Category: Pests & Disease

Zika Challenge

by Samantha Murray
June 23, 2016

Jim Davis is studying hard for his public health pest control license exam. In the past, getting this license wouldn’t be a usual part of his job. But with the recent public concern about the mosquito-borne Zika virus, expertise in mosquito ... READ MORE

Category: Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Anita Neal, Environment Hot Topic, Jim Davis, Ken Gioeli, Saqib Mukhtar, UF/IFAS Extension Hernando County, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County, William Lester, Zika Challenge, Zika Virus

Science teachers to explore what makes plants sick, healthy

by Samantha Murray
June 21, 2016

The work of a plant pathologist, or plant doctor, is much like that of a regular doctor—you have sick patients who need treatment, said Monica Elliott, professor of plant pathology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic
Tags: Agriculture Hot Topic, Monica Elliott, Plant Pathology

Science teachers to explore what makes plants sick, healthy at UF/IFAS workshops

by Samantha Murray
June 21, 2016

GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- The work of a plant pathologist, or plant doctor, is much like that of a regular doctor—you have sick patients who need treatment, said Monica Elliott, professor of plant pathology at the University of Florida Institute ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research

Varroa: the honey bee destructor

by cjack
June 14, 2016

Varroa destructor Background: Varroa is the most devastating pest of the western honey bee. It is responsible for the death of honey bee colonies world-wide, resulting in millions of dollars of damages. The mites are thought to feed ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease
Tags: Beekeeping, Cjack, Pest Profile, UFHoneyBeeLab

UF/IFAS Mole Cricket Biological Control Program saves state millions

by BLOGS.IFAS
June 9, 2016

GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- In a recent study, researchers with the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in cooperation with Florida A&M University economists estimated that a 34-year program to control invasive ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research

Bug of the Day: Southern Chinch Bug

by Samantha Murray
May 27, 2016

The southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis, is a tiny bug with a big appetite. Though it will attack many plant species, this bug especially loves to feed on St. Augustinegrass, which happens to be the most popular turfgrass species in Florida. The ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease, Turf
Tags: BugWeek, Southern Chinch Bug

Bug Word of the Day: Vector

by Samantha Murray
May 27, 2016

Pathogens are disease-causing agents; they can be bacteria, viruses, or protozoa, among other things. In order for a pathogen to survive and reproduce, it needs two things: a vector and a host. “Vector” is a noun that refers to any organism ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
Tags: BugWeek, Vector

Why do I always find these silver bugs crawling inside of cardboard boxes?

by Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman
May 27, 2016

The silver critters that you find in boxes are called silverfish (Figure 1). They are a primitive type of insect that lack wings and are ametabolous (meaning they do not go through metamorphosis). Silverfish prefer places that have little airflow, ... READ MORE

Category: Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: #ufbugs, BugWeek, Entomology, FAQ, Insects

Bug of the Day: Sting Nematode

by Samantha Murray
May 26, 2016

Depending on how you define the term “bug,” sting nematodes might not be bugs at all. Yes, they’re small invertebrates (animals without backbones), and might give you the heebie-jeebies when you think about them. But unlike insects or ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease, Turf
Tags: BugWeek, Sting Nematode

Word of the Day: Integrated Pest Management

by Samantha Murray
May 26, 2016

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a way to protect buildings, farms and other places from pests while minimizing pesticide use and treatment costs. As our world becomes more global, the number of invasive species in Florida will continue to ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
Tags: BugWeek, IPM

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