Dec. 3—Spurred on by two rainy years, the spread of sudden oak death in Marin and 18 California counties is back on the rise — this time with an aggressive new strain invading the Bay Area.

On the terraces just above San Onofre State Beach, you can usually see springtime monkey-flower blossoms in various shades of ...

Santa Clarita Valley oak trees are being invaded by the goldspotted oak borer; an insect named for its iridescent black shell with gold spots that burrows underneath the bark of oak trees.