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
Category: House & Home
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: Trace Organic Chemicals (SL352/SS554)
Trace organic chemicals are potentially harmful to human and ecosystem health. They frequently occur in wastewater from septic systems and can be found in concentrations orders of magnitude higher than typical concentrations reported in centralized treatment plant wastewater. This 7-page fact sheet identifies common trace organic chemicals of concern in wastewater and their sources, and summarizes current research on the fate and transport of these chemicals in septic systems. Written by Gurpal S. Toor, Mary Lusk, and Tom Obreza, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, November 2011. (photo CC BY-SA 3.0 Mila)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss554
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: Viruses (SL351/SS553)
Keeping disease-causing microorganisms out of groundwater used for drinking water supplies is important to protect human health. This 7-page fact sheet characterizes the behavior of viruses in septic systems and the soil drain field and summarizes what we know about the extent and character of groundwater contamination with viruses emanating from septic systems. Written by Mary Lusk, Gurpal S. Toor, and Tom Obreza, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss553
Energy Efficient Homes: The Duct System (FCS3263/FY1024)
The duct, or air distribution, system used in cooling and heating your home is a collection of tubes that distributes the heated or cooled air to the different rooms. Typical duct systems lose 25 to 40% of the heating or cooling energy put out by the cooling and heating system. Learn about common problems and ways to get the most out of your duct system. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Wendell A. Porter, Hyun-Jeong Lee, Kathleen C. Ruppert, and Randall A. Cantrell, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, 8. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1024
Energy Efficient Homes: Water Heaters (FCS3277/FY1025)
Water heaters are the third largest energy expense in your home. This 5-page fact sheet describes factors to consider when purchasing and lists the various choices available. Written by Wendell A. Porter, Hyun-Jeong Lee, Kathleen C. Ruppert, and Randall A. Cantrell, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, August 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1025
Buyers’ Guide to Pet Reptiles (WEC312/UW357)
When choosing a pet reptile, there are some important questions you should consider.This 3-page fact sheet will provide you with some basic information about reptiles and their care, in order to help you choose an appropriate reptile pet that will suit your lifestyle. Written by Steve A. Johnson, Monica E. McGarrity, and Dustin Smith , and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, August 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw357
The Mosquito (ENY727/IN652)
It’s the height of mosquito season, are they getting under your skin? Mosquitoes are some of the most versatile organisms on earth. They can reproduce in virtually any natural or man-made deposit of water, and have been found in mines deep below the surface, in mountain peaks, in highly polluted water bodies, in snow pools, and even in crab holes. They occur throughout the globe and can survive in most of earth’s climates. Although they can be annoying and some are serious health threats, they can play an important role in natural communities, particularly as filter feeders in aquatic communities, and as a food source in both aquatic and terrestrial food chains. Learn more in this 7-page fact sheet by Jorge R. Rey, published by the UF/IFAS Department of Entomology and Nematology, June 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in652
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of the Caribbean Crazy Ant, Nylanderia (=Paratrechina) pubens (Forel) (ENY2006/IN889)
Incidents of Caribbean crazy ant infestations are on the rise! These highly active ants are
annoying to residents and pets. And, they can cause short circuits and power outages if they infest electrical equipment. Learn how to identify and apply the principles of integrated pest management (IPM) to deal with these difficult pests in this 4-page fact sheet written by Dawn Calibeo and Faith Oi and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, July 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in889
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: An Overview (SL347/SS549)
This 7-page fact sheet introduces common types of septic systems and briefly discusses onsite wastewater flow and the contaminants found in wastewater. Written by Gurpal Toor, Mary Lusk, and Tom Obreza, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, June 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss549
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: Nitrogen (SL348/SS550)
In the United States, about 4,800 water bodies are impaired due to excess nitrogen (N), and septic systems are recognized as one source of N pollution. This 6-page fact sheet describes the behavior and transport of N from a conventional septic system and the summarizes the sources of N in sewage, the forms and behavior of N in septic tanks and drain fields, and the fate and transport of N in groundwater. Written by Gurpal Toor, Mary Lusk, and Tom Obreza, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, June 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss550
Giant Whip Scorpion Mastigoproctus giganteus giganteus (Lucas, 1835) (Arachnida: Thelyphonida (=Uropygi): Thelyphonidae) (EENY493/IN890)
To encounter a giant whip scorpion for the first time can be an alarming experience! What seems like a miniature monster from a horror movie is really a fairly benign creature. While called a scorpion, this arachnid has neither the venom-filled stinger found in scorpions nor the venomous bite found in some spiders. This 4-page fact sheet was written by W.H. Kern Jr. and R.E. Mitchell, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, May 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in890
