A citizen science program in Florida is keeping track of how successfully the air potato beetle is keeping air potato in check.
Native to Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, air potato is a member of the yam family. The plant was first identified in the U.S. back in 1777 and spread throughout the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. It is now a problem weed in Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. In both Alabama and Florida, it is listed as a noxious weed. Continue reading
Filed under: featured | Tagged: air potato, air potato leaf beetles, Air potato patrol, Christopher Kerr, citizen science, Florida DACS, IFAS, UF/IFAS, University of Florida, William Lester | Leave a comment »