Snails & Slugs in the Home Garden
Snails and slugs are small, soft-bodied animals that can be troublesome pests in the garden. They are very similar to each other, except snails have hard shells and slugs do not. They can cause...
Archives: Factsheets
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Introduction Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and type 2 diabetes are two health conditions that are intricately linked to insulin resistance. According to the Centers for Disease Control &...
Armadillos
Armadillos are often found digging in gardens, flower beds, or yards, searching for food or taking a very long “nap” upside down near the road. There are currently 20 species of armadillo in...
Maintaining Your Floating Wetland
Floating wetlands are buoyant platforms that allow plants to grow in water that is typically too deep for them. Plants can grow above the water level on the mat while their roots extend directly...
Energy Drinks “Can” be Healthful! If…
Energy drinks continue to gain popularity even though health issues abound. They are usually marketed to improve focus, energize your mind and body, and make you more alert. Major brands like Red...
Millipedes
Millipedes are slow-moving, worm-like animals with many body segments and many legs. Millipedes are often called “thousand leggers” because it sometimes appears as though they have a thousand legs –...
Phosphorus in Food: Uncovering Hidden Health Risks in Your Diet
Phosphorus Phosphorus is the 15th element on the periodic table and is crucial for the growth and bodily functions of animals, plants, and humans. There are two types of phosphorus – organic...
Cicadas
Cicadas are large, plant-feeding insects known for their loud, shrill noise and discarded shells (called exoskeletons) that cling to trees and other vegetation. Cicadas belong to the suborder...
Elm Zigzag Sawfly
Introduction The elm zigzag sawfly, or EZS, is an invasive pest that defoliates native and non-native elm species. It originates from East Asia but has been a problem on elms in Europe since 2003....
Bess Beetles
Bess beetles (Family Passalidae) are wood-dwelling, socially active beetles with around 500 species worldwide. They often live in decaying wood in forests. Burrowing through the decaying wood, they...
Controlling Weeds in Landscaped Beds Without Glyphosate (Widely Used Nonselective Herbicide)
Summary Glyphosate is an active ingredient in the nonselective herbicide formulation formerly associated with the brand name of Roundup®. Now Roundup® trade names may include different active...
Hellebore
Hellebores (Helleborus species) are perennials in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, along with clematis (Clematis spp.), columbine (Aquilegia spp.), and anemone (Anemone spp.). There are 20...