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UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department

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Category: UF/IFAS Extension

I have things that move in my birdbath. What are they?

by Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman
May 24, 2016

Those little, squirming things in your birdbath are container-breeding mosquitoes (Figure 1). These mosquitoes are in their larval stage. Adult container-breeding mosquitoes lay eggs wherever water collects, which can be natural structures—like ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: BugWeek, Dangerous, Entomology, FAQ, Insects, Mosquito

I found worms with a spike for a tail on my tomatoes. What are they?

by Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman
May 23, 2016

Between April and November, you might notice spike-tailed green worms (Figure 1) feasting on your tomato plants’ leaves and fruit. These voracious creatures ravaging your garden are caterpillars called tobacco or tomato hornworms. The caterpillars ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: BugWeek, Entomology, FAQ, Insects, Pest, Tomato

Do wasps have any benefits at all?

by Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman
April 11, 2016

Actually, yes! They may not make honey like pollinating bees do, but we still need them. Even though you might tend to think of wasps as pesky stinging insects, they do provide ecological benefits. Similar to bees, some species are helpful ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Entomology, FAQ, Insects, UFBugs, Wasp

Fresh spring leaves: A delectable treat

by Adam Dale
March 31, 2016

Throughout early spring, leaf buds on deciduous trees open up into fresh, green leaves. Our recently bare and bland landscapes are green again. We aren't the only ones who are excited about this, though. Leaf-eating insects are too. Early spring ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Agdale, Entomology, FAQ, Insect Ecology, Plant-insect Interactions, UF/IFAS, UFBugs

Are ladybugs all ladies?

by Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman
November 18, 2015

The ladybug (Figure 1), or ladybird, is the common name given to beetles in the Coccinellidae family. This is misleading because not all ladybugs are ladies; they can be either female or male. It is difficult to determine the sex of a ladybug, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Aphid, BugWeek, Entomology, FAQ, Insects, Ladybug