails & Slugs, Spiders, Termites, Safe Use & Disposal of Pesticides, Lawn Insects, and Gardening with Good Bugs. Tear-Off Sheet topics include; General IPM Information, Ants, Snails & Slugs, Aphids, and Preventing Irrigation Runoff. And coming soon; Giant Whitefly.

In addition to these Point-Of-Purchase items, several educa-tional videos ranging in length from 15 seconds to 3 minutes are available for use in your store. Both DVD and video format are available. Workshops for nursery staff focusing on topics related to IPM and Water Quality are also avail-able for booking. For more information about any of these opportunities or to make arrangements for your nursery or garden center to participate in this program please contact Scott Parker by phone, 858-694-2184, or email, saparker@ucdavis.edu.

Funding for this project has been provided in full or in part through an Agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) pursuant to the Costa-Machado Water Act of 2000 (Proposition 13) and any amendments thereto for the implementation of Cali-fornia’s Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the SWRCB, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendations for use.

The University of California prohibits discrimination against or har-assment of any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran (special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran or any other veteran who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedi-tion for which a campaign badge has been authorized). University policy is intended to be consistent with the provisions of applicable State and Federal laws. Inquiries regarding the University’s nondis-crimination policies may be directed to the Affirmative Action/Staff Personnel Services Director, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 300 Lakeside Drive, 6th Floor, Oakland CA 94612-3560. (510) 987-0096. University of California, County of San Diego, and the United States Department of Agriculture cooper-ating.

Sample Pest Cards Display Racks