Category: Pests & Disease

Researchers enlist Florida residents in the fight against citrus greening

by Megan Winslow
August 28, 2025

Most people know Florida’s citrus industry is struggling with citrus greening. The threat, however, doesn’t exist in a silo, and residential trees – where the plant disease was first detected in the state – can serve as reservoirs for ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: ACP, Asian Citrus Psyllid, Bay, Citrus, Citrus Care, Citrus Greening, Cold Hardy Citrus, Columbia, Danielle Williams, Diaphorina Citri, Educational, Entomology, Gadsden, HLB, Huanglongbing, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Integrated Pest Management, Jefferson, Laura Warner, Lauren Diepenbrock, Leon, Management, Mesh Bags, North Florida, Orange, Pest, Plant Disease, Reflective Mulch, Research, Romain Exilien, Santa Rosa, UF, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, Workshop, Xavier Martini

Better mangoes, papayas and other tropical fruit: Breeding fruits consumers love, growers need

by Lourdes Mederos
August 27, 2025

Florida has long held a special place in America's fruit bowl. With its subtropical climate, the state remains one of the few parts of the continental United States where exotic fruits -- from mangoes and avocados to papayas and dragon fruit ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Avocado, Consumers, Crops, Cultivars, Diseases, DNA, Dragon Fruit, Exotic Fruits, Flavor, Florida, Gardens, Genetic Markers, Genetic Tools, Growers, Health, Jugpreet Singh, Laurel Wilt, Mango, Nutrition, Papaya, Papaya Ringspot, Pests, Production, Shelf Life, Subtropical Climate, Tropical Fruit, Tropical Research And Education Center

Florida’s Hidden Invaders: Invasive Plants in Our Yards Part 2

by Clarissa Chairez
August 21, 2025

In Part 1 of this series we explored several popular but invasive plants often found in Florida yards, including Mother of Millions, Wandering Dude, Mimosa Tree, Chinese Wisteria, and Common Lantana. These species may look beautiful, but their ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease
Tags: Florida Friendly, Florida Gardening, Florida Wildlife, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Floridas-hidden-invaders, Garden, Gardening, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Invasives, Landscape, Landscape Management, Native Plants, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Orange County

Which Milkweeds Are Truly Safe for Monarchs?

by Sara MacDonald
August 18, 2025

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been hearing the same question repeatedly: “Which milkweeds should I plant to help monarch butterflies?” It’s a great question, but the answer isn’t simple. Many gardeners want to do the right thing. Yet, ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #ufbugs, Extension, Florida Friendly Landscape, Invasive Species, Master Gardener

From Peru’s wild landscapes to Florida’s farms: Scientist harnesses microbes to protect agriculture, environment

by Lourdes Mederos
August 17, 2025

For Florida growers, Jose Rolando’s research is focused on promoting healthier soils, reduced input costs and crops able to withstand droughts, heat and shifting weather patterns. For consumers, it aims at more sustainable food production ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Amazon Rainforest, Andes Mountains, Coastal Wetland, Crops, Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, Droughts, Ecosystem Services, Farmer, Fertilizer, Florida Bay, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Georgia Institute Of Technology, Grower, IFAS, Indian River Lagoon, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, José Rolando, Lima, Lourdes Mederos, Mangroves, Microbiologist, Microbiology, National Institute Of Agricultural Innovation, News, Peru, Public, Sea Level Rise, Sechura Desert, Sustainable Food Production, Tropical Zones, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, Weather

Grow Your Green Expertise with the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Professional Certification

by Sara MacDonald
August 12, 2025

Florida’s landscapes are more than just beautiful; they’re vital to protecting our water, supporting wildlife, and maintaining our state’s natural charm. But keeping them thriving requires more than a good eye for plants. It takes science-based, ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Florida Friendly Landscape, Native Plants Florida, Pollinator Friendly, UF/IFAS Extension, Water Conservation Landscaping

Investigadores en Florida aclaran la efectividad de las plantas contra mosquitos

by Luz Bahder
August 6, 2025

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Al llegar a uno de los meses más intensos del verano en Florida, también se alcanza el punto más alto de la temporada ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS
Tags: Aceite, Aceite Natural, Acumulaciones De Agua, Agua Estancada, Apoyo Ecológico., Citronela, Control, Criadero De Mosquitos, Disuadir, Efectividad, Enfoque Integral De Control, Español, Estrategias De Control De Mosquitos, Eucalipto, Eva Buckner, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gambusia, Insecto, Jardín, La Albahaca, La Citronela, La Lavanda, La Menta, Larvas, Las Caléndulas, Liah Continentino, Lorna Bravo, Manejo Del Hábitat, Mosquito, Patio, Picadura De Mosquito, Plantas Repelentes De Mosquitos, Poblaciones, Protección Personal, Repelente, Reproducción De Mosquitos, Spanish, Temporada De Lluvias Y Mosquitos, University Of Florida, Velas, Zancudos

Florida experts break down the buzz on the myth of mosquito-repelling plants

by Lourdes Mederos
August 6, 2025

As we enter the heart of Florida’s summer in July and August, we’re at the peak of both rainy season and mosquito season, with daily downpours creating ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes across the state. If you’ve ever wondered ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Basil, Beach Sunflowers, Beneficial Wildlife, Birds, Candles, Citronella, Dragonflies, Entomology And Nematology, Environmental Horticulture, Eucalyptus, Eva Buckner, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticultural Sciences, Insects, Jennifer Pelham, Ladybugs, Lavender, Liah Continentino, Marigolds, Mint, Mosquito, Mosquito Control, Mosquito Season, Natural Predators, News, Rain, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension Broward County, UF/IFAS Extension Monroe County, University Of Florida

Chinch bug challenges continue in 2025

by Adam Dale
August 6, 2025

2024 was arguably the most challenging year in the past decade for Florida chinch bug management. Phone call after email after meeting, I was hearing pest control professionals describe their struggles to control chinch bugs in lawns. None of ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Lawn, Pest Control, Resistance, Southern Chinch Bug, St. Augustinegrass, Turf

New EDIS/Ask IFAS Document Published by Entomology and Nematology During May and June

by Susan Gildersleeve
August 5, 2025

Discover the latest research and practical solutions from UF/IFAS experts. These are the new EDIS/Ask IFAS documents published by Entomology during May and June. Stay informed and inspired with our updates! Striped Sod Webworm (Larva), Changeable ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
Tags: Ask IFAS, Department Of Entomology And Nematology, EDIS Journal, Featured Creatures Collection

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