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There is a new pest attacking ficus trees and hedges in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, Florida. This pest was identified as the fig (ficus) whitefly, Singhiella simplex, and is a new US continental record. Whiteflies are small, winged insects that belong to the Order Hemiptera which also includes aphids, scales, mealybugs, and bugs. These insects typically feed on the underside of leaves with their “needle-like” mouthparts. Whiteflies can seriously injure host plants by sucking ju... Read More..
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Many snails are found in trees, but only a few are exclusively arboreal for most or all of their life cycle. Tree snails are normally found on the ground only during egg-deposition or when dislodged from their perches. They are frequently large, up to 70 mm long but tend to be smaller in colder areas. They are restricted to tropical and semi-tropical regions by their need for high humidity and warm temperatures. Tree snails are included in several families, but the Bulimulidae and the Pupil... Read More..
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Due to Florida's prominence in the exotic pet trade, iguanas imported as pets have escaped or been released, and are now established in South Florida. This has created unique problems for Florida's homeowners and businesses. South and Central Florida's subtropical climate allows these large herbivorous (plant-eating) lizards to survive, reproduce, and become part of the Florida environment. Three large members of the iguana family (Iguanidae) have become established in south Florida. These are ... Read More..
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In addition to stinging humans, imported fire ants can sting pets, livestock, and wildlife. Crop losses are also reported due to fire ants feeding on seedlings and even citrus trees. Harvesting machinery used on farms can be damaged by hitting hard fire ant mounds often found in clay soils. Electrical equipment and utility housings may serve as fire ant nest sites, sometimes resulting in short circuits. Read More..
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As if Floridians aren’t bugged enough by roaches, a growing interest among reptile enthusiasts to farm the insects as lizard food could result in several new cockroach varieties invading the state,University of Florida entomologists warn. Read More..
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To date, field investigators have found five lady beetle species, 2 parasitic wasps and green lacewings attacking the whitefly in Florida. Damage by other landscape-attacking insects pales in comparison to this new invader. The ficus whitefly arrived in the Miami Rover area in late 2007. It was confirmed in Naples for the first time in January 2009 at several addresses in the Shirley Street area. Read More..
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The sting of a Florida harvester ant can be extremely painful. The Florida harvester ant is not of economic importance to growers and homeowners, is not aggressive and almost has to be forced to sting someone. However, the sting is among the more painful of those received from ants and the pain lasts longer than usual for ant stings due to the poison injected (Haack and Granovsky 1990). Some swelling may also occur as the reaction to their stings spread along the lymph channels (Ebeling 1978).... Read More..
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Worldwide, rats and mice spread over 35 diseases. Rodent-borne diseases are spread directly to humans through bite wounds, consuming food or water that is contaminated with rodent feces, coming in contact with surface water contaminated with rodent urine, or through breathing in germs that may be present in rodent urine or droppings that have been stirred into the air (a process known as “aerosolization”). Read More..
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Because house mice are so small, they can gain entry into homes and other buildings much more easily than rats. As a result, house mouse infestations are probably 10 to 20 times more common than rat infestations. Effective control involves sanitation, exclusion, and population reduction. Sanitation and exclusion are preventive measures. When a mouse infestation already exists, some form of population reduction such as trapping or baiting is almost always necessary. Read More..
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Some people suffer more than others from flea bites. The bites can cause intense itching often resulting in secondary infection. The usual flea bite has a small red spot where the flea has inserted its mouthparts. Around the spot there is a red halo with very little swelling. Many people do not react to flea bites at all while others are sensitive and suffer severe allergic reactions. Fleas may also vector such human diseases as plague, typhus, and tularemia. Read More..
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The kinds of cockroaches most commonly found in and around Florida homes are the Florida Woods Roach, American (Figure 1), smokybrown (Figure 2), brown (Figure 3), Australian (Figure 4), German (Figure 5) and Asian. The smallest cockroaches, the German, Asian, and brownbanded (Figure 6), are close to the same size and the adults are seldom more than 5/8" long. The larger cockroaches, the American, Australian, brown, and the smokybrown, are 1 1/4" - 2" long and are often called palmetto bugs. Th... Read More..
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Images to easily identify spiders commonly found in Florida. Spiders belong to the class Arachnida, which contains organisms with four pairs of legs, no antennae and two body regions. A shield-like carapace covers the head and the area from which the legs arise. Their mouthparts, or chelicerae, function vertically. Read More..
