Above: Ladybugs are often associated with biocontrol because they eat aphids. UF/IFAS photo by Tyler Jones. The term biocontrol is short for biological control. Biological control is a way of controlling pests with their natural enemies. ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
Above: With their unique crest, wheel bugs are hard to miss. UF/IFAS photo by Lyle Buss. Whether you’re a human or an insect, you probably don’t want to mess with the wheel bug. Known for its wheel-shaped crest, this bug’s bite (actually ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
When planning what extension programs to offer at the Small Farms Academy this year, I immediately thought about a plant disease ID workshop for vegetable crops. These classes are offered at the Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Horticulture, Pests & Disease
Are you seeing fantastic creatures that are the stuff of nightmares (or an entomologists day dreams)? We all have had these moments and can often be surprised by how small some of these so called evil creatures are. We have compiled for you ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Above: Diadegma insulare, a kind of parasitoid wasp. UF/IFAS photo by Lyle Buss. Parasitoids are like parasites in that they live on or inside of another organism, called a host. However, unlike parasites, parasitoids ultimately kill their ... READ MORE
Category: Pests & Disease
Above: An adult green lacewing. Lacewing larvae, not adults, are used in biocontrol. UF/IFAS entomology and nematology photo. Before a green lacewing gets its large delicate wings, it starts off as a larva. These larvae hatch from eggs the ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
Ever notice strange growths on plants or what appear to be warts on leaves and stems? These might be something called galls. There are many definitions of a “gall”, but today we are talking about “an abnormal growth formed on plants and ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease
Above: A green lacewing larva catches a spider mite. UF/IFAS photo by Lyle Buss. A predator is an organism that eats multiple organisms (prey) throughout its lifetime. Predators of pests are often used in biological control. Spiders, lacewing ... READ MORE
Category: Pests & Disease