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Featured Creatures collection

Summary
Summary

Featured Creatures collection was founded in1996, a cooperative venture of the University of Florida's Entomology and Nematology Department and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Division of Plant Industry.  It provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms. 

Editorial Team

Publications

Featured Creatures collection was founded in1996, a cooperative venture of the University of Florida's Entomology and Nematology Department and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Division of Plant Industry.  It provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms. 

Editorial Team

Publications

Showing 121 of 210 Experts

Nathan D. Burkett-Cadena

Nathan D. Burkett-Cadena

University of Florida

nburkettcadena@ufl.edu
Eva Buckner

Eva Buckner

University of Florida

eva.buckner@ufl.edu
Carey R. Minteer

Carey R. Minteer

University of Florida

c.minteerkillian@ufl.edu
Lisa A. Taylor

Lisa A. Taylor

University of Florida

lisa.taylor@ufl.edu
Kristen Bowers

Kristen Bowers

University of Florida

kebowers@ufl.edu
Estelle Martin

Estelle Martin

University of Florida

estellemartin@ufl.edu
Adam G. Dale

Adam G. Dale

University of Florida

agdale@ufl.edu
Dakshina R. Seal

Dakshina R. Seal

University of Florida

dseal3@ufl.edu
Victoria Adeleye

Victoria Adeleye

University of Florida

vadeleye@ufl.edu
Lance S. Osborne

Lance S. Osborne

University of Florida

lsosborn@ufl.edu
Rafia Khan

Rafia Khan

University of Florida

rkhan@ufl.edu
Catharine M. Mannion

Catharine M. Mannion

University of Florida

cmannion@ufl.edu
Daniel Carrillo

Daniel Carrillo

University of Florida

dancar@ufl.edu
Livia M. Silva Ataide

Livia M. Silva Ataide

University of Florida

lsilvaataide@ufl.edu
Yisell Velazquez Hernandez

Yisell Velazquez Hernandez

University of Florida

yvelazquez@ufl.edu
Alexandra Revynthi

Alexandra Revynthi

University of Florida

arevynthi@ufl.edu
Jawwad Qureshi

Jawwad Qureshi

University of Florida

JawwadQ@ufl.edu
Salman A. Al-Shami

Salman A. Al-Shami

University of Florida

salshami@ufl.edu
Jiri Hulcr

Jiri Hulcr

University of Florida

hulcr@ufl.edu
Kaydie G. McCormick

Kaydie G. McCormick

University of Florida

k.mccormick@ufl.edu
Zane Grabau

Zane Grabau

University of Florida

zgrabau@ufl.edu
Lindsay C. Mikell

Lindsay C. Mikell

University of Florida

mikell.lindsay@ufl.edu
William T. Crow

William T. Crow

University of Florida

wtcr@ufl.edu
Elena M. Rhodes

Elena M. Rhodes

University of Florida

erhodes@ufl.edu
Forrest W. Howard

Forrest W. Howard

University of Florida

fwhoward@ufl.edu
Amy T. Vu

Amy T. Vu

University of Florida

amy.vu@ufl.edu
James D. Ellis

James D. Ellis

University of Florida

jdellis@ufl.edu
James P. Cuda

James P. Cuda

University of Florida

jcuda@ufl.edu
Bonnie Wells

Bonnie Wells

University of Florida

bcwells@ufl.edu
Andrea Lucky

Andrea Lucky

University of Florida

alucky@ufl.edu
Thomas Chouvenc

Thomas Chouvenc

University of Florida

tomchouv@ufl.edu
Kathryn A. Barbara

Kathryn A. Barbara

Jason M. Squitier

Jason M. Squitier

Donald W. Hall

Donald W. Hall

University of Florida

dwhall@ufl.edu
Jerry F. Butler

Jerry F. Butler

University of Florida

jfbutler@ufl.edu
Brian Bahder

Brian Bahder

University of Florida

bbahder@ufl.edu
Rajinder S. Mann