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Its common name arises from its characteristic erratic and rapid movement, and habit of not following trails as often as other ants. However, while the term 'crazy ant' is officially identified with this species, there are other closely related ant species that are also called "crazy ants." At least one authority has suggested that Paratrechina longicornis receive the common name "longhorned crazy ant" to prevent it being confused with other species referred to as "crazy ant." Other authoriti... Read More..
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This species is a household pest. In Florida, it is considered one of the most important of such ant pests. The ghost ant can not only invade houses from outside, but they can nest in the house as well. Although the ant feeds upon many household foods, it seems to show a preference for sweets, having been observed feeding on sugar, cakes, and syrups (Smith 1965). Outside, the workers scavenge for dead insects and tend sap-sucking insects, collecting honeydew (Ferster et al. 2002). Read More..
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Are lawn caterpillars doing your mowing for you? Young caterpillars, or larvae, injure turfgrass by chewing notches along the edge of the leaves. This creates a ragged appearance (Figure 1) that may be hard to notice at first. Mature caterpillars eat a lot before they pupate and consume patches of turfgrass down to the crown. Because the turf looks scalped so quickly, people think that the damage occurs “overnight.” Several caterpillar species can be turfgrass pests, including the tropical sod ... Read More..
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Rats and mice are important rodent pests entering Florida homes and warehouses for food and harborage. These rodents eat any kind of food that people eat. They also contaminate 10 times as much food as they eat, with urine, droppings and hair. They can carry at least 10 different kinds of diseases including bubonic plague, murine typhus, spirochetal jaundice, Leptospirosis, rabies, ratbite fever, and bacterial food poisoning. Many times rats bite sleeping children while trying to get bits of fo... Read More..
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Coastal area residents and visitors to Florida are often aware that something is biting, but when they look for the offender, none can be found. Sometimes they may see what appears as a speck on the skin. Florida, unfortunately, is home not only for abundant mosquitoes, but also for minute biting insects known locally as "sandflies" (elsewhere as "no-see-ums"or "punkies"), although the more correct name is"biting midges. " They are especially troublesome in coastal areas, where most of Florida'... Read More..
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The red and confused flour beetles may be present in large numbers in infested grain, but are unable to attack sound or undamaged grain (Walter). The adults are attracted to light, but will go towards cover when disturbed. Typically, these beetles can be found not only inside infested grain products, but in cracks and crevices where grain may have spilled. They are attracted to grain with high moisture content and can cause a grey tint to the grain they are infesting. The beetles give off a dis... Read More..
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In Florida, only two main types of venomous spiders occur: widow spiders and recluse spiders. Two species of the widow spiders that are seen in South Florida are: The southern black widow is the most common of the native widow spiders. It is the epitome of the classic widow spider, occurring in all the normal widow spider habitats. It is a glossy jet black all over, including body and legs. The brown widow is highly variable in color. It may be almost white to almost black. Typically, it is a ... Read More..
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Plant bugs and stink bugs feed on peaches, other stone fruit and a wide array of wild and cultivated plants, including numerous horticultural and agronomic crops. These hemipterous (sucking) bugs are significant pests throughout the United States. Sucking bugs feed by sucking sap from plants. They inject a salivary secretion into the plant when feeding to break down plant tissues. Sucking bugs feed on a great diversity of host plants, moving from one host to the next to feed on the best availa... Read More..
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Yes, Virginia, Florida has scorpions. However, according to University of Florida Extension Entomologists, none of them are able to produce a fatal sting. Most folks would view these occasional invaders as a nuisance, and want to know how to control them. In Florida, encounters with life-threatening non-native scorpions are possible only in the movies or as a result of stowaways or released exotic pets. Of 90 US scorpion species, only four occur east of the Mississippi River. And, only one o... Read More..
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The German cockroach one of several species that can be found inside homes but it is the species that gives all other cockroaches a bad name. It occurs throughout the world primarily in association with humans and often plagues multifamily dwellings in the United States. Because it does not directly harm people it is considered an aesthetic pest, and the action threshold for this insect depends upon the tolerance of the people living in the infested dwelling. That is why infestations in multifa... Read More..
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Southern chinch bug activity occurs from March through November in north-central Florida and is year-round in southern Florida. Southern chinch bug populations tend to be clumped, rather than randomly dispersed throughout lawns. Usually more than one chinch bug can be found in the bottom leaf sheath on a plant and among surrounding plants. Infestations may occur in open, sunny areas near sidewalks and driveways, but also in the middle of lawns. Infested plants have slower growth, turn yellow, a... Read More..
