Category: Invasive Species

New Air Potato Beetle Species Release

by Tonya Ashworth
November 11, 2025

They are small but mighty. A new species of air potato beetle is being reared and released in Florida to wage war against the invasive air potato vine. First, a little background on the enemy. The air potato vine was introduced in Florida ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease
Tags: Air Potato Beetle, Air Potato Vine, Invasive Plant, Invasive Species
Florida with magnifying glass and insect

November 2025 First Friday with Florida First Detector

by Morgan Pinkerton
November 10, 2025

Recap of November 2025 First Friday with Florida First Detector This month’s Florida First Detector webinar took a closer look at Hymenoptera. This is an order of insects that includes wasps, bees, ants, hornets, and sawflies. Hymenopterans ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Livestock, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Bees, Biosecurity, Early Detection, Eradication, FFD25-26, FloridaFirstDetector, Honeybees, Hornet, SeminoleCountyAg, Wasp

Florida Land Steward Update, November 7, 2025

by Chris Demers
November 7, 2025

2026 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD WALL CALENDARS WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON! It's that time of the year! An annual Holiday tradition, the Florida Land Steward wall calendar features beautiful photography, our Florida Land Steward Landowner of the Year, ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, Wildlife
Tags: 2025 Calendar, Award, Family Forest, Florida Land Steward Program, Forest Carbon, Hurricane Preparation, Hurricane Season, Invasive Species, Landowner Assistance, Natural Resources, Online Course, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Southern Pine Beetle, Tree Farm, Wildlife

What’s New on Ask IFAS: Featured Creatures Collection (Sept. – Oct.)

by Susan Gildersleeve
November 6, 2025

The Featured Creatures collection provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids, and other organisms relevant to Florida. These profiles are intended for the use of interested laypersons with some knowledge of biology as well as ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources
Tags: Alfalfa, Bees, Blueberry, Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Featured Creatures Collection, Peanut

Plant Status Change – Tropical Milkweed is Now Listed as a Category II Invasive

by Tia Silvasy
November 5, 2025

  Tropical Milkweed is now Invasive! Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) was once a go to larval host plant for monarch butterflies. As of June 2025 the plant status has changed. It is now listed as invasive in the entire state ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Asclepias, Butterfly, Invasive Species, Native Plants, Tropical Milkweed, Tsilvasy
Golden oyster mushrooms growing on a tree trunk.

Hongos ostra dorados cultivados y vendidos en Florida: Científica recomienda precaución

by Luz Bahder
November 3, 2025

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Los hongos ostra dorados, conocidos también como setas doradas u ostras amarillas, con sus brillantes sombreros ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Crops, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Biodiversidad, Bosques, Ciclo Del Carbono, Comestible, Comunidad Fúngica, Descomposición De La Madera, Diversidad Genética, Ecosistemas Saludables, Hongo, Hongo Ostra Amarillo, Hongo Ostra Dorado, Hongos Nativos, Inaturalist, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Invasivo, Michelle Jusino, Mushroom Observer, Patología Forestal, Servicio Forestal De Los Estados Unidos, Seta, Seta Ostra Amarilla, Seta Ostra Dorada
photo of dead elm covered with golden oyster mushrooms.

Golden oyster mushrooms cultivated, sold in Florida: Scientist urges caution

by Lourdes Mederos
November 3, 2025

The golden oyster mushroom, with bright yellow pillowy caps, are a popular buy that are sold in grow-your-own kits as well as standard grocery stores, farmer and gourmet markets. A University of Florida researcher warns it is quietly invading ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Citizen Science, Culinary Connoisseurs, Culinary Mushroom Enthusiasts, Cultivating, Disrupt Ecosystems, Ecosystems, Farmer Market, Fungal Communities, Fungal Diseases, Golden Oyster Mushrooms, Gourmet Market, Grocery Stores, Grow-your-own Kits, Human Activities, Inaturalist, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Invasive, Invasive Species, Michelle Jusino, Mushroom Observer, News, Research, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatic Sciences, Transporting, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida

Florida Land Steward Update, October 31, 2025

by Chris Demers
October 31, 2025

THE FALL-WINTER 2025 ISSUE OF THE QUARTERLY FLORIDA LAND STEWARD NEWSLETTER IS NOW AVAILABLE In this issue: European Union Deforestation Regulation: What Landowners Need to Know, Florida Association of Consulting Foresters Corner: Longleaf ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Award, Family Forest, Florida Land Steward Program, Forest Carbon, Hurricane Preparation, Hurricane Season, Invasive Species, Landowner Assistance, Natural Resources, Online Course, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Southern Pine Beetle, Wildlife

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