Rajinder S. Mann

Lukasz L. Stelinski

Lukasz L. Stelinski

University of Florida

stelinski@ufl.edu
Robert E. Woodruff

Robert E. Woodruff

University of Florida

rew99@ufl.edu
Ronald D. Cave

Ronald D. Cave

University of Florida

rdcave@ufl.edu
Lawrence Reeves

Lawrence Reeves

University of Florida

lereeves@ufl.edu
Roberto M. Pereira

Roberto M. Pereira

University of Florida

rpereira@ufl.edu
Cameron Jack

Cameron Jack

University of Florida

cjack@ufl.edu
Edwin R. Burgess

Edwin R. Burgess

University of Florida

edwinburgess@ufl.edu
Barry W. Alto

Barry W. Alto

University of Florida

bwalto@ufl.edu
Abdullah A. Alomar

Abdullah A. Alomar

University of Florida

a.alomar@ufl.edu
Nan-Yao Su

Nan-Yao Su

University of Florida

nysu@ufl.edu
Rudolf H. Scheffrahn

Rudolf H. Scheffrahn

University of Florida

rhsc@ufl.edu
Jorge E. Peña

Jorge E. Peña

University of Florida

jepena@ufl.edu
Amanda C. Hodges

Amanda C. Hodges

University of Florida

achodges@ufl.edu
Brooke L. Moffis

Brooke L. Moffis

University of Florida

burnb48@ufl.edu
Marc A. Branham

Marc A. Branham

University of Florida

marcbran@ufl.edu
Morgan A. Byron

Morgan A. Byron

University of Florida

maconn00@ufl.edu
Joseph W. Diclaro

Joseph W. Diclaro

Russell, III F. Mizell

Russell, III F. Mizell

University of Florida

rfmizell@ufl.edu
John L. Foltz

John L. Foltz

University of Florida

foltz@ufl.edu
Rachel Mallinger

Rachel Mallinger

University of Florida

rachel.mallinger@ufl.edu
Harvey L. Cromroy

Harvey L. Cromroy

Eileen A. Buss

Eileen A. Buss

University of Florida

eabuss@ufl.edu
J Howard Frank

J Howard Frank

University of Florida

jhfrank@ufl.edu
John B. Heppner

John B. Heppner

University of Florida

jheppner@ufl.edu
Cynthia C. Lord

Cynthia C. Lord

University of Florida

clord@ufl.edu
Christine W. Miller

Christine W. Miller

University of Florida

cwmiller@ufl.edu
Lyle J. Buss

Lyle J. Buss

University of Florida

ljbuss@ufl.edu
Ali Sarkhosh

Ali Sarkhosh

University of Florida

sarkhosha@ufl.edu
Jonathan H. Crane

Jonathan H. Crane

University of Florida

jhcr@ufl.edu
Amir Rezazadeh

Amir Rezazadeh

University of Florida

amir2558@ufl.edu
Mark T. Bailey

Mark T. Bailey

University of Florida

ironhill@ufl.edu
Jaret C. Daniels

Jaret C. Daniels

University of Florida

jcdnls@ufl.edu
Eutychus Kariuki

Eutychus Kariuki

University of Florida

eutychus.kariuki@ufl.edu
Ethan T. Carter

Ethan T. Carter

University of Florida

ethancarter@ufl.edu
Thomas J. Walker

Thomas J. Walker

University of Florida

tjw@ufl.edu
Sergio Gallo

Sergio Gallo

University of Florida

sgallo@ufl.edu
Mark A. Mitola

Mark A. Mitola

University of Florida

mmitola@ufl.edu
Rebecca Baldwin

Rebecca Baldwin

University of Florida

baldwinr@ufl.edu
Ronald H. Cherry

Ronald H. Cherry

University of Florida

rcherry@ufl.edu
Gregg Nuessly

Gregg Nuessly

University of Florida

gnuessly@ufl.edu
George F. O'Meara

George F. O'Meara

University of Florida

gfo@ufl.edu
J H Jr Herbert

J H Jr Herbert

Xavier Martini

Xavier Martini

University of Florida

xmartini@ufl.edu
William H Jr Kern

William H Jr Kern

University of Florida

whk@ufl.edu
Joseph L. Knapp

Joseph L. Knapp

Robin M. Giblin-Davis

Robin M. Giblin-Davis

University of Florida

giblin@ufl.edu
Seth Bybee

Seth Bybee

Norman C. Leppla

Norman C. Leppla

University of Florida

ncleppla@ufl.edu
Tiare Silvasy

Tiare Silvasy