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The southern mole cricket damages turf and pasture grasses, mainly by tunnelling (because it is largely carnivorous). Dissection of their guts to reveal the contents has shown that southern mole crickets feed largely on a diet of insects and other soil-inhabiting animals, and only to a slight extent on plants. Perhaps plant feeding occurs when animal material is in short supply. Relatively very little damage is caused to plants by southern mole crickets as a consequence of this diet. Southern m... Read More..
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Raccoons can carry a variety of etiologic agents. In Florida, raccoons are known to harbor 132 parasites, disease agents, and environmental contaminants, more than any other species of wild mammal. Viral diseases include rabies, canine distemper, pseudorabies, and poxvirus disease. Read More..
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Although 45 species of snakes are found in Florida, only the 6 listed here are venomous and a danger to humans. The remaining 39 species (and 41 subspecies) are harmless and should be protected for the beneficial role they play in natural ecosytems, eating insects, rodents, rabbits, and other small prey. The venomous species include five pit vipers (Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Timber Rattlesnake, Pygmy Rattlesnake, Copperhead, and Cottonmouth) and the Coral Snake. Read More..
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The Ficus Whitefly has become a serious threat to South Florida and is costing homeowners an enormous amount of money with damage to hedges. This tiny pest needs to be identified and eliminated early to avoidsuch costly repairs to landscape. Here are just a few examples of the injury that the Ficus Whitefly can cause to hedges and trees. Read More..
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Wasps and bees can cause problems around structures. Most are social insects that live in colonies. They aggressively defend their nests by stinging. The sting usually involves the injection of a venom that is a nerve poison. The sting may cause death in cases of allergy or when many wasps sting. Read More..
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Silverfish (shown here) and firebrats may cause damage in the home by eating foods or other materials that are high in protein, sugar, or starch. They eat cereals, moist wheat flour, paper on which there is glue or paste, sizing in paper and bookbindings, starch in clothing, and rayon fabrics. Silverfish and firebrats are common in homes. The silverfish lives and develops in damp, cool places. Large numbers may be found in new buildings in which the newly plastered walls are still damp. The fir... Read More..
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Asian cockroaches are almost identical to German cockroaches. The Asian cockroach was identified as a newly introduced species to the United States in 1986 when a professional pest control operator collected these insects in Lakeland, Florida. He referred to them as German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.), but noted that their behavior was unlike any other German cockroaches that he had previously encountered. Upon further investigation the cockroaches were found to be B. asahinai, Asian c... Read More..
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What is the most abundant hedge shrub in south Florida? Most would unarguably say weeping ficus (Ficus benjamina)! What if this dominant, green-wall, King-of-Hedgery was dethroned and attacked by an insect which caused severe defoliation? Hedges become see-through and street noises are at your
front door? What if they died? That isn’t a happy scenario for privacy hedges, but it is happening already in central and west Miami. Read More..
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Damage caused by iguanas includes eating valuable landscape plants, shrubs, and trees, eating orchids and many other flowers, eating dooryard fruit like berries, figs, mangos, tomatoes, bananas, lychees, etc. Iguanas do not eat citrus. Burrows that they dig undermine sidewalks, seawalls, and foundations. Burrows of iguanas next to seawalls allow erosion and eventual collapse of those seawalls. Droppings of iguanas litter areas where they bask. This is unsightly, causes odor complaints, and is a... Read More..
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Scientists consider Achatina fulica to be one of the most damaging land snails in the world. It is known to eat at least 500 different types of plants, including peanut, beans, peas, cucumbers, and melons. If fruits and vegetables are not available, the snails will eat a wide variety of ornamental plants, tree bark, and even paint and stucco on houses. Read More..
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Many insects are beneficial to the turf manager in that they aid in the decomposition of organic matter, improve soil structure and soil aeration and some are predators of harmful organisms. Nonetheless, many insects present problems for the turf manager. Damage Symptoms of Common Turfgrass Pest Problems and Possible Causes Read More..
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Depending on the number of potential harborages in a hotel room, a thorough professional bed bug control job may require up to several hours of work per room. In addition to sanitizing cloth items such as bedding, mattresses, cushions, upholstery, and curtains, places to treat with a residual insecticide should include: Read More..
