Laurel wilt & the redbay ambrosia beetles

The devastating damage caused by the deadly combination of laurel wilt and the redbay ambrosia beetle is unmistakable and is shown above in a photo taken in May of 2008 on Highway A1A.  This invasive disease carried by an invasive…

Invasive Species Awareness Week: Insects?

The Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory Volunteer Nature Stewardship Program started to "celebrate" National Invasive Species Week a bit early on 2/16/2019 with a talk by Dr. Amanda Hodges, University of Florida Associate Extension Scientist & Doctor of Plant Medicine Program Director,…

Floral Beauty in Eye of Beholder

Florida privet (Forestiera segregata) is flowering again.  Wild olive is another name for this sturdy native plant often found volunteering along mosquito impoundment dikes and in the midst of ornamental hedges underneath places where birds perch.  Birds seem to love…