Category: Natural Resources

A white bug on a green leaf.

Media Alert: UF/IFAS Experts to Host Pasture Mealybug Webinar on July 17

by Jamie Groh
July 13, 2026

What: Experts from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are hosting an informational webinar on the invasive pasture ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agricultural Pest Management, Agricultural Webinar, Blog Community, Crop Protection, Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Entomology, FDACS, Featured, Featured Hot Topic, Florida, Florida Agriculture, Florida Extension, Florida Farmers, Forage Grasses, Forages, Insecticide Options, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sceinces, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Invasive Pasture Mealybug, Invasive Pests, Invasive Species, Livestock Production, Mealybug Identification, Pasture Management, Pasture Mealybug, Pasture Mealybug Webinar, Pasture Pest Control, Sugarcane Pests, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida
A close-up of a German cockroach on a map. Photo by Johnalyn Gordon.

National survey suggests why roach infestations persist in multi-family apartment buildings, treatment options sought

by Lourdes Mederos
July 6, 2026

Cockroach infestations affect millions of U.S. households, particularly those who live in multi-family residential buildings, who made up nearly 70% of rental units in 2023. A national study, led by researchers from the University of Florida, ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Cockroach, Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Diseases, Espanol, Espanol E Inglés, German Cockroach, Johnalyn Gordon, Louisiana State University, Pest Control, Pests, U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban Development, UF IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, UF Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, University Of Florida, University Of Kentucky, Zach DeVries
A white bug on a green leaf.

As new invasive species threatens Florida pastures and sugarcane, researchers racing to manage pasture mealybug outbreak

by Meredith Bauer-Mitchell
July 6, 2026

Invasive pasture mealybug has been detected in 15 Florida counties and can rapidly kill pasture grasses, hayfields and sugarcane, causing severe crop losses. UF/IFAS scientists are studying the newly arrived pest, while emergency approval ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Pasture Mealybug

UF competition student winners reimagine invasive plants as food and art

by Jamie Groh
June 17, 2026

What happens when scientists and artists team up to tackle invasive plants? At the University of Florida (UF), a student-led project is testing whether the answer could include edible mushrooms — and a creative approach to recycling. The team ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS
Tags: Art And Science Collaboration, Blog Community, CALS, College Of Agricultural And Life Sciences, College Of The Arts, Community Engagement, Environmental Sustainability, Featured, Food Innovation, IFAS, Invasive Species, Oyster Mushrooms, Recycling, Student Research, Sustainable Agriculture, UF Students, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida
This image, featuring the heads of individuals from the soldier caste, is meant to highlight the similarities of appearance across both parental species, the Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus), the Asian subterranean termite (Coptotermes gestroi), and hybrids. Visual identification of hybrid termites can only be done under magnification by experts that are familiar with identification characteristics. Submitting a sample to the UF/IFAS Termite ID Service (TermiteIDServices@ifas.ufl.edu) remains the best option to confirm any suspected samples. Credit: Thomas Chouvenc

Here’s what homeowners need to know about hybrid termites in Florida

by Lourdes Mederos
June 8, 2026

Alarming reports of hybrid “super” termites have fueled misinformation, while flooding news outlets across the United States for months. University of Florida scientists are stepping in to help property owners separate fact from fiction. In ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Home Management, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Asian Subterranean Termite, Ask IFAS, Coptotermes Formosanus, Coptotermes Gestroi, Entomology, Entomology And Nematology, Faith Oi, Formosan Subterranean Termite, Hybrid Termites, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Johnalyn Gordon, Nan-yao Su, News, Termite Damage, Termites, Thomas Chouvenc, UF IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida
Manos con guantes en un laboratorio manipulando plántulas de hojas verdes en bandejas de cultivo, durante un proceso de investigación agrícola o cultivo controlado en ambiente estéril.

Desde los campos hasta la agricultura espacial, una nueva herramienta detecta el estrés hídrico en los cultivos antes de que sea visible

by Luz Bahder
June 4, 2026

Creado por Jamie Groh, especialista en relaciones públicas para UF/IFAS. Los científicos ahora pueden detectar el estrés hídrico en las plantas días antes de que aparezcan signos visibles, lo que permite actuar con mayor rapidez para ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Agricultores, Agricultura, Cámara Hiperespectral, Condiciones De Cultivo, Departamento De Agricultura De Los Estados Unidos, Deteccion Temprana, Entornos Controlados, Espacio, Espanol, Estrés Hídrico, Estrés Por Falta De Agua, Estrés Por Sequia, Futuras Misiones Espaciales, Invernaderos, Longitudes De Onda, Luna, Marchitamiento, Marte, Misiones Espaciales, Monitoreo, NASA, No Supervisión Humana, Plant Phenomics, Plantas, Reflexión De La Luz, Riego, Salud De Las Plantas, Sequia, Sintomas, Sistemas De Cultivo En El Espacio, Sistemas De Riego, Spanish, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences
Caimán de anteojos (Caiman crocodilus) de cuerpo alargado y escamoso, posado sobre un tronco de madera en un entorno natural, con la cola extendida hacia atrás y la cabeza en reposo mirando hacia la izquierda.

El caimán de anteojos invasor en Florida plantea riesgos potenciales para la restauración de los Everglades

by Luz Bahder
June 4, 2026

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Aspectos destacados Investigadores de UF recopilaron de manera exhaustiva la información existente sobre el ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: áreas Protegidas, Babilla, Caiman, Caiman Crocodilus, Caiman De Anteojos, Centro De Investigacion Y Educacion De UF/IFAS En Fort Lauderdale, CERP, Ecosistema, Espanol, Especie Invasora, Estudios Genéticos, Everglades, Frontiers Journal Of Amphibian And Reptile Science, Guajipal, Herramientas De ADN Ambiental, Humedales, Impactos Sobre La Fauna Nativa, IveGot1, IVEGOT1 Mobile App, Manejo De Vida Silvestre, Marismas, Mascotas Exóticas, Monitoreo, Patrones De Movimiento, Plan Integral De Restauracion De Los Everglades, Protección Contra Inundaciones, Reportes Del Publico, Restauración De Los Everglades, Sergio Balaguera-Reina, Spanish, The Croc Docs, UF Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, University Of Florida, Vida Silvestre
A spectacled caiman juvenile. UF/IFAS Photo by Jemeema Carrigan

Invasive caiman may pose new challenges for Everglades restoration

by Lourdes Mederos
June 4, 2026

UF researchers pieced together the first comprehensive review of the spectacled caiman, a small invasive crocodile-like reptile. Introduced into South Florida more than 45 years ago, researchers have suspected caimans compete ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Colombia, Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, Crocodilians, EddMaps, Environmental DNA Tools, Espanol, Exotic Pet Trade, Guayana, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Invasive Species, Native Wildlife, News, Research, South Florida, Spectacled Caiman, The Croc Docs, UF IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, Wetland
Un venano cola blanca juvenil en aguas de inundación.

Desde flamencos en el Medio Oeste hasta sapos de huracán: un estudio revela las sorprendentes historias de supervivencia de la vida silvestre frente a los huracanes

by Luz Bahder
May 27, 2026

Creado por Meredith Bauer-Mitchell, especialista sénior en relaciones públicas para UF/IFAS. Aspectos destacados: Los huracanes pueden tener un impacto significativo en la vida silvestre, incluso llevando a algunas especies al borde ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Events, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Afectacion, Animales, Biological Reviews, Ciclones, Ciclones Tropicales, Departamento De Ecología Y Conservación De La Vida Silvestre, Desplazamiento, Destruccion, Devastacion, Fauna, Hance Ellington, Huracanes, Impactos, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Inundaciones, Movimientos, Patrones Recurrentes, Precipitacion, Reaccion, Sobrevivencia, Temporada De Huracanes 2026, Tormentas, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, Vida Silvestre, Vientos

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