Forest and Shade Tree Insects of Florida

Welcome to the home page for information about insects on forest and shade trees in Florida. This web site is a cooperative effort of:

John L. Foltz, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida

Albert E. "Bud" Mayfield, Division of Forestry, Florida Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Wayne N. Dixon, Division of Plant Industry, Florida Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services
and
Carl W. Fatzinger, retired entomologist, USDA Forest Service

Here are the web pages currently available:

Pine Bark Beetles in Florida

Insecticide protection of threatened pines. (7K)

Identification of pine bark beetles in Florida. (126K)
The Southern Pine Beetle in Florida (120K)
Quick facts about SPB biology and control. (6K)
Frequently asked questions about southern pine beetle control. (9K)
Fact Sheet ENY-639, Southern Pine Beetle in Florida. Similar to the above web page and with a link to a PDF file for printing a 2-page handout.
Southern Pine Beetle. An updated online version of the 1994 Florida DPI Entomology Circular 369.

Florida Division of Forestry SPB Reports -- Results of the spring survey and periodic updates on activity throughout the state.
SPB 2004 Survey & Forecast
SPB 2003 Forecast & Activity.
SPB 2002 Forecast & Activity.
SPB 2001 Forecast & Activity.

SPB Impact and Management in Urban Areas
Tree on power line. SPB-killed trees may disrupt electrical power.
Reducing SPB Outbreaks. Suggestions for ordinances, codes, practices and policies to reduce the likelihood and minimize the severity of future SPB outbreaks.

Gainesville Southern Pine Beetle Suppression Program, 2001-2002
The following web pages provide information on the establishment and operation of Gainesville's southern pine beetle suppression program.

Resolution 1257 -- A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Gainesville, Florida, declaring a tree emergency in the urban forest due to the imminent threat of destruction of pine trees by infestation of southern pine beetles; adopting an emergency pine beetle suppression program; and providing an immediate effective date.
Resolution 1271 -- A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Gainesville, Florida, creating the Technical Advisory Committee on Southern Pine Beetle Suppression; providing for the appointment and terms of its members; providing for the appointment of a chair; defining its powers and duties; providing for the dissolution of the committee; and providing an immediate effective date.
The SPB Suppression Program -- An outline of the City's program to facilitate and encourage the prompt treatment of trees infested by the southern pine beetle.
SPB Information Hotline -- Text of a 3 minute telephone message describing Gainesville's cost-sharing program and other options for treating infested trees.
Florida Statutes Chapter 581 -- Although not directly part of the Gainesville SPB Suppression Program, this page presents sections of the Florida Statutes that pertain to the authority and responsibility of the State to become involved when plant pests are a public nuisance or threaten agricultural or public interests.

US Forest Service Publications about the Southern Pine Beetle

Southern Pine Beetle Fact Sheets, Leaflets, and Handbooks -- Through the years the US Forest Service has produced many fine publications on the detection, evaluation, suppression, and prevention of SPB outbreaks. Some of these publications are now available online at www.barkbeetles.org.

Insects and Wildfires

Web page version of a brochure describing the insects likely to infest fire-stressed pines and providing recommendations and evaluation guidelines for minimizing the loss of trees.
PDF file for using Adobe Acrobat® to print the 3-panel brochure on 8.5 X 14 inch paper. You are encouraged to download, print, photocopy and distribute this brochure to anyone needing advice for dealing with insects infesting fire-stressed pine trees.

Spring Defoliators of Oaks

Oak Leaftiers and Leafrollers. -- Small green caterpillars hanging on silken threads are often the first sign of leaf-tieing and leaf-rolling caterpillars.
Tussock Moth Caterpillars in Florida -- Tussock moths are some of the many caterpillars that feed on oaks in the early spring. Follow this link to see pictures and learn about their biology and control.

Fall Defoliators of Oaks.

Yellowstriped Oakworm -- Caterpillars of Anisota peigleri have defoliated trees in northwest Gainesville for several years. In 1999 we started a research project to learn more about its biology and behavior. Click here to see pictures and learn its life cycle. Please contact one of us if you know of populations of this insect outside our research area in Gainesville.

Pest Alert - The Asian Longhorned Beetle

Asian longhorned beetle -- This beautiful beetle, which enters the country in untreated wooden packing material, is killing healthy trees in New York and Illinois. The pest alert describes how to recognize the beetle and what to do if you should find it in Florida.

Florida Insect Control Guides

Pesticide Information

Pesticide Fact Sheets - A terrific site for information on specific insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and other pesticides, attractants, and repellents used in forestry.

Other University of Florida Web Sites

Department of Entomology & Nematology
Entomology/Nematology Extension Publications
EDIS -- The Electronic Document Information Source of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service

Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Forestry

USDA Forest Service, Southern Region, Forest Health Protection

Forest Health Protection - Southern Region - Home Page
Southern Forest Insects - Index to the insect web pages
Some insects of interest to Florida residents

Featured Creatures is a web site containing illustrations and descriptions of a wide variety of insects. It is a cooperative effort of Florida Division of Plant Industry and the U. F. Department of Entomology and Nematology. Click the image below to link to Featured Creatures.

Some documents on this page are offered in Adobe Acrobat® (PDF) format. To view and print PDF documents you need Acrobat reader. Click the image below to link to Adobe's web site and download the current version of the free software.

Here is how you may contact John Foltz by mail, telephone, and email.

foltz@ufl.edu

Prepared by John L. Foltz, University of Florida, Dept of Entomology & Nematology.
Last modified 25 January 2005.

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