Urban forests, or the trees and shrubs on these land uses, play an important role in providing ecosystem services and are often key components in urban planning and management as well as in environmental regulations. This 10-page fact sheet provides information, based on an assessment of urban forests within the limits of the City of Orlando was conducted during the summer of 2010, on the structure and composition of Orlando's urban forest, the occurrence of invasive trees in the city, the ecosystem services trees provide, including estimating the mitigation of climate change effects and their role in urban hydrology, and how this information can be used to define sustainable urban planning objectives and goals. Written by Edem Empke, Elizabeth Becker, Jessica Lab, Ross Hinkle, and Francisco Escobedo, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr358
Category: Ecosystems & Species
Papaya Fruit Fly, Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY21/IN148)
The papaya fruit fly is the principal insect pest of papaya throughout the tropical and subtropical areas of the New World. The insect was introduced into Florida in 1905, most likely from the West Indies on papaya shipments. It first became established in the Florida Keys and Miami, then spread throughout the state wherever papayas are grown. Papaya fruit fly larvae and adults have been found in Florida in every month of the year. This 6-page fact sheet was written by H. L. Selman, J. B. Heppner and T. R. Fasulo, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in148
Cherry Fruit Fly, Rhagoletis cingulata (Loew) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY203/IN360)
The cherry fruit fly (adult) or cherry maggot (larva) attacks cherry and causes wormy fruits. In Florida it attacks wild cherries and is of little economic importance. Across its range, it breeds in all varieties of cherries including the sweet cherry. This 3-page fact sheet was written by H. V. Weems Jr., and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in360
Hydrilla Management in Florida Lakes (SSAGR361/AG370)
Hydrilla is the most aggressive invasive plant in Florida waters. It can provide some benefits to fish and wildlife at low levels of coverage, but it also can have major detrimental impacts to water uses, causing substantial economic and environmental hardships. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Stacia A. Hetrick and Ken A. Langeland, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag370
Lesser Pumpkin Fly, Ethiopian Fruit Fly, Cucurbit Fly, Dacus ciliatus (Loew) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY258/IN539)
The lesser pumpkin fly is one of several fruit flies found in Africa and Asia, which could become serious pests of Florida agricultural crops if introduced into this state.This 2-page fact sheet was written by H. V. Weems, Jr., and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, March 2012. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in539
A Fruit Fly, Anastrepha nigrifascia Stone (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY262/IN541)
This small yellowish fruit fly, somewhat larger than a house fly, with rather long, patterned wings is limited to the Florida Keys, from Key Largo Key to Key West. Its two known hosts are sapodilla and wild-sapodilla. This 2-page fact sheet was written by H. V. Weems, Jr., and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in541
Melon Fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY199/IN356)
Within its range, the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett), is one of the most important pests with which vegetable growers have to contend. Although found in Hawaii, it is not present in the continental United States. This 5-page fact sheet was written by H. V. Weems Jr., J. B. Heppner, and T. R. Fasulo, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in356
Climate Change Adaptation: New Perspectives for Natural Resource Management and Conservation (WEC318/UW363)
Climate change is creating new challenges for conservation and management of natural resources. As temperatures, rainfall patterns, and disturbance regimes change and sea levels rise, ecosystems are being transformed. With climate change species and communities may move out of the fixed systems in reserves that were established to protect them, and may not have the needed migration corridors to successfully disperse. The rate at which climate is projected to change in coming decades is likely too fast for many species to genetically adapt or to migrate to new suitable areas. Climate change underscores the need to transform our view of the natural world. While many of our conservation tools and approaches will stay the same, a new perspective will enable us to better apply these tools to meet future challenges. This 3-page fact sheet summarizes recommendations from four recent reviews of the literature on climate change adaptation. Written by Rebecca G. Harvey, Laura A. Brandt, and Frank J. Mazzotti, and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw363
Carbon Sequestration and Storage by Gainesville’s Urban Forest (FOR210/FR272)
Cities are a major source of carbon dioxide emissions. This fact sheet demonstrates that urban and natural trees can help mitigate the effects of climate change somewhat by sequestering CO2 but can only sequester a small portion of all carbon dioxide emitted from cities. In addition, decomposing trees and mulch, tree maintenance activities, and improperly placed trees that cause shading in winter can also result in emissions of CO2, so it is important for communities to reduce fossil fuel emissions and manage for and preserve large, healthy trees to maximize the amount of CO2 sequestered by an urban forest. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Francisco Escobedo, Jennifer A. Seitz, and Wayne Zipperer, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr272
Erythrina moths Terastia meticulosalis Guenée and Agathodes designalis Guenée (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Spilomelinae) (EENY516/IN921)
The little known Erythrina moths represent a remarkable case of niche partitioning. In Florida these two species feed on plants of the genus Erythrina (Fabaceae), including the coral bean, Erythrina herbacea, which is native to North Central Florida and is frequently used as an ornamental. This 10-page fact sheet was written by Andrei Sourakov, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in921
Northern Racoon (WEC34/UW033)