Distillation of Essential Oils (WEC310/UW355)
Essential oils are volatile, aromatic oils obtained from plants and used for fragrance, flavoring, and health and beauty applications. Learn about the history of essential oils, plant anatomy, and basics of essential oil distillation in this 4-page fact sheet was written by Elise V. Pearlstine, and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, April 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw355
Integrated Pest Management Policy and Treatment Options for University Housing (IPM151/IN880)
The purpose of this manual is to train pest management technicians of the UF Department of Housing and Residence Education in integrated pest management (IPM). It includes the DOHRE IPM policy, specific IPM objectives, responsibilities of the DOHRE Senior IPM Technician, a flow chart of IPM actions, and requirements for using pesticides and associated recordkeeping. Pest-specific IPM options are provided for ants; bed bugs; bees and wasps; birds and bats; booklice, silverfish, and earwigs; cockroaches; flies; rodents; stored product pests; termites; and weeds. Selected references are provided, and there are forms for assuring service, pest surveillance, and record keeping. This 42-page training manual was written by Kevyn J. Juneau, Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman, Norman C. Leppla, Kirk W. Martin and A. Wayne Walker, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, February 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in880
Investigating the Fungus Among Us: A 4-H Educational Curriculum on Mold (4HHLL70/4H311)
This unit investigates both the benefits and the dangers of mold or mold-based products. By completing the activities in each of the five lessons, youth (grades 5-8) will examine the positive and negative attributes of mold, the conditions that promote mold growth, and how growth can cause illness. They will also learn methods used to deal with mold growth in the home. This 58-page curriculum was written by Jessica Kochert and Joy Jordan, and published by the UF Department of 4-H Youth Development, March 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/4h311
When Cleaning Products Are Pesticides (PI233)
Did you know that cleaning products, such as bleach and disinfectants, can be considered pesticides? This 3-page fact sheet describes the EPA’s interpretation of cleaning product label language, including examples of cleaning product claims that are considered pesticidal, that are considered not pesticidal, and that may or may not be pesticidal depending on the context in which they are presented. It was written by F. M. Fishel and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, January 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi233
CIR1242/FE889 Handbook of Florida Fence and Property Law
Now available online as a single pdf. CIR1242, a 46-page handbook by Michael T. Olexa, Eugene E. Shuey, Joshua A. Cossey, and Katherine Smallwood, informs property owners of their rights and responsibilities in terms of their duty to fence. Discussed areas include a property owners responsibility to fence when livestock is kept on the property, the rights of adjoining landowners to fence, the placement of fences, encroachments, boundary lines, easements, contracts, nuisances, and a landowners responsibilities towards persons who enter his property. Published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, August 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe889
EENY482/IN873: Common Carpet Beetle Anthrenus scrophulariae (Linnaeus) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Dermestidae)
EENY482, a 4-page illustrated fact sheet by Stephanie Larrick and Mark Mitola is part of the Featured Creatures collection. It describes this small blackish beetle is found worldwide and infests goods made from animal products, such as carpets, wool, textiles, and preserved museum specimens — distribution, description, life cycle, economic importance, and management. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, September 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in873
EENY480/IN866 Black larder beetle, incinerator beetle, Dermestes ater DeGeer (Insecta: Coleoptera: Dermestidae)
EENY480, a 6-page illustrated fact sheet by Nurmastini S. Bujang and Phillip E. Kaufman, is part of the Featured Creatures collection. It describes this cosmopolitan species that feeds on various plant and animal products, as well as dead insects and carrion — synonymy, distribution, description, life cycle, economic importance, veterinary importance, forensic importance, and management. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, August 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in866
ENY141S/IN864 Cómo Lidiar con Abejas Africanas: Una Guía Práctica
ENY141S, a 4-page fact sheet by M. K. O’Malley, J. D. Ellis, Pablo Herrera and A. S. Neal, is the Spanish language version of ENY-141/IN739 What to do about African Honey Bees: A Consumer Guide. It provides information about Africanized honey bees (AHB), which have been labeled ”killer” bees, steps people can take to avoid negative interactions, how to handle stings, and bee-proofing basics. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, August 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in864
ENY860/IN851 Florida Container Mosquitoes
ENY860, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by Jorge R. Rey and Roxanne R. Connelly, describes common characteristics of these species of mosquito that develop in water-holding containers, both natural and artificial, major species in Florida, and methods of control. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, June 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in851