09-25-2025 Harmful, Helpful or Harmless: Common Insects in FL Landscapes

Florida-Friendly Landscaping Principle #6 is "Manage Yard Pests Responsibly," that includes protecting populations of beneficial insects helps to keep pests under control, but to do that, you have to know which are which. The "good guys"- insects to encourage, the harmful pests to discourage and those bugs to just ignore in Florida landscapes.

What you do in your landscape matters. From the fertilizers you apply to the water you use, your gardening choices can have an impact on land, water, wildlife, and the overall well-being of Florida’s residents.

The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) Program is here to help you learn how to have healthy and beautiful landscapes that protect Florida’s natural resources by following nine science-based principles:

• Right Plant, Right Place
• Water Efficiently
• Fertilize Appropriately
• Mulch
• Attract Wildlife
• Manage Yard Pests Responsibly
• Recycle Yard Waste
• Reduce Stormwater Runoff
• Protect the Waterfront

A Florida-Friendly landscape can be designed to look the way you want, fit the aesthetics of your community, and suit your lifestyle, while being environmentally sustainable. Join us to learn how!

This lecture is presented by Kate Kaste, UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County, FFL Program Manager.

An Equal Opportunity Institution.

The University of Florida is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. For disability accommodations such as alternate formats of written material, please contact Kate Kaste at [email protected] or 352-518-0156, Option 5 at least 1 week in advance to this presentation date.

Host or Publisher UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension