California increasingly is impacted by invasive non-native organisms—primarily weeds, insects, and diseases but including aquatic organisms, vertebrate and invertebrate animals, and other pests—that have few counterparts and fewer natural enemies to control their growth and spread.

Included in the list are glassy-winged sharpshooters (vector for Pierce's Disease of grapevines); red imported fire ants; light brown apple, European grape vine,  coddling, and gypsy moths; Mediterranean and other fruit flies; Diaprepes root weevil; harmful nematodes; plum pox; emerald ash borer, chilli thrips, Asian citrus psyllids, Japanese beetles, and many other pests.

The cumulative damage to California agriculture and the environment from invasive pests totals billions of dollars annually; costs of exclusion, eradication, quarantine, and control adds hundreds of millions more. Every nursery and resident of the state must act in concert with governmental agencies in securing our border from these plant pests.

The California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers participates with numerous industry, governmental, university, and other stakeholder groups to produce integrated pest management (IPM) recommendations and best management practices (BMP) that help keep nurseries safe from invasive pests and lower the risk of spreading infestations when they ship plants. Download these manuals or order them in hard copy from the association in our publications section, under the ENewsletters and Publications tab, at left.