Return to Home Page

Integrated Pest Management · Agriculture and Natural Resources

University of California

Pest Management Books and Leaflets

UC IPM staff produces publications and educational materials related to pest management. They work closely with UC area IPM advisors, farm advisors, specialists, and researchers to provide information on the newest advances in pest management.

How to order

These printed publications are available for purchase and some are available free in PDF. See ordering information or order online from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) catalog.

UC IPM manual series

UC IPM books

UC IPM produces comprehensive IPM manuals for growers and pest control advisors. The books offer detailed information on numerous agricultural crops, landscape trees and shrubs, and home gardens. Some are in their second or later edition. The UC IPM manual series has received national recognition for the quality, readability, and outstanding color photographs.

The books are indispensable for growers, consultants, and pest management instructors. Each book describes the crop's growth and development, important natural enemies as well as other pest management alternatives, and effects of cultural and production practices on pests, presenting an ecosystem approach to pest management.

Comprehensive chapters on insects and mites, pathogens, weeds, nematodes, and vertebrates cover each significant pest, its identification, biology, and management. Monitoring methods, treatment thresholds, biological controls, and cultural practices are thoroughly explained. Numerous line drawings and charts and as many as 150 to 250 excellent color photographs illustrate each manual. Ordering information
Cover of the book, Integrated Pest Management for Avocados.

Integrated Pest Management for Avocados is the most complete guide available for managing pest problems in avocados. The book presents 386 high-quality color photographs of disorders and pests and the damage they cause.

Order online or call ANR Publications: 1-800-994-8849 or (510) 642-2431.
IPM in Practice

IPM in Practice: Principles and Methods of Integrated Pest Management, 2nd Edition

This manual from the University of California Statewide IPM Program is the most comprehensive, practical field guide ever developed for setting up and carrying out an IPM program in any type of crop or landscape. IPM in Practice features IPM strategies for weed, insect, pathogen, nematode, and vertebrate pests and provides specific information on how to set up sampling and monitoring programs in the field. This manual covers methods applicable to vegetable, field, and tree cops as well as landscape and urban situations. Designed to bring you the most up-to-date research and expertise, this manual draws on the knowledge of dozens of experts within the University of California, public agencies, and private practice.
UC ANR Publication 3418. 292 pp.

Natural Enemies Handbook: The Illustrated Guide to Biological Pest Control

Natural Enemies Handbook: The Illustrated Guide to Biological Pest Control

This how-to book helps you combine cultural, physical, and chemical methods with biological control; minimize pesticide impacts on natural enemies; release natural enemies and enhance their activity; and identify and use natural enemies to control pests in almost any agricultural crop, garden, and landscape. Virtually every insect, mite, and spider family important in biological control is illustrated with a taxonomically correct line drawing and color photos. The 180 high-quality color photographs and 140 line drawings feature hundreds of predators, parasites, and pathogens that attack pests. This book won an international award in June 1999 from the Agricultural Communicators in Education.
UC ANR Publication 3386. 154 pp.

Pests of the Garden and Small Farm: A Grower's Guide to Using Less Pesticide, 3rd edition

Pests of the Garden and Small Farm: A Grower's Guide to Using Less Pesticide, 3rd edition

This convenient handbook for home gardeners and small-scale farmers covers insect, mite, disease, nematode, and weed pests of fruit and nut trees, vegetables and herbs. Individual sections describe biology, identification, and management practices for over 120 common pests. Symptom-identification tables organized by crop refer you to relevant pages within and with more than 400 color photos and drawings, help you diagnose problems in your crop. The IPM approach focuses on prevention and suggests minimal use of harmful pesticides; recommended methods rely primarily on organically acceptable alternatives.

Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs: An Integrated Pest Management Guide, Second EditionPests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs: An Integrated Pest Management Guide, 3rd edition

This book is the ultimate guide to managing landscape pests and is an indispensable resource for landscape professionals, pest managers, and home gardeners. Using this book, you can diagnose and learn how to manage hundreds of insects, mites, nematodes, plant disorders and diseases, and weeds that damage trees and shrubs in California landscapes. This third edition contains over 600 high-quality, color photographs and line drawings of the causes of plant damage and their solutions. Problem-Solving Tables to help you recognize the pests and maladies of over 200 genera of trees and shrubs, with reference to specific pages for photographs and management. More than 100 University of California experts and industry professionals contributed to the books 437 information-packed pages.
UC ANR Publication 3359. 437 pp.

Vegetable Pest Identification for Gardens and Small FarmsVegetable Pest Identification for Gardens and Small Farms

This handy, pocket-sized guide helps farmers and gardeners identify and manage vegetable, fruit tree, and melon pests in smaller operations such as backyards, community or school gardens, or small, diversified farms in urban and rural areas. The cards focus on sustainable management methods that prevent pest problems while protecting people and the environment. Suggested techniques emphasize using less pesticide or are generally considered organically acceptable.
Publication 3553. 53 cards.

Landscape ID CardsLandscape Pest Identification Cards

Carry these 46 pocket-sized laminated cards in the field as handy references for identifying and monitoring major diseases and pest insects and mites and their natural enemies in California landscapes. These attractive and durable, laminated cards feature 211 high-quality, full-color photographs and cover 80 common insects and mites, 40 diseases, 20 beneficial insects, and a variety of other disorders and invertebrate pests.
Publication 3513. 46 cards.

Vineyard IDVineyard Pest Identification and Monitoring Cards

These 50 information-rich cards will help growers, vineyard managers, and their teams identify and manage most common problems. Covers 27 common insects and mites, 8 diseases, 6 beneficial insects, and a variety of other disorders, weeds, and invertebrate pests. Each pest is identified by a description and excellent close-up color photographsâ??244 photos in all. On the reverse of each card is a description of the various life stages and monitoring tips. Also includes descriptions of natural enemies as well as handy inch and metric measurement scales.
Publication 3532. 50 cards.

Tree Fruit Pest Identification and Monitoring Cards

Tree Fruit Pest Identification and Monitoring Cards

Carry these pocket-size laminated cards in the field as handy references for identifying and monitoring major insect and mite pests and several important diseases in California deciduous tree fruits and nuts. Each pest is identified by a description and close-up photographs of important life stages. Cards identifying important natural enemies are also included. The information and 114 color photos on these 32 cards will help pest control advisors and growers know how and when to look for these pests, both in growing and dormant seasons. Everyone involved in pest management in tree crops will want a set of these handy cards!
UC ANR Publication 3426. 32 cards.

Cover of Seasonal Guide to Environmentally Responsible Pest Management Practices in Almonds

Seasonal Guide to Environmentally Responsible Pest Management Practices in Almonds

This eight-page guide will help almond growers implement IPM practices based on a seasonal approach to managing pests. The booklet is the result of a five-year research project spearheaded by the Pest Management Alliance and funded by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.
UC ANR Publication 21619. 8 pp.

Cover of Seasonal Guide to Environmentally Responsible Pest Management Practices in Peaches and Nectarines

Seasonal Guide to Environmentally Responsible Pest Management Pract. in Peaches and Nectarines

This handy full-color guide takes you through the year based on the stages of peach tree growth with an easy to understand approach to environmentally friendly pest management in peaches.
UC ANR Publication 21625. 8 pp.

Cover of Seasonal Guide to Enviromentally Responsible Pest Management Practices in Prunes

Seasonal Guide to Enviromentally Responsible Pest Management Practices in Prunes

This handy full-color guide takes you through the year based on the stages of growth with an easy to understand approach to environmentally friendly pest management. This easy to use decision guide is packed with information to help prune growers make environmentally responsible pest management decisions year-round without decreasing their yields or increasing their reject levels. Based on research and results from the University of California and the Integrated Prune Farming Practices project.
UC ANR Publication 21624. 12 pp.

