Predaceous Diving Beetles as Pets and the Self-Cleaning Aquarium

diving beetle

Meet a new, attractive, easy-to-keep, local, non-endangered, aquatic pet: the diving beetle! Predaceous diving beetles are aesthetically pleasing yet still rare in US aquariums (though common in countries like Japan), which makes them a fun, new, unusual pet. This 5-page fact sheet written by Craig Bateman and Jiri Hulcr and published by the School of Forest Resources and Conservation provides information about the aquatic beetles, including how to catch and maintain them. Learn how you can befriend these sprightly little insect pals and allow them to bring to your home a mysterious green and quiet world, beautiful silver air bubbles and bronze iridescence, and exciting shows of feeding frenzy. And if you have to part with them, you can safely release the native species into the wild, because they are a part of our Florida natural landscape.
edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr398

Insects: Friend or Foe? Color and Learn!

Insects: Friend or Foe? Color and Learn! coloring bookNot just a coloring book, but an interactive learning experience! This educational handout is perfect for classroom use, homeschool, or just a rainy (or snowy, if you are not in Florida) day. This activity will help connect kids and adults with the amazing diversity of animals for which we have articles in the UF/IFAS Featured Creatures database. This coloring book can be printed front to back on a standard 8.5 by 11 inch sheet of paper. Once you have your paper and coloring tools in hand, learn more about these creatures and decide what colors to use by reading more about them and visiting the web links for each insect. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, February 2014.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1030

Whiteflies on Landscape Ornamentals (ENY317/MG254)

Figure 1. Spiraling whitefly adult.Whiteflies are common pests on many ornamental plants. Some of the most economically important species in Florida are the silverleaf whitefly, fig or ficus whitefly, citrus whitefly, and the rugose spiraling whitefly. The most frequently attacked plants include allamanda, avocado, chinaberry, citrus, fig, fringe tree, gardenia, gumbo limbo, ligustrum, mango, various palms, persimmon, viburnum, and many annuals. This 4-page fact sheet was written by E. A. Buss, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, March 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg254

ENY-1000/IN758 Insects, Oh Yes!

Figure 30.  Examples of insect diversity.
ENY-1000, a 10-page illustrated fact sheet by S. McCann, J. D. Ellis, and M. K. O’Malley, is a general overview of insects, their importance, and their biology. It is designed as a supplemental elementary school curriculum for Grades 1-3, although it can apply to older or younger children as well. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2008.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN758

ENY-1001/IN759 Guide to Collecting and Maintaining Live Arthropods for Classroom Display in Florida

ENY-1001, a 6-page illustrated fact sheet by S. McCann, J. D. Ellis, and M. K. O’Malley, details the process of maintaining live insect displays for educational purposes in Florida. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2008.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN759