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Category: Pests & Disease

New Air Potato Beetle Available!

by Forest Hecker, Ashley Ellis and Jackie LebouitzForest Hecker, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Community Educator for Sarasota County's UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability Department.
August 1, 2024

Invasive Air Potato The air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) is an invasive vine in Florida, originally hailing from Africa and Asia. It was introduced to Florida in the early 1900s, likely for its ornamental uses. However, the plant quickly became ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease
Tags: Air Potato, Beetle, Biological, Control, Ecology, IPM, Management, Pgm_Chemicals, Pgm_HortRes, Sustainable
Gator cartoon and lubber grasshopper

Backyard Bugs: Identifying Insects in the Landscape

by Jackie Lebouitz
July 15, 2024

There are more than 12,500 species of insects...in Florida, alone! For the average person, it can be difficult to distinguish between common, garden-variety ladybugs. And, it can be just as difficult to understand the difference between a "good" ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Bug, Garden, Insects, Landscape, Pests, Pgm_Chemicals, Plants, StarterKit
Before and After Landscape aerial.

Discover Florida: Flip My Yard Season 3 – A Must-Watch for Creating Sustainable Florida-Friendly Landscapes!

by Ashley Ellis and Forest HeckerAshley Ellis, Residential Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator in Sarasota County.
June 24, 2024

Introduction to Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) Whether you’ve recently moved to Florida or have lived here for years, you’ve likely faced gardening challenges. To help, local governments, regulatory agencies, landscaping professionals ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: FFL, Florida Friendly, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Native Plant, Pgm_HortRes, Sarasota County, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, Wildlife
Mosquito on skin

Mosquito FAQs

by Jackie Lebouitz
June 21, 2024

Mosquitoes can be a nuisance, especially the species that pose a public health risk. Below are some of the common questions we receive from our clients at UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County and Sarasota County's Mosquito Management Services. Why ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Home Management, Invasive Species, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Awareness, Control, Entomology, Management, Mosquito, Pgm_Chemicals, Treatment
Oak leafroller caterpillar on plant

Springtime Caterpillars

by Jackie Lebouitz
March 21, 2024

It's officially spring, and almost like clockwork, several seasonal caterpillars have begun to emerge from our trees...and may have found their way onto our walls, benches, and well, just about everywhere. While their presence may be a nuisance ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Caterpillar, Echo Moth, Inchworm, Integrated Pest Management, Leafroller, Management, Pest, Pgm_Chemicals, Spring, Tussock
Altica spp. flea beetle

Leap into Learning: Flea Beetles

by Jackie Lebouitz
February 27, 2024

The daytime call of birdsong heralds our gentle transition into the spring season. Light rainstorms ensure that our soils are saturated and that our plants are nourished. The sun's rays work in tandem to encourage the emergence of fresh, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Wildlife
Tags: Beetle, Biocontrol, Control, Damage, Ecofriendly, Entomology, Flea, Insects, Pests, Pgm_Chemicals, Plant
Jackie Lebouitz using net to catch insects

Welcome Our New Chemicals in the Environment Agent

by Lee Hayes Byron and Jackie Lebouitz
December 18, 2023

At UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, we often get questions about insect identification, treatment strategies, mosquito control, opportunities to protect and support pollinators, and how to apply best practices when using household chemicals. ... READ MORE

Category: Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Professional Development
Tags: Fertilizer, Insect, Pest, Pesticide, Pgm_Chemicals, Staff, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County
A pine forest in Sarasota County

Post-Hurricane Landscaping Tips: Pines in Decline

by Ashley Ellis
September 29, 2023

Florida is no stranger to the powerful forces of hurricanes that sweep through its landscapes, leaving devastation in their wake. Hurricane Idalia, Ian, and Irma have all drastically impacted our local landscapes in recent years. While immediate ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Work & Life
Tags: Disaster, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Hurricane, Landscape, Pgm_HortRes, Storm

Wild Sarasota Spotlight: comBATting bat myths

by Adelaide Mahler
October 1, 2021

Swooping through the night sky, many people are quick to decry bats as blood suckers, rabies vectors, and a general nuisance. However, these miraculous flying mammals pose little risk to humans and are actually essential in managing our ecosystems. Home ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Events, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Bats, Integrated Pest Management, IPM, Native, Pest, Pgm_EcoNR, Species, Wild Sarasota, Wildlife

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