Category: Invasive Species

Polk County “City Nature Challenge” 2026

by Shannon Carnevale
March 26, 2026

Participate in the City Nature Challenge BioBlitz The City Nature Challenge is a global celebration of biodiversity—and you can be part of it right here in Polk County. From April 24–26, 2026, community members across the region will join ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, Wildlife
Tags: BioBlitz, Citizen Science, City Nature Challenge, Inaturalist, Polk County, Shannon Carnevale

Florida Pesticide Licenses: Aquatic

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
July 10, 2025

Florida is among the most highly regulated states when it comes to pesticide applications, offering 13 different types of pesticide licenses across more than 20 categories. This complex structure can make it challenging for applicators to determine ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Coasts & Marine, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Applying Pesticides Correctly, Aquatic License, Aquatic Pesticides, Aquatic Plants, Herbicide, Pesticide License, Pest_control, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

Licencias de Plaguicidas de Florida: Acuática (“Aquatic”)

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
July 10, 2025

Florida es uno de los estados con mayor regulación en cuanto a la aplicación de plaguicidas, ofreciendo 13 diferentes tipos de licencias de plaguicidas con más de 20 categorías. Esta compleja estructura puede dificultar que los aplicadores ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Coasts & Marine, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Applying Pesticides Correctly, Aquatic License, Aquatic Pesticides, Aquatic Plants, En Espanol, Espanol, Herbicide, Pesticide License, Pest_control, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

Florida Farm Pests: Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA)

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado and Jonael BosquesAvatar photo
September 30, 2024

They are strong and aggressive. When they attack, they bite and they sting you. These guys invade our homes, and take over our farms and landscapes, and they do this without us even noticing: they are Red Imported Fire ants.   What ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Invasive Species, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Fire Ants, Florida Farms, Florida_Pests, Hardee County, Pests, Pest_control, Polk County, Polksmallfarms, Red_imported_fire_ants, Small Farms, UF/IFAS

Plagas de las Fincas de Florida: Hormigas Rojas de Fuego Importadas (“Red Imported Fire Ants” [RIFA])

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado and Jonael BosquesAvatar photo
September 30, 2024

Son fuertes y agresivas. Cuando atacan, muerden y te pican. Estos individuos invaden nuestros hogares y se apoderan de nuestras granjas y jardines, y lo hacen sin que nos demos cuenta: son las hormigas rojas de fuego importadas.   ¿Qué ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Invasive Species, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: En Espanol, Espanol, Florida Farms, Florida Pests, Hardee County, Hormigas De Fuego, Pests, Pest_control, Polk County, Polksmallfarms, Red_imported_fire_ants, Small Farms, UF/IFAS
A woman snapping a photo o some orange leaves with her cellphone. Text on the image reads, "How to host a bioblitz."

Bioblitzing: Leveraging Community Science Techniques for Land Management

by Shannon Carnevale
May 25, 2023

In this immersive two-day program, you will acquire the skills necessary to host a successful BioBlitz survey and utilize the collected data for effective land management. The course is designed for local land managers, biologists, non-profit ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Events, Invasive Species, Natural Resources
Tags: BioBlitz, Central Florida, CEU Opportunity, Citizen Science, Conservation, Florida Ecosystem, Invasive Species, Nature, Polk County, Shannon Carnevale
"welcome to Florida"

New Episode from Naturally Florida, The Truth About Iconic Florida

by Shannon Carnevale and Lara MilliganAvatar photo
March 21, 2023

When people think of Florida or visiting the sights, what do they think of? For most people, it’s some combination of alligators, flamingos, manatees, and sea turtles with a sprinkling of Disney World, Kennedy Space Center, and the ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Alligators, Coconut Palm, Flamingos, Invasive Species, Lara Milligan, Living With Wildlife, Manatees, Naturally Florida Podcast, Sea Turtles, Shannon Carnevale, Wildlife

The Right Dose: Video Series

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
November 15, 2022

Florida is one of the most regulated states regarding pesticide applications.  Pesticide applicators licensed in Florida that apply Restricted Use Pesticides (RUP) must know their obligation under Florida Law. Restricted Use Pesticides are ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Farm Management, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Applying Pesticides Correctly, Pesticide License, Pesticide Testing, Pesticide Training, The Right Dose
close up of a Cane Toad

Cane Toads: A Toxic Threat to Family Pets

by Shannon Carnevale
August 12, 2022

Join UF/IFAS Extension Faculty, Shannon Carnevale, to learn about cane toads in Florida, with a 1-hr webinar. About this cane toad webinar Invasive species, like cane toads, are species that (a) are nonnative to a specified ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease
Tags: Cane Toads, Central Florida, Invasive Species, Living With Wildlife, Shannon Carnevale, Wildlife

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