Category: Invasive Species

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
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
Una persona tomando una fotografía con su teléfono móvil de una planta en floración para su identificación y registro.

De la curiosidad a la conservación: Cómo la ciencia ciudadana enseña a niños y adultos a observar y experimentar la naturaleza

by Luz Bahder
April 13, 2026

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. A menudo, todo comienza con algo pequeño: un ave que nunca habíamos notado posada en una rama, una mariposa de ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Brittany Mason, Ciencia Ciudadana, Clima, Corey Callaghan, Descubrimiento, EBird, Espanol, Especies, Estudios De Campo, Extensión De UF/IFAS, Habitat, INaturalist, Involucrar, Monitoreo, Personas, Project Finder-SciStarter, Spanish, UF/IFAS
Brittany Mason and a student reporting and observing a non-venomous rat snake. Photo by Corey Callaghan

From curiosity to conservation: How citizen science is teaching children and adults to see, experience nature

by Lourdes Mederos
April 13, 2026

It often starts with something small, such as a new bird in a branch, a vibrant butterfly in a yard, a colorful plant growing through a crack in the sidewalk or as part of a lawn. Suddenly, you are engaged and can’t help but snap a ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Beneficial Wildlife, BioBlitz, Brittany Mason, Changes, Changes In Ecosystems, Changes In Environment, Citizen Science, Citizen Science Month, Coexistence With Wildlife, Community, Corey Callaghan, Crowdsource, Curiousity, Department Of Wildlife Ecology And Conservation, EBird, Environmental Shifts, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Global Ecology, Habitat, Habitat Removal, Habitat Restoration, INaturalist, Learning, Observations, Seasonal Changes, Smartphone, Species Distributions, Urbanization, Water Quality, Wildlife, Wildlife Monitoring
An asian swamp eel close up. Photo by USGS.

Be an invader detector: UF scientists call on public to help track elusive Asian Swamp Eels

by Lourdes Mederos
April 7, 2026

University of Florida researchers are urging South Floridians to help stop the spread of an invasive fish now secretly moving through canals, marshes and wetlands across the region’s most vulnerable environments. Visitors, residents, ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Conservation, Invasive Species, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: 1-888-IVEGOT1, Archive, Asian Swamp Eel, Canals, Citizen Science Month, Conservation, CROC Docs, Fish, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Frank J. Mazzotti, Frank Mazzotti, Invasive Species, IVEGOT1 Mobile App, South Florida, Southeast Asia, UF/IFAS Wildlife Ecology And Conservation, USGS, Wetlands

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