Plant Diagnostic Services
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, offers free plant pest diagnostic services to the general public. Please visit http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Plant-Industry/Business-Services/Submit-a-Sample-for-Identification in order to download sample submission forms and to watch sample submission videos.
The University of Florida, Entomology and Nematology Department, Insect Identification Laboratory has also prepared a series of sample submission videos, available through YouTube at:
- How to submit a hard bodied insect sample
- How to submit a sample of an insect that is attached to the plant substrate
- How to submit a plant sample
- How to submit a soft bodied insect sample
Additional Information related to the UF, Insect Identification Laboratory is available at: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/insectid/
The University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF-IFAS) also offers a series of free online publications with up-to-date biological and management information related to plant pests in Florida. Go to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ to find the latest University of Florida recommendations.
Interested in learning more about plants and plant pests in your Florida county? UF-IFAS has a network of county extension faculty ready to assist you. Many county extension offices also include volunteer Master Gardener clinics who can walk you through your questions. Visit the website of your local county extension office for more information at: http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/map/index.shtml