The HEAT isn’t the only thing from Miami with the potential to be the next Beast of the East
May 9, 2011
The HEAT’s performance during this NBA season has attracted attention to the team’s home city of Miami like D-Wade attracted Celtics defenders during the first game of the Eastern Conference semifinal series. Miami consistently attracts the attention of DPI, but not for its basketball heroes.
Florida’s subtropical climate and Miami’s status as an international travel hub makes the city and its surrounding areas especially susceptible to invasive plant and apiary pests and diseases. DPI is currently involved with routine trapping programs for Africanized honey bees, Mediterranean fruit flies and other insects. Also, with the redbay ambrosia beetle discovered close to avocado production in Miami-Dade County, laurel wilt surveys are underway there, too. Another pest plaguing the area is Mikania micrantha, an invasive weed found in the Redlands.
Miami might be a metropolitan superpower, but its unique natural resources and green space are especially valuable to the area’s ecosystem and the state and nation’s environmental treasures. You can help keep Miami known as home to the beast of the East because of its basketball, and not because of established invasive species. How can you help? Take a look around DPI’s website to stay informed of important pests and diseases in Florida. If you think you’ve discovered a plant or apiary pest or disease, contact DPI’s helpline at 888-397-1517. DPI works to protect Florida’s environment and agriculture industry from harmful pests and diseases, and ultimately protect you, the consumer. You can help take ownership in the state’s natural resources and leading industry by staying informed.
March Weed of the Month: Shoebutton ardisia
April 6, 2011
Ardisia elliptica, or shoebutton ardisia, is a shrub or small tree that was introduced as an ornamental plant. This evergreen tree or shrub with star-shaped flowers invades natural areas, forming clumps or thickets that crowd out other species. This species is probably native to India, but certainly tropical Asia, and is now found in tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world. Documented occurrences of shoebutton ardisia are known from Pinellas, Collier, Miami-Dade, Broward, Martin, St. Lucie and Brevard counties. This weed is regulated by the state of Florida on the state’s noxious weed list, and is also included on the FLEPPC Category 1 list of invasive plants. Read more…
Tree disease found in West Kendall
April 4, 2011
This article was published in the Miami Herald on Friday, April 1, 2011. Click the link below to read the full article.
A tree disease new to Miami-Dade County has been found.
It is called Laurel wilt, a disease of trees in the Laurel family such as redbay, swampbay, and avocado. Laurel wilt was recently confirmed on native swampbay trees between between Kendall Drive and Tamiami Trail along Krome Avenue. Swampbay trees showing symptoms of laurel wilt have also been found in the Bird Road Recharge area, which is the area west of West Kendall. Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/31/2143281/tree-disease-found-in-west-kendall.html##ixzz1IZ5uaV3G
With a Medfly eradication program currently underway in Pompano Beach, and a positive find of laurel wilt in Miami-Dade County, it is quite evident that FDACS and USDA trapping programs are effective and crucial to the state’s agriculture industry, environment and economy.
FDACS has positively identified the presence of laurel wilt disease, a destructive disease of redbay, avocado and other trees in the laurel family, on three swamp bay trees in south Miami-Dade County. State and federal agriculture officials are working with the industry and UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to determine procedures for enhanced trapping and disease management. Planning is also underway to conduct aerial surveys of the area, which is an effective tool for identifying additional symptomatic trees.
Laurel wilt is a fungus that is introduced to host trees by the redbay ambrosia beetle. The beetle was found in Miami-Dade County in March. It had not previously been found south of Martin County.
“The discovery of the redbay ambrosia beetle last year was a likely harbinger that laurel wilt disease was not far behind,” said Dr. Wayne Dixon, Acting Director of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry. “Our staff, along with our federal partners, has been conducting intensive trapping efforts throughout the state with increased trapping efforts around Florida’s economically important avocado industry.”
According to Florida Agriculture Statistics, the avocado industry represents nearly $13 million to the local economy, with more than 6,773 acres in production in Miami-Dade and Collier counties. For more information about laurel wilt, the redbay ambrosia beetle and protecting Florida’s avocados, visit http://www.savetheguac.com.
You can help prevent the spread of laurel wilt and the redbay ambrosia beetle by
-Becoming familiar with the signs of laurel with disease and redbay ambrosia beetle and looking out for symptoms of the pest/disease on your trees;
-Using local firewood only (destructive pests and diseases, such as redbay ambrosia beetle and laurel wilt can hitchhike into and around Florida on infested firewood);
-Not transporting host trees (redbay, swamp bay, avocado, sassafrass, pondspice, pondberry and other in the Lauraceae family) unless purchased from a registered nursery; and
-Using UF/IFAS recommended methods to dispose of trees in the Lauraceae family, if necessary.
If you suspect your tree might be infected with laurel wilt or find a redbay ambrosia beetle, please call the DPI helpline at 888-397-1517.
Management recommendations for homeowners
Instructions for submitting a plant or insect sample
More info on laurel wilt
Save the Guac Campaign
