James L. Castner

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former scientific photographer, UF/IFAS Department of Entomology and Nematology, Gainesville, FL

Publications

Common Florida Spiders

J. L. Castner

This document provides an overview of common spiders found in Florida, detailing their physical characteristics, behaviors, and habitats. It covers various species, including jumping spiders, crab spiders, golden silk spiders, spiny orb-weavers, black and yellow argiope spiders, green lynx spiders, wolf spiders, and long-jawed orb-weavers. Each section highlights unique features, such as the jumping spiders’ eye arrangement and hunting methods, the crab spiders’ camouflage, and the golden silk spiders’ large webs. The document aims to educate readers on identifying and understanding these arachnids. Date first printed: November 1992.

Wasps and Bees

P. G. Koehler and J. L. Castner

This document provides an overview of various wasps and bees, highlighting their behavior, nesting habits, and potential dangers. It covers species such as bumble bees, cicada killers, honey bees, mud daubers, paper wasps, and yellowjackets. The article emphasizes the aggressive nature of some species, the risks of stings, and the importance of proper nest management to prevent harm. It also includes detailed descriptions and images of each insect, their nests, and their interactions with humans. Date first printed: November 1992.

Wood-Destroying Insects

P. G. Koehler and J. L. Castner

This document provides an overview of various wood-destroying insects, including Lyctid, Bostrichid, and Anobiid powderpost beetles, old house borers, Formosan termites, drywood termites, Eastern subterranean termites, carpenter ants, and carpenter bees. It describes their physical characteristics, life cycles, and the types of wood they infest. The publication emphasizes the importance of identifying these pests for effective management and control. Date first printed January 1996.

Filth-Breeding Flies

P. G. Koehler and J. L. Castner

This document provides an overview of filth-breeding flies in Florida, detailing their physical characteristics, behaviors, and habitats. It covers species such as the house fly, greenbottle fly, bluebottle fly, secondary screwworm fly, vinegar fly, flesh fly, moth fly, eye gnat, humpbacked fly, and soldier fly. Each section highlights unique features, such as breeding preferences and identifying marks. The document aims to educate readers on recognizing and managing these common pests. Date first printed: November 1992.

The German Cockroach

P.G. Koehler and J.L. Castner

This document provides an overview of the German cockroach, the most significant cockroach species in the United States. It details the life cycle from egg to adult, highlighting the differences between males and females, their reproductive habits, and the development of oothecae (egg capsules). The document also describes the various nymph stages and the conditions that favor cockroach infestations, such as the availability of food, water, and shelter. The publication emphasizes the importance of understanding these factors for effective pest management. Date first printed: January 1994.

Bloodsucking Insects

P. G. Koehler and J. L. Castner

This document provides an overview of bloodsucking insects in Florida, detailing their physical characteristics, behaviors, and habitats. It covers mosquitoes, flies, lice, and true bugs, highlighting species such as the Asian tiger mosquito, stable fly, horse fly, deer fly, sand fly, head louse, pubic louse, bed bug, and bloodsucking conenose. Each section emphasizes unique features, such as the Asian tiger mosquito’s daytime biting habits and the stable fly’s bayonet-like proboscis. The document aims to educate readers on identifying and understanding these parasitic insects. Date first printed: November 1992.

Pests Associated with Mulch and Moisture

P. G. Koehler and J. L. Castner

This document provides an overview of pests associated with mulch and moisture, including booklice, plaster beetles, centipedes, amphipods, earwigs, millipedes, pillbugs, sowbugs, fungus gnats, and springtails. It describes their physical characteristics, habitats, and behaviors, emphasizing the conditions that lead to infestations. The publication highlights the importance of understanding these pests for effective management and control. Original publication date January 1994.

Pests that Occasionally Invade Structures

P. G. Koehler and J. L. Castner

This document provides an overview of various pests that occasionally invade structures, including silverfish, ground beetles, scorpions, thrips, crickets, scarab beetles, bark beetles, ambrosia beetles, long-horned wood boring beetles, and plaster bagworms. It describes their physical characteristics, habitats, and behaviors, emphasizing the conditions that lead to infestations. The publication highlights the importance of understanding these pests for effective management and control. Original publication date January 1994.

Stored Product Pests

P. G. Koehler, W. H. Kern, and J. L. Castner

This document provides an overview of common stored product pests, including beetles and moths, that infest food products. It details the characteristics, life cycles, and behaviors of pests such as the rice weevil, lesser grain borer, flour beetles, sawtoothed grain beetle, cigarette beetle, drugstore beetle, and various weevils and moths. The article emphasizes the importance of identifying these pests to manage and prevent infestations effectively. It also includes visual aids to help with identification and offers insights into the damage these pests can cause to stored food products. Date first printed: November 1992.

Pest Ants

P. G. Koehler, R. M. Pereira, and J. L. Castner

This document provides a comprehensive overview of various ant species found in Florida, detailing their physical characteristics, nesting habits, and behaviors. It covers species such as the acrobat ant, Argentine ant, bigheaded ant, crazy ant, Florida carpenter ant, ghost ant, imported fire ant, little fire ant, native fire ant, pharaoh ant, and white-footed ant. Each section highlights unique features, such as nesting preferences, colony structure, and foraging behaviors, aiming to educate readers on identifying and managing these common pests. Date first printed: November 1992.