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Gardeners welcome entomologist

2 min read

The first Sanibel-Captiva Gardeners Club program of the season of the Master Gardener Lecture Series will be held at the Sanibel Library at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1.

The speaker is Doug Caldwell, PhD, landscape entomologist with the University of Florida. His presentation will focus on the spiraling whitefly, which has attacked over 60 species of trees, shrubs and palms. The whitefly severely damages the plants and then the honeydew they product promotes the growth of sooty mold on the understory plants, cars, mailboxes and pool/patio furniture.

After consulting with the Dept. of Natural Resources and a certified arborist, we have confirmed damage to the following trees and palms: black olive, gumbo limbo, strangler and other fig species, live oaks and fruit trees; palms include coconut, areca, adonidia, bismarck and royal palms.

Treatment by pest control companies is very expensive and waiting in line for service. Dr. Caldwell will suggest reasonable, safe and effective measures that you can employ – and does not involve spraying!

He has over 30 years experience in his field and is recognized as the South Florida expert on insects.

In the past decade he has identified 11 new significant pests in Lee and Collier counties. Dr. Caldwell communicates with citizens via newspaper articles, TV programs, his own website and public meetings using his amazing photo powerpoints.

He has received multiple national awards for his more than 50 published papers during the past decade.

Dr. Caldwell has kindly consented to travel to Sanibel to present this program. He is a dynamic speaker with a wonderful macrophotographic power point.

Don’t miss this presentation. It is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.