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What to do about bugs, weeds, and other pests

Back to Pesticide Questions

Here are sources of information on pest management methods and on how to prevent pests in the first place, which is always the best strategy. The non-DPR sites are to help you make informed decisions. We have not evaluated all the advice on the non-DPR sites, and any recommendations are those of the external site. One thing to remember is to make sure you know what pest you are dealing with and pick the management strategy best suited to your situation. If it involves using a pesticide, read the label before you buy the product and again before you use it - then follow the instructions to the letter.

• School Pest Information Series
  • Mice and Rat (color, PDF, 358 kb) (b&w, PDF, 350 kb)
  • Argentine Ants (color, PDF, 264 kb) (b&w, PDF, 212 kb)
  • Cockroaches (color, PDF, 355 kb) (b&w, PDF, 260 kb)
• Child Care Pest Information Series
  • Mice and Rat (color, PDF, 391 kb) (En Español, PDF, 323 kb)
  • Argentine Ants (color, PDF, 239 kb) (En Español, PDF, 196 kb)
  • Cockroaches (color, PDF, 313 kb) (En Español, PDF, 212 kb)
• University of California (UC) Integrated Pest Management Program, in-depth information on how to identify and manage insects, plant diseases, weeds and other pests in home and garden, including pest monitoring techniques, pesticides, and nonpesticide alternatives. Or, you can browse UC’s catalog of publications (many of them free downloads) on lawns and landscapes, and growing fruits and vegetables.
• The UC Guide to Healthy Lawns, all you need to know to grow a lawn with little or no pesticide.
• The Less-Toxic Home Garden, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District fact sheets on controlling pests with little or no use of pesticides.
• UC Cooperative Extension agents in your county specialize in helping people with questions about gardening, agriculture, and pest control.
• Master Gardeners Online, the county offices of the Master Gardener program; phone for free home garden advice.
• Controlling Pests - U.S. EPA links to information on pest management in homes, multifamily housing, agriculture, and landscaping.
  • Controlling bed bugs
  • Registered bed bug products (Please note that not all products registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are registered for use in California. To check if a product is registered and legal to use in California, click here.)
• Hiring a Pest Control Company - UC IPM Online handout)
• National Pesticide Information Center (funded by U.S. EPA) links to many sites offering information on controlling home and garden pests.

For content questions contact:
Nita Davidson
1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015
Sacramento, CA 95812-4015
Telephone: (916) 324-4272
E-mail: ndavidson@cdpr.ca.gov

If you have questions about California’s licensing, certification, and training requirements to perform pest control work (new applications, renewals, change of address, qualifications, examinations, study materials, and continuing education), please contact the Licensing Program at licensemail@cdpr.ca.gov or (916) 445-4038.