The Sonoma Master Gardeners' website, and several UC websites contain a wealth of information on pests, bugs, plant diseases and disorders, and methods to control those.
Integrated Pest Management--what is it? why use it?
Master Gardeners and UC promote Integrated Pest Management, or IPM in dealing with garden pests. IPM essentially means focusing more on natural, safer and envioronmentally sound alternatives for pest control, and less on chemical means. Successful IPM usually combines several methods for long-term prevention and management of pest problems without harming you, your family, or the environment. In IPM, using pesticides may be an option, but when other nonchemical methods are used first, pesticides are often not needed.
The full University of California definition of IPM is here.
Since this website focuses specifically on Sonoma County, presented first are the
Ten Worst Pests of Sonoma County.
These are the most prevalent and oft-encounted pest problems locally. Each one in the list contains a link to more information on the specific pest.
Ten Top Beneficial Insects for Sonoma County
These ten also contain links to more information on how they work, what they predate, and how to obtain or attract them.
The UC IPM website contains a number of other helpful tools.
Pest Management Overview
Quick Tips are short reviews of certain specific pests
Pest Notes are longer, 3-4 page detailed analyses of pests
Natural Enemies Gallery is an expanded list of Good Bugs
Weed Information, including a Weed Photo Gallery and a very useful Key for Identifying Weeds