University of Florida

tsilvasy@ufl.edu
Joseph E. Funderburk

Joseph E. Funderburk

University of Florida

jef@ufl.edu
Danielle M. Williams

Danielle M. Williams

University of Florida

dsprague@ufl.edu
Heather J. McAuslane

Heather J. McAuslane

University of Florida

hjmca@ufl.edu
Hugh A. Smith

Hugh A. Smith

University of Florida

hughasmith@ufl.edu
Sriyanka Lahiri

Sriyanka Lahiri

University of Florida

lahiris@ufl.edu
Barbra C. Larson

Barbra C. Larson

University of Florida

bcl@ufl.edu
Jonathan F. Day

Jonathan F. Day

University of Florida

jfda@ufl.edu
Ralph E. Mitchell

Ralph E. Mitchell

University of Florida

shadowed@ufl.edu
Oscar E. Liburd

Oscar E. Liburd

University of Florida

oeliburd@ufl.edu
Jeffrey E. Hill

Jeffrey E. Hill

University of Florida

jeffhill@ufl.edu
Aaron Mullins

Aaron Mullins

University of Florida

amull81@ufl.edu
Johan Desaeger

Johan Desaeger

University of Florida

jad@ufl.edu
Bryan Steinberg

Bryan Steinberg

Robert McSorley

Robert McSorley

University of Florida

mcsorley@ufl.edu
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Showing 10 of 10 Publications

thumbnail for publication: Black-Banded Honey Bee, Sulawesian Honey Bee Apis nigrocincta Smith (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Black-Banded Honey Bee, Sulawesian Honey Bee Apis nigrocincta Smith (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Lisa Rodriguez, Brynn Johnson, and Cameron Jack

The Featured Creatures collection provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms relevant to Florida. These profiles are intended for the use of interested laypersons with some knowledge of biology as well as academic audiences.

thumbnail for publication: Soybean Cyst Nematode, Heterodera glycines (Ichinohe, 1952) (Chromadorea: Rhabdita: Heteroderidae)

Soybean Cyst Nematode, Heterodera glycines (Ichinohe, 1952) (Chromadorea: Rhabdita: Heteroderidae)

Holly Andres and Zane J. Grabau

The nematode Heterodera glycines, known as soybean cyst nematode (SCN), is the most economically damaging pest of soybean crops in the United States and around the world. Members of the Heteroderidae family belong in the order Tylenchida; most are plant parasitic while some are insect parasites. They are obligate parasites that attack different species of crops and weeds. Heteroderidae are divided into two groups: cyst and cystoid based on morphological alterations in their skin. The cyst group are unique in that the female skin changes, transforming into a hardened cyst that protects her eggs. Unlike many plant parasites, there may be little to no aboveground evidence of an infestation with H. glycines. They are extremely damaging to the agricultural economy and impossible to eradicate once established, but with proper management, it is possible to minimize H. glycines populations and maximize yield.

thumbnail for publication: Bumble Bees of Florida

Bumble Bees of Florida

Joel Neylon, Lionel Stange, T. R. Fasulo, and Rachel Mallinger

A UF/IFAS numbered publication. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Integrated Pest Management

thumbnail for publication: Snowbush spanworm (larva), white-tipped black (adult), Melanchroia chephise (Stoll) (Insecta: Lepidoptera; Geometridae: Melanchroia)

Snowbush spanworm (larva), white-tipped black (adult), Melanchroia chephise (Stoll) (Insecta: Lepidoptera; Geometridae: Melanchroia)

