UF/IFAS
Extension Sarasota County

Tag: insects

Gator cartoon and lubber grasshopper

Backyard Bugs: Identifying Insects in the Landscape


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
Altica spp. flea beetle

Leap into Learning: Flea Beetles


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

The Buzz about Bees in Florida


August 19, 2023

Bees, those tiny yet industrious creatures, have been silently playing a crucial role in sustaining our economy and environment. The mesmerizing dance of honeybees, gathering nectar from vibrant flowers, not only produces the golden elixir ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Work & Life
Tags: Bee, Garden, Insect, Insects, Land Insects, Landscape, Landscape Insects, Pgm_HortRes, Pollinator
a pollen-coated bee sits on a yellow-and-brown flower. [credit: pixabay.com, joszef szabo]

Pollinators: it’s not all about the bees


September 14, 2022

Do you enjoy a hot cup of coffee in the morning? Or a perfectly ripe watermelon for dessert? Perhaps a tasty blueberry, strawberry, and banana smoothie? If so, then thank a pollinator. Pollinators play a vital role in supporting commercial ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources
Tags: Biorational, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Insects, Pest, Pesticide, Pgm_Chemicals, Pollinator, Pollinators
bee flying to white flowers

Ways to BEE in our community


October 7, 2021

Interested in connecting with your local community and BEEing more environmentally friendly? Keen on supporting pollinators or tapping into some of our many Extension resources on gardening or sustainability? Read on for ways to "BEE" connected ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Home Landscapes
Tags: Annual Plant Sale, Bee, Gardening, Horticulture, Insect, Insects, Land Insects, Landscape Insects, Pgm_Gardens, Pollinator, Shared Spaces
fresh garden vegetables

Edible Gardening Series: Question of the Week – insect vision and colors


April 21, 2021

By Carol Wyatt-Evens and Sarah Bostick Gardening in Florida can be incredibly rewarding and incredibly frustrating, at the same time. If you are new to the region, you soon learn that gardening in the Sunshine State can quickly become a full-time ... READ MORE

Category: Natural Resources, Work & Life
Tags: Edible Gardening QOTW, EdibleGardeningSeries, Garden, Insect, Insects, Land Insects, Landscape Insects, Pgm_Ag, Pgm_Chemicals
fresh garden vegetables

Edible Gardening Series: Question of the Week – spider mites


April 8, 2021

By Carol Wyatt-Evens and Sarah Bostick Gardening in Florida can be incredibly rewarding and incredibly frustrating, at the same time. If you are new to the region, you soon learn that gardening in the Sunshine State can quickly become a full-time ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Work & Life
Tags: Biorational, Edible Gardening QOTW, EdibleGardeningSeries, Garden, Gardening, Insects, Land Insects, Landscape Insects, Pgm_Ag, Pgm_Chemicals, Spider Mites
Students hand picking blueberries at the Horticultural Teaching Gardens during the Spring Festival.

Edible Gardening Series: Question of the Week – aphids


March 11, 2021

By Carol Wyatt-Evens and Sarah Bostick Gardening in Florida can be incredibly rewarding and incredibly frustrating, at the same time. If you are new to the region, you soon learn that gardening in the Sunshine State can quickly become a full-time ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Work & Life
Tags: Ag, Agriculture, Biorational, Edible Gardening QOTW, EdibleGardeningSeries, Insects, Land Insects, Landscape Insects, Pgm_Ag, Pgm_Chemicals