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In the food service, a single insect or rodent can cause irreparable damage of your reputation and revenue stream, in addition to introducing harmful germs and bacteria. To avoid losing customers and to remain in compliance with health code regulations, let A to Z Environmental Services inspect and treat your establishment with a customized pest control plan. Read More..
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The Florida carpenter ant complex is comprised of several species, two of which are common around structures: Camponotus floridanus (Buckley) and Camponotus tortuganus (Emery). These bicolored arboreal ants are among the largest ants found in Florida, making them apparent as they forage or fly indoors and out. Read More..
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Because Brown Recluses like to live in heated homes, bites occur year round. And in just hours, a bite from the highly venomous Brown Recluse spider can create blisters and cause tissue damage to both people and pets within hours after the initial bite. Necrosis (death of cells) sets in quickly and the result is a very painful and "flesh-rotting" wound. Bites from Brown Recluse spiders can cause amputations, severe pain and in rare cases, death. Swift action is needed to minimize tissue damage ... Read More..
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Palmetto Bug is also known as the American cockroach, water bug, flying water bug and, in some areas of the South, the palmetto bug. It is the largest of the common species, growing to 1.5 inches or more in length. The color is reddish-brown, with a pale brown or yellow border on the upper surface of the pronotum. Both the male and female are fully winged. The wings of the male extend slightly beyond the tip of the abdomen, while those of the female are about the same length as the abdomen. The... Read More..
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Fire ants are so called because their venom, injected by a stinger like a wasp's, creates a burning sensation. They are also active and aggressive, swarming over anyone or anything that disturbs their nest, be it wild animals, domestic animals, pets or people. An encounter with a fire ant nest can leave a lasting memory of burning pain, followed by tiny, itching pustules. Read More..
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Although numerous animals, both wild and domestic, can have flea infestations, it is from the exposure of domestic dogs and cats that most homeowners inherit flea infestation problems. Fleas are wingless insects varying from 1 to 8½ millimeters long, averaging 2 to 4 millimeters, and feed through a siphon or tube. They are narrow and compressed laterally with backwardly directed spines, which adapt them for moving between the hairs and feathers of mammals and birds. Read More..
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When feeding, the tick makes a small incision in the skin of the host and inserts barbed piercing mouthparts to remove the blood. Most species cause little or no pain to their hosts at the time offeeding, but some, such as the lone star tick, cause a painful wound. Ticks can transmit diseases by infecting hosts with microorgranisms carried on their mouthparts or in salivary fluids. Read More..
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When associated with humans, bed bugs generally infest dwellings such as houses, hotels, dormitories, and cruise ships, but have also been known to infest places such as subways, movie theaters, nursing homes, hospitals, and planes. During the day, bed bugs hide in cracks and crevices and can be found in wall outlets, behind baseboards, wallpaper and pictures, between bed joints and slats, along the seams of mattresses and in bed linens. The cryptic nature of bed bugs makes them difficult to de... Read More..
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Cockroaches are pests throughout the United States. They are annoying and, when abundant, they are also destructive. Cockroaches, also known as waterbugs, croton bugs, or palmetto bugs, destroy food and damage fabrics, book bindings, and other materials. When cockroaches run over food they leave filth and may spread disease. They secrete an oily liquid that has an offensive and sickening odor that may ruin food. This odor may also be imparted to dishes that are apparently clean. Excrement in ... Read More..
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The white-footed ant has become a major household pest in Florida. Homeowners, pest control companies, and the news media are constantly asking university researchers and county extension offices for information on how to control these ants. This fact sheet provides information on the white-footed ant and its habits. We also describe ways to reduce white-footed ant problems in your home or building. Read More..
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This article is oriented toward people who use pesticides in or around their homes. If you job involves pesticides or may result in pesticide exposure (for example, you harvest crops in a field where pesticides were used), please see the Worker Safety and Training page.
Safely using pesticides depends on using the appropriate pesticide and using it correctly. The label on the pesticide container provides instructions for use of the pesticide. It also includes warnings that are intended ... Read More..
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In late September 2007, many ficus trees & shrubs suddenly began to defoliate. This damage is a result of a newly introduced species of Whitefly usually found in India, China and Burma, where it’s considered a major pest. Likely arriving by ship in the Miami River Area since it has not been reported in the Caribbean, this pest has the potential to decimate many trees and shrubs as well as causing enormous financial harm to nursery industry. Further native figs or other plants could also be ... Read More..
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