Cover of Healthy Roses manualHealthy Roses: Environmentally Friendly Ways to Manage Pests and Disorders in Your Garden and Landscape, 2nd Edition

This revised best-selling guide, designed especially for the home rose enthusiast, explains how to grow healthy roses with high quality blooms with little-to-no-use of toxic materials. It shows how to identify problems, take action when appropriate, and recognize beneficial insects. You'll learn about methods of controlling pests and diseases using alternatives such as beneficial insects, traps, and barriers, and less toxic pesticides such as soaps, oils, and microbials. Other information: how to take preventative measures such as careful selection of varieties, site selection and planting, proper watering, how and when to prune, and weed management. New in the second edition is an expanded section on cultural practices; including new information on establishment, irrigation, soil and nutritional requirements, and pruning. Also new is a discussion of the mossy rose gall and an expanded reference section. Illustrated with 50 color photographs. Authors: John Karlik, Mary Louise Flint, and Deborah Golino.
UC ANR Publication 21589. 33 pp.

Cover of Pierce's Disease manualPierce's Disease

UC plant pathologists believe that the bacterium that causes Pierce's disease in grapes, Xylella fastidiosa, is probably in every county in the state of California where grapes are grown. Find out what you can do to combat this major threat to the grape industry. This publication covers the symptoms of Pierce's disease and offers strategies for management. Included is a description of Pierce's disease incidence in the various grape-growing regions of California; descriptions of the four major insect vectors that spread the disease causing bacterium Xylella fastidiosa; and the role that alternative host plants play as a reservoir of the bacteria. Also included is information on the pattern of spread in vineyards by the different vectors; how to monitor the vectors; and a description of management strategies you can use in your vineyard. Illustrated with 4 tables and 21 color photographs. Authors: Lucia G. Varela, Rhonda J. Smith, and Phil A. Phillips.
UC ANR Publication 21600. 20 pp.

Soil Solarization: A Nonpesticidal Method for Controlling Diseases, Nematodes, and Weeds

This publication describes soil solarization, the nonpesticidal method of controlling soilborne pests by placing plastic sheets on moist soil during periods of high ambient temperature. The book covers how to solarize soil, plastic sheeting, results of solarization, factors that limit the effectiveness of solarization, combining it with other control methods, and the economics of solarization. The book features 10 black-and-white and seven color illustrations. Authors: Clyde L. Elmore, James J. Stapleton, Carl E. Bell, and James E. DeVay.
UC ANR Publication 21377. 13 pp.

Soil Solarization and Integrated Management of Soilborne Pests (United Nations)

Soil solarization is gradually becoming a recognized control strategy for soilborne pathogens and weeds. Studies, particularly in hot climates, have demonstrated the effectiveness of this method for protection of many vegetables, field crops, fruit-trees, ornamental plants, and nursery transplants. Soil solarization causes chemical, physical, and biological changes in the soil and thus provides effective management of soilborne pests, improves plant growth and development and often results in substantial yields increase. This reference book, edited by UC scientists, covers research on soil solarization conducted by 80 scientists in 22 countries on five continents. Published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, this book focuses on the proceedings of the March 1997 Second International Conference on Soil Solarization and Integrated Management of Soilborne Pests, held at the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas in Aleppo, Syria. Editors: James J. Stapleton, Clyde L. Elmore, and James E. DeVay.
UC ANR Publication Plant Production and Protection Paper 147. ISBN: 9251041903. Job Number W9936/E. 680 pp.

Sticky Trap Monitoring of Insect Pests

Sticky traps are efficient tools for monitoring adults of many pests. This publication is a practical guide to using traps properly, recording and interpreting catches, and developing controls. It features high-quality magnified color photographs that show insects as they appear when caught in traps. For commercial greenhouse growers, this publication is also useful for pest managers of outdoor nurseries, field crops, and orchards. Authors: Steve H. Dreistadt, Julie P. Newman, and Karen L. Robb.
UC ANR Publication 21572. 8 pp.

Meet the Beneficials: Natural Enemies of Garden Pests

This poster shows many of the beneficial insects that prey on plant pests. (2 MB, PDF)

Top of page

PDF: To display a PDF document, you may need to use a PDF reader.