Category: Environment

Mexican Fruit Fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY201/IN358)

Figure 12. Mexican fruit flies, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), laying eggs in grapefruit during a laboratory test. 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)

Figure 6. Hembra adulta de C. iolambdis.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

What is a Water Footprint?: An Overview and Applications in Agriculture (AE484)

Figure 1. Green, blue, and grey water flows in an agricultural system.Agriculture is by far the largest global consumer of freshwater. Comparing water footprints of different management practices in agriculture can help evaluate drought tolerance, water use efficiency, the effective use of rainfall, and the significance of irrigation. Scientists are thinking about ways to adapt agricultural systems to a changing climate, especially precipitation changes, so the water footprint is a useful measure to compare resilience of agricultural systems to droughts and dry spells. This 11-page fact sheet was written by Daniel R. Dourte and Clyde W. Fraisse, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae484

Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (SGEF178/SG111)

Page 1 of PDFCoastal 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)

cover: Beyond the Trees: A Systems Approach to Understanding Forest Health in the Southeastern United StatesForest 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

Economic Impacts of Artificial Reefs series

Florida Sea Grant and UF researchers conducted study on the economic benefits associated with artificial reef programs in a six-county region of southwest Florida, where they asked private boater and for-hire operators and clients about their artificial reef use during 2009. Results are summarized in these one page fact sheets:

What Is a Healthy Forest? A Supplement to Florida Project Learning Tree (FOR286/FR354)

handbook coverThere 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

GAPs for the Florida Citrus Grower: Understanding the Principles of Good Agricultural Practices (FSHN1203/FS187)

Citrus groves, leaves, oranges, trees. UF/IFAS Photo: Thomas Wright.Growers are the first step in the farm-to-table food chain. Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) refer to practices growers follow to prevent, minimize, or eliminate contamination and hazards to human health. Essential components of the GAPs process include careful planning, implementation, and documentation of required steps and procedures that together analyze and minimize risks imposed by biological, chemical, and physical hazards. The general guidelines presented in this document were developed by UF/IFAS for Florida citrus growers, in partnership with the citrus industry. This 8-page fact sheet was written by Michelle D. Danyluk, Renée M. Goodrich-Schneider, Keith R. Schneider, Mark A. Ritenour, and Timothy M. Spann, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs187

Widow Spider Parasitoids Philolema latrodecti (Fullaway) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) and Baeus latrodecti Dozier (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) (EENY515/IN919)

Figure 8. Philolema latrodecti (Fullaway), a parasitoid of the widow spiders in Latrodectus 
Walckenaer, perched on the egg sac of a brown widow spider, Latrodectus 
geometricus Koch.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)

Figure 7. Some birds are nearly wholly dependent on insect life for food. Note the unusual ‘whiskers’ near the beak of this Chuck-will's-widow, Caprimulgus carolinensis. These structures cause insects to be directed to the mouth while the birds sweep through the air in pursuit of ‘dinner’.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)

Figure 2. Adult female passionvine mealybug, Planococcus minor (Maskell) on potato sprout.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)

Figure 3. An adult female Cape honey bee, Apis mellifera capensis Escholtz, 
collecting pollen and nectar on a flower in South Africa.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

European Pepper Moth or Southern European Marsh Pyralid Duponchelia fovealis (Zeller) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Crambidae) (EENY508/IN910)

Figure 1. Adult European pepper moth, Duponchelia fovealis (Zeller), showing two identification features: yellowish-white transverse lines (red arrows) and pronounced "finger" (yellow arrow) that points towards the back edge of the wing.Researchers are monitoring this notable greenhouse pest in northern Europe and Canada for the cut flower, vegetable and aquatic plant industries. Its native range is southern Europe, the eastern Mediterranean region, the Canary Islands, Syria and Algeria, but it has expanded its range to include other parts of Africa and the Middle East, northwest India, Europe, Canada and the United States. Recent survey detected adults in pheremone traps in 20 of the 26 Florida counties surveyed. This 11-page fact sheet was written by Stephanie D. Stocks and Amanda Hodges, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in910

Phragmites in Florida (ENY860/IN898)

Phragmites australis in GermanyPhragmites are a tall, perennial, wetland grasses, occurring in both fresh and brackish waters. This 3-page fact sheet discusses the three genetic lineages, native, Gulf Coast, and Eurasian; and the threat posed to Florida ecosystems by an invasion of the exotic Eurasian type. Written by W. A. Overholt, R. Diaz, M. Hanson and D. Williams, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in898

Miner Bee, Chimney Bee Anthophora abrupta Say (EENY512/IN912)

Figure 1. Nesting area of the miner bee, Anthophora abrupta Say, with at least
three females visible.These gregarious, yet solitary, ground-nesting bees are “…conspicuous as they noisily swing their ponderous bodies to and fro on the wing, arrive home and scramble into their burrows or come tumbling out headlong and dash off into the sunny fields, with all the exuberance of boys just out of school.” This 5-page fact sheet was written by Jason R. Graham, Jamie Ellis, Glenn Hall, and Catherine Zettel Nalen, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in912

The Bumble Bees of Florida, Bombus spp. (EENY050/IN207)

Figure 2. A bumble bee, Bombus sp., with full pollen basket.Bumble bees are easily recognized by the corbicula (pollen basket) on the hind tibiae in the females. They are beneficial insects that pollinate many native and ornamental plants. They can sting severely, so problem nests near human dwellings should be removed by experienced pest control operators. This 5-page fact sheet includes a key to the bumble bees in Florida. Written by Lionel A. Stange, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in207

Florida Woods Cockroach Eurycotis floridana (Walker) (EENY514/IN915)

Figure 1. Lateral-dorsal view of an adult Florida woods cockroach, Eurycotis floridana (Walker).This “peridomestic” organism can be found in structures near the home, such as storage areas, greenhouses, or shelter boxes for other structures such as water pumps. It is one of the species commonly referred to as palmetto bugs, and is also called a “stinkroach” or “skunk cockroach” due to its aromatic defensive secretions. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Christopher S. Bibbs and Rebecca W. Baldwin, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in915

Wildflowers Susceptible to Deer Damage in North Florida (WEC315/UW360)

Figure 2. Most deer browsing of wildflowers occurred at night.One sure way to prevent deer damage to your landscape is to choose plants that deer do not like to eat. Unfortunately deer foraging preferences vary geographically and studies conducted with captive deer aren’t always accurate. So UF/IFAS wildlife researchers investigated the foraging preference of wild white-tailed deer at two sites in Gadsden County with high deer densities for two years. Of 11 wildlfowers tested, four were very susceptible to browsing: fringeleaf tickseed, Florida tickseed, coastalplain tickseed, and orange coneflower. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Holly K. Ober, Lucas W. DeGroote, James H. Aldrich, Jefferey G. Norcini, and Gary W. Knox , and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw360

Applying Pesticides in Compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) (PI239)

NPDES logoOn October 31, 2011, EPA issued a final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Pesticide Generic Permit for point source discharges from the application of pesticides to waters of the United States. This 10-page fact sheet explains what is now required for pesticide applications in Florida. Written by F.M. Fishel, and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi239

Heliconia Bug Leptoscelis tricolor Westwood (EENY511/IN914)

Figure 6. Adult heliconia bugs, Leptoscelis tricolor Westwood, copulating. The female is in the foreground. Note that females nearly always feed while mating.Though not found in Florida, this insect has been used to examine insect behavior, sexual selection, plant-insect interactions, and color variation. Learn more in this 4-page fact sheet was written by Christine W. Miller, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in914