Common Insect Pests of Lettuce in Florida
Tennyson B. Nkhoma, De-Fen Mou.
Lettuce is one of the most important horticultural commodities in Florida state agriculture, with production concentrated in the Everglades agriculture area. Among US states, Florida ranks third in lettuce production after California and Arizona. Like many other crops, lettuce production is affected by several insect pests that affect both quality and quantity. This publication introduces some of the common insect pests of lettuce, including serpentine leafminers, banded cucumber beetles, aphids, thrips, and caterpillars; and describes the damage these pests cause in lettuce. This publication is intended for stakeholders in Florida lettuce production including current and potential lettuce growers, crop consultants, home gardeners, and Extension agents.
An Overview of Integrated Mosquito Management Performed by Mosquito Control Programs in Florida
Miranda J. Tressler, Eva A. Buckner.
Mosquito control programs in Florida manage mosquito populations and reduce the public risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases. They use many methods to target multiple life stages of mosquitoes in a process called integrated mosquito management, or IMM. The American Mosquito Control Association considers IMM the best way to manage mosquitoes and reduce mosquito-borne disease transmission. An IMM program includes community engagement, mosquito surveillance, source reduction, biological control and the application of targeted insecticides, and monitoring for insecticide resistance. Public perception of mosquito control programs is sometimes negative, especially when people do not have a good understanding of the behind-the-scenes steps of IMM. This publication is intended to educate Florida residents about mosquito control programs by providing an overview of the regulation of these programs and a full understanding of the IMM strategies they practice.
Common Viruses of Florida Honey Bees: Diagnosis and Management
James C. Fulton, Kiley J. Epperson, James D. Ellis.
Viruses can have a significant negative economic impact on the international and domestic apiary industries. Globally, more than 70 viruses have been described infecting the western honey bee. Only a small proportion of these viruses cause noticeable adverse clinical signs in bees. The purpose of this publication is to provide beekeepers an overview of bee viruses commonly found in Florida, virus impact on colony health, associated clinical signs of viruses, and virus transmission pathways.
The Basics of Queen Management in Beekeeping Operations
Francesca Michelini, Devan Rawn, Cameron Jack.
Queen management is a fundamental aspect of successful beekeeping, ensuring the health and productivity of honey bee colonies. Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) are vital for global crop pollination. Beekeepers must maintain strong colonies, and one way to do that is to care for the queen. This publication details various queen management techniques, including monitoring queen performance, marking queens for easy identification, clipping wings to mitigate swarming, and timely requeening to sustain colony vitality. These best practices help beekeepers optimize hive health and longevity.
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