If you want to attract rodents to your home, leave food out, provide shelter, and give them easy access. If you don’t, your trash habits matter more than you think. Garbage is one of the primary reasons rodents settle around homes. The ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, Wildlife
When we think of a wellness routine, exercise, balanced nutrition, and meditation often take center stage. Yet one of the simplest acts a glass of water reveals a quiet super‑power. Water is not just a neutral backdrop; it is a vital solvent, ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Camp, , Clubs & Volunteers, Coasts & Marine, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Recreation
I was looking through some nursery cuttings when I noticed something growing across the surface of the media - liverwort. My first thought was, man, I forgot how cool liverworts are. I’ve learned about them in ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, , Crops, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Webspinners (order Embioptera) are one of the most overlooked and fascinating insect groups on the planet. Despite their small size and secretive habits, they are more common here in Florida than most people realize, especially due to our subtropical, ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, , Conservation, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Oak galls are one of my favorite examples of how complex plant–insect interactions can be. If you’ve ever walked past an oak tree and noticed odd growths (round, leafy, fuzzy, spiky, or shaped like little apples) you’ve seen the work of ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Sometimes nature can be quite beautiful. This is rust (Puccinia urbaniana) infecting native porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis). If you look closely, you can even see tiny fly larvae feeding on the spores of the rust fungus.Rust is a type ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
My Story One day on a walk, I noticed a cluster of tiny funnel-shaped pits in the sand. I knew right away who made them … an antlion larva, also called a “doodlebug.” These little predators are masters at building some of the most ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
When we talk about insect conservation, the conversation usually centers on “saving the bees.” But this often overlooks an entire world of tiny, unseen creatures that are just as vital to our ecosystems. These small, often overlooked arthropods, ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Thrips parvispinus: What We’re Learning About Management in Ornamentals A relatively new invasive pest in Florida, Thrips parvispinus, has quickly gained attention due to its ability to damage a wide range of ornamental and vegetable crops. ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Hydroponic Production Methods: A Comparative Overview of Basic Systems-Part 2 Hydroponic farming is an technology based innovation in agricultural production. These systems enable growers to produce food efficiently, utilizing nutrient water ... READ MORE
Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension,