Most slugs are hermaphroditic, possessing both male and female sex organs. This makes slugs particularly dangerous as invaders because even a single individual that escapes detection can establish a population in a new environment through self-fertilization. This 11-page fact sheet discusses the slug situation in Florida, including problems with slug identification and taxonomy, as well as the behavior, ecology, and management of slugs. Written by John L. Capinera and Jodi White and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology , June 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in891
Category: Lawn & Garden
Zoysiagrass for Florida Lawns (ENH11/LH011)
Zoysiagrass maintenance is different from that of other Florida lawn grasses. When improper maintenance practices are followed, undesirable results are likely to occur. Learn the details about this attractive turfgrass that has been dramatically improved by turfgrass breeders in recent years. This 8-page fact sheet was written by J. Bryan Unruh, L. E. Trenholm, and J. L. Cisar, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, June 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh011
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
Soil pH and the Home Landscape or Garden (SL256/SS480)
Homeowners and gardeners alike are interested in soil pH because soil pH directly affects the growth and quality of many landscape plants by influencing the chemical form of many elements in the soil and soil microbial processes. This 3-page fact sheet explains soil pH and provides strategies for Master Gardeners and homeowners to make the most of the pH in the home landscape or garden. Written by Amy L. Shober, Christine Wiese, and Geoffrey C. Denny, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, May 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss480
The Blackberry (HS807/HS104)
Learn about traditional and promising new cultivars and how to grow them the home landscape. This 10-page fact sheet was written by Peter C. Andersen and Timothy E. Crocker, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, May 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs104
Spotted Wing Drosophila Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Insecta: Diptera: Drosophilidae) (EENY492/IN887)
Most Drosophila flies are associated with rotten or over-ripened fruits and are nuisance pests. However, a few species such as the spotted wing drosophila, D. suzukii (Matsumura), can infest un-ripened fruits and are of economic significance. First detected within the continental United States in August 2008, D. suzukii has become a serious threat to fruit crops. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Rajinder S. Mann and Lukasz L. Stelinski, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, May 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in887
Redbay Ambrosia Beetle Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) (EENY491/IN886)
Ambrosia beetles are wood-degrading insects that live in nutritional symbiosis with ambrosia fungi. Usually we consider ambrosia beetles beneficial because they accelerate the decay of dead trees, which is important for nutrient cycling in healthy forests. However, the redbay ambrosia beetle and its fungal symbiont transmit the causal pathogen of laurel wilt disease among plants in the Laurel family (Lauraceae). They are considered a “very high risk” invasive disease pest complex having potential equal to that of Dutch elm disease or chestnut blight. Laurel wilt is a relatively new disease and much is still unknown about how it will impact the flora of North America. This 7-page fact sheet highlights what we do know about this important new pest. Written by Rajinder Mann, Jiri Hulcr, Jorge Peña, and Lukasz Stelinski, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, May 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in886
Pruning Palms (ENH1182/EP443)
Perhaps the most fundamental question to answer when discussing palm pruning is what should a healthy, properly pruned palm look like? Consumers must be educated that palms are supposed to have round crowns, not feather-duster crowns. Learn more with this 9-page fact sheet written by Timothy Broschat, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, April 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep443
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
Eye Gnats, Grass Flies, Eye Flies, Fruit Flies Liohippelates spp. (Insecta: Diptera: Chloropidae) (EENY485/IN884)
High concentrations of eye gnats are common in areas that have loose sandy soils, especially in the southern United States, and are a great nuisance to humans and animals in rural towns as well as agricultural, recreational, and tourist areas. While they do not bite, they can transmit several diseases to humans and livestock, including human acute conjunctivitis (pink eye). This 6-page fact sheet focuses broadly on two species that are common in the southeastern region of the United States are L. pusio and L. bishoppi (Sabrosky). Written by Erika Machtinger and Phillip E. Kaufman and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, April 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in884
Attracting Backyard Birds: Bird Feeder Selection (WEC162/UW192)
Today, more than 50 million Americans put out a billion pounds of bird food each year. Bird feeders can be used to supplement the food provided by native plantings. They also provide a way to observe birds at close range. This 8-page fact sheet suggests useful guidelines for selecting feeders, food, feeder location, cleaning feeders, and managing for cats and squirrels. Written by Emma V. Willcox, Mark E. Hostetler, Martin B. Main, and Maena Voigt, and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, April 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw192
Granulate Ambrosia Beetle, Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) (EENY131/IN288)
The granulate ambrosia beetle is a minute ambrosia beetle of Asian origin that was first detected near Charleston, South Carolina. It can become abundant in urban, agricultural, and forested areas and has been reported as a pest of nursery stock and young trees in the Old World tropics and of peach trees in South Carolina. It is a potentially serious pest of ornamentals and fruit trees and is reported to be able to infest most trees and some shrubs (azalea), except for conifers. Learn more in this revised 4-page fact sheet was written by Thomas. H. Atkinson, John L. Foltz, Robert C. Wilkinson, and Russell F. Mizell, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, March 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in288
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
Twenty-Two Ideas for a Low-Care, Low-Cost Landscape (ENH1181/EP442)
Many homeowners desire a beautiful landscape but are often discouraged by the lack of time and money needed to create and care for the garden of their dreams. A pleasing, low-care, low-cost landscape is possible, however, with careful planning, appropriate plant choices, and thoughtful design. This 11-page fact sheet was written by Gail Hansen, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, April 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep442
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Pattern Book: Sample plant lists and designs for four Florida regions
These pattern books were written by Gail Hansen, Kelly Perez, and Esen Momol, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, January 2011. They provide homeowners with design guidelines and suggested plants for typical residential site conditions in the following 4 USDA hardiness zones in Florida:
USDA Hardiness Zones 8A and 8B, North Florida (ENH1175/EP436)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep436
USDA Hardiness Zone 9A, North Central Florida (ENH1176/EP437)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep437
USDA Hardiness Zone 9B, South Central Florida (ENH1177/EP438)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep438
USDA Hardiness Zones 10A, 10B, and 11, South Florida (ENH1178/EP439)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep439
Centipedegrass for Florida Lawns (ENH8/LH009)
Centipedegrass is a slow-growing grass with low fertility requirements when compared to other Florida lawn grasses. It grows close to the ground, is medium textured, and is naturally lighter in color than other lawn grasses. Well-adapted to the climate and soils of Central and Northern Florida, it is the most common home lawn grass in the Florida Panhandle. There is now one cultivar adapted to South Florida conditions. This 7-page fact sheet discusses the advantages and disadvantages of this turfgrass variety, cultivars available for lawn use in Florida, establishment, maintenance, pest management, and other problems. Written by J. B. Unruh, L. E. Trenholm, and J. L. Cisar, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, April 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh009
St. Augustinegrass for Florida Lawns (ENH5/LH010)
St. Augustinegrass is widely adapted to the warm, humid (subtropical) regions of the world. It is the most commonly used lawn grass throughout the state of Florida and can grow satisfactorily in a wide variety of soils. This revised 11-page fact sheet discusses the advantages and disadvantages of this turfgrass variety, cultivars available for lawn use in Florida, establishment, maintenance, pest management, and other problems. Written by L. E. Trenholm, J. L. Cisar, and J. B. Unruh, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, April 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh010
Bahiagrass for Florida Lawns (ENH6/LH006)
Bahiagrass is a popular, low-maintenance lawn grass that does well with limited water and fertilizer inputs. Although bahiagrass does not produce a carpet-like, dense lawn like some other warm-season lawn grasses, it does provide a good, low-maintenance lawn where slightly reduced visual quality is acceptable. This revised 7-page fact sheet was written by L. E. Trenholm, J. L. Cisar, and J. B. Unruh, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture,April 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh006
Bermudagrass for Florida Lawns (ENH19/LH007)
Bermudagrasses (Cynodon spp.) are among the most widely used warm-season grasses. Improved, fine-textured bermudagrasses are used throughout the south on golf courses, athletic fields, and in high-profile residential and commercial landscapes where a fine-textured, dense ground cover is desired. This revised 5-page fact sheet describes advantages, disadvantages, cultivars, maintenance, and pest problems. Written by L. E. Trenholm, J. L. Cisar, J. B. Unruh, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, March 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh007
Tomato Varieties for Florida: Florida ‘Red Rounds,’ Plum, Cherries, and Grapes (HS1189)
Tomatoes were introduced to European culture more than a hundred years before Linnaeus developed the binomial system of naming plants. After a brief discussion of the scientific naming of tomato and tomato varieties, the tables in this 13-page fact sheet provide a guide to varieties used in Florida listing the companies selling each, growing season, characteristics of plant and fruit, disease resistance, and other comments, separated by regional adaptation. Written by Monica Ozores-Hampton, Gene McAvoy, Stephen Olson, Kent Cushman, and Nancy Roe , and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, March 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1189