How to Manage Pests

Exotic and Invasive Pests

Exotic and invasive pests and diseases that threaten California's
agricultural, urban, or natural areas

Links to articles, fact sheets, and other information prepared by UC IPM or through its research program

What are exotic and invasive species?

Exotic species are organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) that are not native to a particular region.  The impact of exotic pests varies considerably depending on the species and the area being invaded.

Some exotic species have been intentionally introduced to California, while others come in accidentally. Some species are able to rapidly colonize an area and become serious pests, often because they are no longer under control of predators or diseases that limited their numbers in their native habitat. Species that rapidly colonize an area are often called exotic invasives. 

• Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening disease
  • Article: Scientists create a defense plan against citrus greening threat
  • Educational materials: Flyers, bookmark, ID cards
  • Fact sheet: Asian Citrus Psyllid— ANR Publ. 8205
  • Fact sheet: Provisional treatment guidelines for citrus
• Asian longhorned beetle
  • Pest Alert from Western IPM Center
  • Article: Collective effort produces Asian longhorned beetle information
• Avocado lace bug
  • Pest Note: Avocado Lace Bug
• Citrus leafminer
  • Pest Note: Citrus Leafminer
• Diaprepes root weevil (citrus root weevil)
  • Public flyer: Diaprepes Root Weevil (148 KB, PDF)—including quarantine zones.
  • Fact sheet: Provisional treatment guidelines for citrus
  • Fact sheet: Diaprepes Root Weevil — ANR Publ. 8131 (1.3 MB, PDF)
  • Article: Invasive weevils spread to southern California
• Eucalyptus pests
  • Pest Note: Eucalyptus Longhorned Borers
  • Pest Note: Eucalyptus Redgum Lerp Psyllid
• Giant whitefly
  • Pest Note: Giant Whitefly
• Gilli mealybug
  • Article: IPM programs being developed for new mealybug plaguing pistachio growers
  • Fact sheet: Ferrisia gilli: A New Mealybug Pest of Pistachios and Other Deciduous Crops — ANR Publ. 8207
• Glassy-winged sharpshooter
  • Article: Parasitic wasps could control glassy-winged sharpshooters
  • Pest Management Guideline: Sharpshooters on grape
  • Pest Note: Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
• Hackberry woolly aphid
  • Pest Note: Hackberry Woolly Aphid
• Light brown apple moth
  • Fact sheet: Light Brown Apple Moth: Quarantine, Management, and Potential Impacts
• Mediterranean fruit fly
  • Article: Aromatherapy puts flies in the mood for love
• Olive fruit fly
  • Pest Note: Olive Fruit Fly
  • Fact sheet: Olive Fruit Fly
• Redhaired bark beetle
  • Article: Research findings shed light on new urban pest of pine trees
• Red imported fire ant
  • Pest Note: Red Imported Fire Ant
  • Article: Researchers study how fire ants spread during mating flights
• Spotted gum psyllid
  • Article: Researchers find wasp can control spotted gum psyllid
• Tomato psyllid
  • Article: Tomato psyllids cropping up in southern California
  • Pest Management Guideline: Tomato Psyllid on tomato
• Vine mealybug
  • Article: UC helps vineyard crews to identify invasive pest
  • Pest Management Guideline: Vine Mealybug on grape

• Citrus greening disease and Asian citrus psyllid
  • Article: Scientists create a defense plan against citrus greening threat
  • Fact sheet: Citrus Bacterial Canker Disease and Huanglongbing (Citrus Greening) — ANR Publ. 8218
• Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder
  • Fact sheet : Cucurbit Yellow Stunting Disorder on cucurbits
• Pitch canker
  • Pest Note: Pitch canker
  • Article: Douglas-fir trees are cunning carriers of pitch canker disease
• Sudden oak death
  • Pest Note: Sudden Oak Death in California
• Tomato yellow leaf curl
  • Pest Management Guideline: Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl on tomato
  • Fact sheet: Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (1.1 MB PDF).

• Eurasian watermilfoil
  • Article: Fishing for a solution for a destructive aquatic weed

• Giant reed
  • Article: Researchers find wasp can strike down giant reed
• Invasive plants
  • Database: California Invasive Plant Inventory from California Invasive Plant Council
  • Pest Note: Invasive Plants

• Perennial pepperweed
  • Pest Note: Perennial Pepperweed

• Sahara mustard
  • Article: UC scientists find answers about Sahara mustard's spread

• Woody weed invaders
  • Pest Note: Woody Weed Invaders

• Crustaceans, mollusks, worms, and fish
  • Article: Scientists propose new warning system for invasive marine species

• Sargassum muticum
  • Article: Scientists untangle seaweed’s effect on other species

• Sabellid polychaete (a fan worm)
  • Article: What a difference a day makes—abalone pest is in the dunk tank

• Exotic Newcastle disease (END)
  • Article: Why did the chicken cross the road?—To escape deadly exotic disease

• Wild pigs
  • Article: Wild pigs couldn’t keep this researcher away