Raccoons are found statewide in Florida in ever-increasing numbers. Urbanization and agriculture often help their population because food becomes more available in these conditions. Therefore, it is not at all uncommon to encounter raccoons near your home or neighborhood. Learn more facts about raccoon biology and how to (legally) solve raccoon problems. This 7-page fact sheet was written by William H. Kern Jr., and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, January 2012. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw033
Mexican Fruit Fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY201/IN358)
The Mexican fruit fly is a very serious pest of various fruits, particularly citrus and mango, in Mexico and Central America. Its natural distribution includes the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, where populations routinely attain pest status if control measures are not practiced. It is a frequent invader in southern California and Arizona. Mexican fruit fly represents a particular threat to Florida because of its special affinity for grapefruit, of which Florida is one of the world’s leading producers. Mexican fruit fly larvae are transported widely in infested fruits. This 6-page fact sheet was written by H. V. Weems, Jr, J. B. Heppner, G. J. Steck, T. R. Fasulo and J. L. Nation, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in358
El Mosquito Culex Iolambdis (ENY727S/IN901)
Culex (melanoconion) iolambdis es un mosquito pequeño de color marrón oscuro que existe en sitios tropicales y subtropicales. En los Estados Unidos, solo se encuentra en el sur de Florida. Se conoce poco sobre la biología y comportamiento de este mosquito. El subgenéro Melanoconion se distingue por el pequeño tamaño de sus especies y por dificultad en diferenciar las diferentes especies. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Jorge R. Rey, Erik M. Blosser, Stephanie K. Larrick and C. Roxanne Connelly, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, September 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in901
Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (SGEF178/SG111)
Coastal and marine spatial planning can assist Florida’s residents and visitors with balancing the many uses and activities associated with our coastal and ocean resources. One example at work in Florida is the Regional Waterway Management System in southwest Florida, an objective approach to waterway planning and permitting based on mapped channel depths. Marine spatial planning has also successfully allowed shipping lanes near Boston Harbor to be reconfigured to reduce collisions with endangered North Atlantic right whales, which migrate northward to feed from their calving grounds off the Florida and Georgia coasts. This 2-page fact sheet was written by Robert A. Swett , and published by the UF Department of Sea Grant, July 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sg111
Beyond the Trees: A Systems Approach to Understanding Forest Health in the Southeastern United States (FOR287/FR355)
Forest health is an important topic for biology, agriculture, current issues, and environmental science classes. But conversations with educators suggested that they were not equipped to teach about it given their existing curricula. This 79-page educator guide includes six activities designed to help learners consider forest health from various viewpoints; understand interrelationships and feedback mechanisms in a forest system; visualize spatial and temporal mechanisms of forest system functions; appreciate the variety of threats to forest health; and consider their role as future forest stewards. Written by Geetha S. Iyer, Martha M. Monroe and Jason A. Smith, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, July 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr355
What Is a Healthy Forest? A Supplement to Florida Project Learning Tree (FOR286/FR354)
There is no question that forests provide important ecological services and economic resources to Floridians. Similarly, there is no doubt that the health of our forests is at the mercy of how we manage our landscape and make decisions.The activities in this supplement, with the original PLT Guide, help our students rise to these twin challenges.This 84-page handbook was written by Sarah L. Hicks, Martha C. Monroe, Geetha S. Iyer, and Jason A. Smith, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, July 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr354
Widow Spider Parasitoids Philolema latrodecti (Fullaway) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) and Baeus latrodecti Dozier (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) (EENY515/IN919)
There are limited records of pathogens, parasites, and parasitoids known to affect widow spiders. This 4-page fact sheet describes what is known about two parasitoids, and observations from rearing them in the lab. Written by Christopher S. Bibbs and Lyle J. Buss, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in919
Insecticides and Wildlife (ENY511/IN881)
When we use chemical insecticides to eliminate problem insects we discover that the effects of insecticides are not always limited to these 6-legged targets. Wildlife, pets, and humans also can be affected by insecticides. So one of the great challenges confronting humans is to develop ways to manage insects without affecting non-target organisms. Learn more in this 16-page fact sheet written by John L. Capinera, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in881
Passionvine Mealybug, Planococcus minor (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) (ENY920/IN920)
The passionvine mealybug was discovered in the continental U.S. for the first time in southern Florida a little over a year ago. USDA, APHIS lists it as a high priority threat. Given its polyphagous nature, this pest should be given careful attention in a new area such as Florida, which has an important agricultural sector and amenable climate. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Antonio W. Francis, Moses T. K. Kairo and Amy L. Roda, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in920
Cape Honey Bee Apis mellifera capensis Escholtz (EENY513/IN916)
Cape honey bees can produce both male and female offspring parthenogenetically. Unlike other African bee races, they are docile, but unlike all other races of honey bees, they are social parasites. Find out why South African beekeepers consider Cape bees a more serious threat than the varroa mite in this 4-page fact sheet was written by James D. Ellis, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in916