Saturday, September 27, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Native Plant Sale from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Cost: $24
The 2025 Jersey-Friendly Yards Conference, themed “Don’t Let These Garden Visitors Bug You!”, will highlight the complex and essential roles insects play in our yards and ecosystems. Keynote speaker Dr. Dan Duran will reveal the immeasurably important ways insects keep ecosystems functioning, reminding us that all life on Earth depends on them in more ways than we often realize. He will also share practical approaches for conserving insect diversity through the landscapes we plant. Plenary speaker Sabrina Tirpak will then take us deep into the world of bark and ambrosia beetles: tiny yet powerful insects with ancient farming practices dating back over sixty million years. Her talk will cover their biology, the damage they cause to trees, their role in spreading diseases, and how climate extremes influence their presence in New Jersey. From common native species to invasive newcomers, participants will gain valuable insights into integrated pest management and plant health care.
Join us to learn how fostering respect for beneficial insects and understanding the challenges of harmful ones can lead to healthier, more resilient yards. Click on the button below to register!
Conference Location
The conference will be held in the Gateway building on the campus of Ocean County College, College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754.
Tentative Conference Schedule
8:30 – 9:00 am
Exhibits and Morning Refreshments
9:00 – 9:15 am
Welcome Remarks
9:15 – 10:30 am
Cultivating Respect for Beneficial Insects
Presenter: Daniel P. Duran, Ph.D.
10:30 – 11:00 am
Break
11:00 am – 12:15 pm
ABCs in Trees: The Fungus Farming Ambrosia and Bark Coleoptera and You
Presenter: Sabrina Tirpak
12:15 pm – 12:30 pm
Closing Remarks and Door Prizes
12:30 – 2:00 pm
Native Plant Sale
About the Presenters
Cultivating Respect for Beneficial Insects
Simply put: All life on earth depends on insects, for more reasons than most people realize. Explore some of the immeasurably important ways that insects keep ecosystems functioning. Learn ways in which we can conserve our much needed insect diversity through the landscapes we plant.
Presented by Daniel P. Duran, Ph.D.
Dr. Daniel P. Duran is a faculty member in the Department of Environmental Science at Rowan University, as well as the Naturalist for Scotland Run Park, a 1300-acre nature preserve at the edge of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. He has published research papers on agricultural entomology, taxonomy, and molecular systematics/phylogenetics. Dr. Duran has described 17 new species of insects and one new species of plant, previously unknown to science. He received a B.S. in Environmental Science from Stockton University in 1998, an M.S. in Entomology from University of Missouri in 2002, and a Ph.D. in Evolution and Ecology from Vanderbilt University in 2010. In between his degrees, he has also worked for the Natural History Museum, London, UK and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. Dr. Duran is a co-author of the book “A Field Guide to the Tiger Beetles of the United States and Canada, 2nd Edition”.
ABCs in Trees: The Fungus Farming Ambrosia and Bark Coleoptera and You
Ambrosia and bark beetles may be tiny, but they are certainly mighty when it comes to their ability to harm trees. This amazing group of insects includes some of the planet’s first farmers from over sixty million years ago. From the physical damage they cause and their deadly vectoring of tree diseases, to the impact of extreme weather events on their occurrence in New Jersey, this lecture will feature some of the common species found in our area as well as a few exotic ones to keep a lookout for. All aspects of their biology, current concepts in integrated pest management, and plant health care will be discussed as we bore into the bizarre and fascinating world of these fungus farming beetles.
Presented by Sabrina Tirpak
Sabrina Tirpak is the Principal Laboratory Technician at the Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Laboratory. She received her B.S. in Plant Science from Rutgers University, with an emphasis in horticulture and turf industries, as well as a minor in entomology. Sabrina has over 20 years of experience in all things that can and do go wrong with plants and teaching people about them. She is a frequent lecturer and invited speaker at various conferences and educational programs throughout the tri-state area on the topics of turf, ornamental, and structural insect pest problems. Sabrina is also an instructor in the Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School where she teaches laboratory courses in diseases and insect pests of turfgrass and ornamental plants. Sabrina is an avid gardener and animal lover who enjoys growing way too many vegetables, landscaping for birds and wildlife, and spending time with her dogs.
Native Plant Sale
Confirmed Native Plant Nurseries that will be in attendance:
Earth First Native Plant Nursery
Steven Kristoph Nursery
Toadshade Wildflower Farm (also offers a variety of native seeds for sale)
The Little Plant Company
Master Gardeners of Ocean County Inc.