Often underrecognized for their contributions to our environment, bats play a pivotal role in keeping insect populations under control while also providing fertilization and pollination services. Pest Control Emerging from their roosts at ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Wildlife
Hornworms are immature moths that can be devastating pests, especially on crops in the Solanaceae family such as peppers and tomatoes. These moths are in the Sphingidae family. The tobacco and tomato hornworms are especially damaging during ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
One of the objectives of the Hastings Plant Triage Lab is to provide rapid diagnostics. That means providing an answer in a timely manner with the most efficient methods and equipment available to me. That also means being aware of the resources ... READ MORE
Category: Pests & Disease
Corn smut discovered on sweet corn variety trial! Smuts, caused by Basidiomycetes (second largest phylum of fungi), include about ~1,200 species of fungi. This includes the pathogen Ustilago maydis, which causes the common smut. Smuts can also ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
Pythium is an oomycete pathogen that can infect artichokes. Globe artichokes (Cynara scolymus) are not currently a commonly grown crop in Florida. California represents 99% of globe artichoke production in the United States. However, Florida ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
Tiny little tan sclerotium, oh my! Southern blight, or Sclerotrium rolfsii is a soilborne fungus that has many hundreds of hosts. The fungus can be spread through movement of infested soil and plant debris, on infected plants, in contaminated ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
Cercospora is a common leaf spot of Brassicas and other plant families. The organism Cercospora is a fungal disease that causes defoliation of many plant species. Symptoms are seen on the leaves and are often gray in color, and may have ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease
Fungal and bacterial pathogens, as well as viruses and nematodes, can all affect the quality of seed potatoes. Infected seed can lower plant vigor and supply inoculum for further disease throughout the season. Late blight, Fusarium dry rot, ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, Pests & Disease