Light brown apple moths have been found in Cayucos

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• Pheromone will be used against Cayucos moths

  Pheromone will be used against Cayucos moths

  State, federal and local agricultural officials are set to begin efforts to eradicate the light brown apple moth from Cayucos. Starting next Monday, technicians will deploy twist ties infused with a pheromone. Typically, a pheromone is released by the female moth to attract a mate. But the pheromone used in this program will disrupt the moth’s breeding patterns. Eventually, the moth population will decline and collapse, farm officials say.

  Experts will be available to answer questions at an open house from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Cayucos Public Library, 310 B St.

  Twist ties are placed on outdoor plants in neighborhoods where moths have been found. In addition to Cayucos, the pest has also been found in Los Osos and Nipomo.

• Healthy oaks can stand onslaught of oakworms

  Healthy oaks can stand onslaught of oakworms

  Q: I have caterpillars eating the leaves on my oak trees. What should I do? — Ann M., Arroyo Grande

  The California oakworm is probably your pest. On a typical year, there may only be two generations of oakworms, but this year was unusually warm and dry in mid-winter, which has created a perfect environment in order to have a third generation.

  The life cycle of an oak moth starts with eggs, then matures to a larva (caterpillar), eventually transforming into a chrysalis (pupa), then finally to the adult oak moth.

• A kelp-ful primer on coastal seaweed

  A kelp-ful primer on coastal seaweed

  Giant kelp can grow at the unbelievable rate of 1 to 2 feet per day under the right conditions along the Central Coast, ultimately reaching well over 150 feet in length. From a boat on a sunny day, you could almost watch it grow.

  Giant kelp is one type of marine algae or seaweed among thousands that exist in the oceans. Seaweed is divided into three color varieties: green, red and brown.

  Green seaweeds are generally found in the region between the tides, also known as the intertidal zone. As you can imagine, this zone can experience a great amount of wave action and the greens need to be very resilient, but they get plenty of light to grow.

• North Coast is decking its halls

  North Coast is decking its halls

  It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Bundle up Saturday evening to watch Morro Bay’s Lighted Boat Parade, where holiday lights adorn musical boats, canoes and kayaks.

  Then on Dec. 9, take a free old-fashioned horse-drawn buggy ride along Ocean Avenue during the fourth annual Cayucos by the Beach Open House.

  “This event has really exploded,” said co-coordinator Gina Spencer of Lady Spencer fine arts and gift shop. “When I moved Lady Spencer’s to Cayucos in 2008, I wondered what merchants did for the holidays and found there was room to create an event.

• Breathe easy with air-scrubbing indoor plants

  Breathe easy with air-scrubbing indoor plants

  Q. I’ve heard that indoor plants actually clean indoor air. Is this true?

  A. Houseplants can be beautiful and help to clean the air we breathe. Research shows that common houseplants, and some potted blooming plants, fight indoor air pollution. They absorb pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene — commonly found in building materials, household cleaners, and carpets — and render them harmless. The leaves in these plants absorb the pollutants, sending them to their roots where they become food for microbes.

  NASA has been conducting extensive experiments to find which plants are most effective in removing toxins from our indoor environment. Flowering plants such as gerbera daisy and chrysanthemums were found effective in removing benzene. Spathiphyllum (peace lily), Pothos (anyone can grow it), and Dracaena were found to remove pollutants and gasses. Also effective are Areca and reed palms, dwarf date palms, Boston and Australian sword ferns, English ivy, rubber plants, Sansevieria