Polk Small Farms: New and Revised Lawn and Garden Publications, May 2011

This email lists new and revised EDIS publications that have been released to the public in May 2011. They are now available on the World Wide Web at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. This mailing only includes publications in the Lawn & Garden program area. Please see separate mailings for publications in other program areas.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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