Tag: beneficial insects

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

by Stephanie Means
July 3, 2025

I can't think of a truer statement than "A picture is worth a thousand words." It's long been one of my favorite sayings. But what does a picture have to do with your landscape problem you might be wondering? When submitting a request ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Beneficial Insects, Disease Identification, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Insect Diagnosis, Insect Identification, Landscape Problem, Landscape Trouble Spot, Plant Identification, Plant Problem Diagnosis

A Bug Eat Bug World

by David Austin
March 12, 2025

Those Pesky Bugs If you are like many people, you might cringe at seeing some unknown creature crawling across your prized plant. Your Spidey senses might kick in, and you may want to act. Before you reach for a spray bottle, please take ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Beneficial Insects, Bugs, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Hometown Gardener, IPM, Pollinator Plants, UF/IFAS Extension

See how Florida 4-H connects youth from urban communities with the food they eat

by Lourdes Mederos
March 10, 2025

What: Florida 4-H Howdy Days Where: Miami Dade County Youth Fair & Exposition, 10901 SW 24th Street, Miami When: March 17 and 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Media RSVP Contact: Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu or 954-242-8439. About: Many ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Curriculum, Events, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: 4-H, 4-H Miami-Dade, 4-H Youth Development, Agricultural Education And Communication, Agriculture, Beef, Beneficial Insects, Food, Food Awareness, Food Conscious, Food Safety, Howdy Days, Meat, Miami-Dade County, Miami-Dade County Youth Fair Expo, Milk, News, Plant Anatomy, Poultry, Supermarket, Sustainability, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Vegetables

Hop into science: UF/IFAS guide empowers communities of all ages to explore tiny but mighty hoppers

by Lourdes Mederos
January 21, 2025

Spotted a tiny, colorful critter hopping on a leaf and wondered what it was up to? Meet the hoppers — leafhoppers, planthoppers and treehoppers. (more…) READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agriculture, AskIFAS, Beneficial Insects, Brian Bahder, Citizen Science, Conservation Efforts, Corey Callaghan, Data, Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Department Of Wildlife Ecology And Conservation, Ecosystems, Entomology And Nematology, Hoppers, Inaturalist, Insects, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Invasives, Leafhoppers, News, Observations, Pests, Planthoppers, Research, Treehoppers, UF-IFAS

Keeping Aphids Out of Your Winter Garden

by Molly Jameson
November 18, 2024

Keeping Aphids Out of Your Winter Garden Here in North Florida, mild winters allow for extended growing seasons, but they also enable pests like aphids to stay active year-round. While freezing temperatures in colder regions ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease
Tags: Aphids, Beneficial Insects, Integrated Pest Management, IPM, Lacewings, Ladybugs, Parasitic Wasps, Plant Pests

Respect for Wasps

by llw5479
August 2, 2024

I respect the fact that wasps can sting when threatened or disturbed. But I also respect the fact that they are beneficial. Every time I’ve been stung by wasps, I either accidentally disturbed a nest that I didn’t know was there or ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease
Tags: Beneficial Insects, Paper Wasp, Wasp Nest, Wasp Sting, Wasps

The Mealybug Destroyer

by Beth Bolles
May 29, 2024

Scouting is an important part of keeping pests in check and gardeners are often up to the task. As you routinely enjoy the beauty of your ornamental and edible plants, you are likely to catch a pest sighting before it gets out of control. ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
Tags: Beneficial Insects, Insects, Lady Beetles, Predators

Mining Bees of Late Winter

by Beth Bolles
February 29, 2024

The mining bees or adrenids are often seen in areas of landscapes that have little ground vegetation and loose soil. They are also commonly seen in North Florida turf areas while grass is still dormant. After mating, the female bee will excavate ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping
Tags: Bees, Beneficial Insects, Landscapes, Lawns, Mining Bees, Pollinators

What’s Bugging My Plants [Diagnosis & Resources to Help]

by Duval MGV
June 7, 2023

Plants should be looking good in full growth. If our yard has a well-balanced ecosystem, pests and diseases are usually minor. Birds need caterpillars to feed their young. Bees and butterflies are busy gathering nectar and pollen while ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
Tags: Beneficial Insects, Bugs On Plants, Discolored Leaves, Pests And Diseases, Plant Problem Diagnosis

Spring is Here, and So are the Bugs.

by Alyssa Vinson
March 30, 2023

How riotous the morning, draped in silver and pomegranate, new shoots gasping forth from soil tended carefully. Buds on branches swell and burst with leaves fresh and trembling in their newness. A haze of moisture in the morning air left staggering ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Aphids, Beneficial Insects, Biocontrol, Featured Hot Topic, Florida Friendly Landscape, Florida Gardens, Insects, Ladybugs

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