Kaydie McCormick and Adam Dale

Melanchroia chephise, commonly known as the snowbush spanworm or white-tipped black, is an occasional insect pest of snowbush shrubs and several other ornamental plant species. Found throughout the southern United States, these gregarious moth caterpillars can commonly be found defoliating their chosen hosts soon after they emerge en masse. The colorful appearance of the caterpillars may be alarming, but they pose little risk to people, and usually offer no lasting harm to the plants they feed on. The adult moths, with their black and white wings, can be an attractive addition to a pollinator garden. This publication describes how to identify this insect and provides in-depth information on its biology, development, and management.

thumbnail for publication: Native Subterranean Termites: Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks), Reticulitermes hageni Banks (Insecta: Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Native Subterranean Termites: Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks), Reticulitermes hageni Banks (Insecta: Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Thomas Chouvenc, Nan-Yao Su and Rudolf H. Scheffrahn

A UF/IFAS numbered Organism ID. Published by Integrated Pest Management

thumbnail for publication: Tuliptree Aphid Scientific Name: Illinoia liriodendri (Monell) (Insecta: Hempitera: Aphididae)

Tuliptree Aphid Scientific Name: Illinoia liriodendri (Monell) (Insecta: Hempitera: Aphididae)

Lindsay Mikell and Adam Dale

<p>The tuliptree aphid, <em>Illinoia liriodendri </em>(Monell) is a sap-feeding insect herbivore of <em>Liriodendron tulipifera </em>that commonly reaches high densities on trees planted in urban settings. <em>Liriodendron tulipifera </em>is a large tree species native throughout eastern North America known commonly as tuliptree or tulip poplar. This tree is a common ornamental tree species used in urban forests throughout the mid-Atlantic states of North America. Although it occurs mostly in temperate regions, <em>Illinoia liriodendri </em>can be found in most places where tulip poplar is grown. While its effects are recognized to be mostly aesthetic, heavy infestations of tuliptree aphid can significantly impact young trees, and they are considered the most important insect pest of this tree species in urban landscapes. This publication describes the identification, biology, and management of tuliptree aphid.</p>

thumbnail for publication: Redlegged Ham Beetle, Copra Beetle Necrobia rufipes (De Geer, 1775) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cleridae: Korynetinae)

Redlegged Ham Beetle, Copra Beetle Necrobia rufipes (De Geer, 1775) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cleridae: Korynetinae)

Ian Williams and Michael Scharf

The redlegged ham beetle (Necrobia rufipes) is a predaceous beetle that feeds on a variety of decaying organic matter, especially matter with high protein and fat content such as dead vertebrate animals, and some of plant origin, such as copra, nuts, and palm kernels. The redlegged ham beetle is of economic importance as a pest of stored products and has relevance to forensic entomology. Other common names include the ham beetle, the copra beetle or bug, and the “paper worm.”

thumbnail for publication: The Oriental Beetle, Anomala orientalis (Waterhouse 1875) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

The Oriental Beetle, Anomala orientalis (Waterhouse 1875) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Abigail Prohofsky and Adam Dale

This article describes the identification, biology, and ecology of the oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis (Waterhouse). Anomala orientalis is native to eastern Asia and one of several exotic scarab beetle species in the United States commonly known as white grubs during their larval stage. This insect and many of its close relatives are considered frequent pests of turfgrasses throughout the northeastern U.S.

thumbnail for publication: Ornate Tree Hole Mosquito, Orthopodomyia signifera (Coquillett, 1896) (Insecta: Diptera: Culicidae)

Ornate Tree Hole Mosquito, Orthopodomyia signifera (Coquillett, 1896) (Insecta: Diptera: Culicidae)

Leigh H. Ketelsen and Eva A. Buckner

The Featured Creatures collection provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms relevant to Florida. These profiles are intended for the use of interested laypersons with some knowledge of biology as well as academic audiences. 

thumbnail for publication: Coccophagus lycimnia (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae): Parasitoid of Soft Scale Pests (Coccidae: Hemiptera)

Coccophagus lycimnia (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae): Parasitoid of Soft Scale Pests (Coccidae: Hemiptera)

Salman A. Al-Shami and Jawwad A. Qureshi

The Featured Creatures collection provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms relevant to Florida. These profiles are intended for the use of interested laypersons with some knowledge of biology as well as academic audiences.