Galveston Coastal & Marine Resources - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

09/06/2026

Part of keeping our coast healthy is reducing our dependence on pesticides. It's easy to grab a spray bottle, even if not knowing it's the right product for the pest (always read and follow the labels).

I was surprised to find these nymph leaf-footed bugs on my potted plumeria. They can be confused with juvenile assassin bugs, an insect considered beneficial. While there are a few characteristics that differ, the biggest one seen here is that leaf--footed bug juveniles congregate in groups like this after hatching. Once they mature into an adult, pesticides are not effective, but as a young, softer body, they are - but who needs a chemical when a little soapy water works?

I popped them into a big bowl of suds directly from the leaf and that did them in quickly. While I'm always aware that is mean, ridding the destruction they cause takes a high priority.

Leaf-footed bugs have piercing mouthparts that serves as their tool of destruction on your beloved fruits and vegetables. At times, it's mainly cosmetic damage.

Assassin bugs are predators and even when young are usually solitary. While they aren't technically beneficial since they will feed on good and bad insects, they do serve the ecosystem, ridding pests at no charge.

Monitoring is key here. If you find them when young, you can eliminate a lot of head aches without adding to polluted runoff.

09/04/2026

Hooked on Texas seafood? This might be the job for you, right here in Galveston.
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Texas Sea Grant is hiring a Commercial Fisheries and Seafood Extension Specialist to join our Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture team in Galveston, Texas.⁠
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This position works alongside commercial fishermen, seafood businesses and coastal communities to provide education, technical assistance, training and support for Texas’ commercial fisheries and seafood industries.⁠
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Experience in commercial fisheries, seafood, coastal communities, extension or outreach is strongly preferred. A cover letter and resume are required.⁠
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- Location: Galveston, TX⁠
- Education: Bachelor’s degree + four years related experience required; master’s preferred.⁠
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Interested? Apply through the Texas A&M University careers portal (Job ID: R-096368).

09/04/2026

Do you like tamales and want to support our Galveston 4-H youth? Then order by September 30th!

✨ It’s TAMALE time! ✨

Support Galveston County 4-H by ordering delicious tamales & salsa!
Order at the Extension Office or from a 4-H member.

Every bite supports Galveston County 4-H youth programs! 💚

08/29/2026

Bedbugs in the lawn! 😂😂

When you need research-based information and NEUTRAL guidance, we are a resource for you. There is much mis-information out there, and unfortunately, there are also businesses that may use fear or misinformation to sell services people don't actually need. This is a reminder that Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is here to serve you.

This hit home for my family today.

My mother-in-lawn called stating her lawn service told her they had a bedbug infestation in their yard and offered to treat it. They didn't know they messed with the wrong family 😂

I've answered A LOT of questions about insects, including bedbugs. As my husband was talking to his mother, I was yelling in the background, "That's not a thing! Bedbugs don't reproduce outside!"

I called the lawn service myself and asked a few simple questions: How did they determine there was a bedbug infestation? Did they collect a specimen?

I was repeatedly told it was bedbugs, but no specimen had been collected and there was no clear explanation for how the insects had been identified. Usually one worker is zipping around on the mower so quickly that I'd be surprised if he noticed a squirrel in the yard. I pointed out that bedbugs are not insects you would find reproducing and establishing an outdoor population, and that positive identification can be difficult without actually examining a specimen.

At that point, the conversation quickly shifted to, "Well, they don't have to get the treatment."

This confirms to me that it's a predatory scam. It's sad because they've taken care of their lawn for many years and because of this attempt to recommend an unnecessary service, perhaps due to slower lawn growth from lack of rain, they will lose a customer.

Moral of the story, look out for one another. If someone tells you that you have a pest, disease, or other problem that requires treatment, ask questions. Ask for identification. And get a second opinion if something doesn't sound right.

Galveston County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is not here to sell you a treatment - we're here to provide science-based information so you can make informed decisions.

08/28/2026

Who stayed up for the eclipse last night?

Camera isn't the best, but it's something! I didn't see red except slightly through binoculars, but it's still something to see the shadow of where we are reflected onto the moon.

At the peak, it was a little bright spot. It reminded me of the Wilson's warbler cap. 🤣

08/27/2026

The same day Dr. Lui visited was the first day to welcome Sadie Berry back! This time as a student worker with Texas Sea Grant. We will continue to work on industry spotlights (coming soon) and she'll help me prepare for the 2027 Dolphin Challenge.
Welcome back, Sadie!!

Galveston County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Texas Manure

08/24/2026

Do you love shrimp?? Yes!! But do you know how the shrimp come to you headless? Probably not. Visiting AgriLife specialist, Dr. Zong Lui, and I had the opportunity to take a look at Pacific Seafood (a.k.a. Galveston Shrimp Co.) today. He, then, got to meet some of our Texas Sea Grant team. It's always a fun day when Zong comes to town. I can't wait to see what we can do together!

Without specialists like Dr. Lui, Texas would have a whole lot of animal waste... going to waste! Like his page at Texas Manure.

08/22/2026

I could be mentioned here! Along with many other awesome AgriLife Extension folks.

The national Achievement Award was presented before the state award, even though the state one qualified for the national. 🤣

We all keep doing our thing here at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Texas Sea Grant.

08/16/2026

Galveston County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will hold its next CERT Academy next week!

This is a great opportunity to learn about emergency preparedness and basic disaster response skills, including fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, and team organization.

Learn how you can be better prepared to help your community when disaster strikes.

08/14/2026

Tuesday marked the last day for our Galveston Texas Sea Grant Community Engagement Interns, and what a summer it has been!

Please comment below if you had the chance to work with them, attend a meeting or program with them, or even learn something from following along with our Facebook posts. We’d love to hear how they made an impact or pass along your well wishes!

I truly could not have asked for better people to work with this summer. Sadie, Hailey, and Chelsea are sharp, compassionate, curious, and incredibly capable of connecting with people at all levels of our community. Each of them brought something unique to the table, and each has so much to give.

Sadie and Hailey worked alongside me in Education & Outreach, while Chelsea worked with our Resilience Specialist on all things water. From education and community engagement to coastal resilience, they jumped in, asked great questions, and made the most of every opportunity.

We are so proud of all three of you and can't wait to see where you go next. Thank you for an incredible summer, Sadie, Hailey, and Chelsea! 💙

Texas Sea Grant