What is Florida First Detector?
Florida First Detector is a multiagency educational effort focused on enhancing the early detection of invasive pests that threaten agriculture, nursery industries, and natural areas. We offer in-person and virtual classes. The Florida First Detector website also provides scripted presentations for educators and on-demand CEU opportunities for licensed professionals.
Our program is a cooperative effort between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), the University of Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Program (CAPS), the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN), Protect U.S. and the Sentinel Plant Network (SPN).
What is our First Friday Webinar Series?
On the first Friday of every month, we will have a one-hour webinar on a topic related to invasive species in Florida. An invasive species is a non-native species causing harm like economic losses, environmental damage or human/animal health hazards. The webinars are open to everyone and applicable to professionals and residents alike!
At each session, we will cover a different focus group. We will be training you to be a First Detector, to help spot species that have not yet been introduced to Florida. We may also cover some species that are already causing issues in Florida and talk about current management strategies and methods to stop the spread.
What is the schedule?
We are meeting online via Zoom from 12:00PM-1:00PM on the First Friday of every month from Sept 2022-Aug 2023*. Sign up for one, two, more, or all of them!
- September 2, 2022, Invasive Species in Florida
- October 7, 2022, Resources for Identification of Plant Problems
- November 4, 2022, Invasive Fruit Flies
- December 2, 2022, Invasive Snails and Other Gastropods
- January 6, 2023, Invasive Stink bugs and related Hemipterans
- February 3, 2023, Invasive Scale Insects
- March 3, 2023, Invasive Species on Palms
- April 7, 2023, Invasive Wood Boring Insects
- May 5, 2023, Invasive Bark Beetles
- June 2, 2023, Invasive Pests and Pathogens on Oak
- July 7, 2023, Invasive Caterpillars on Vegetables Crops
- Aug 4, 2023, Invasive Pests on Citrus
*Schedule subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.
What is the cost?
All of our First Friday Webinars are FREE! Yes, you heard that right. This is an amazing opportunity to learn and earn CEUs for free of charge.
What CEUs are available?
Continuing education units (CEUs) are also available for attendance for individuals that already have obtained their FDACS pesticide applicator license. To receive CEU credit, you must attend the full duration of the class and participate. Attendance will be verified. For CEU credit, each person needs to attend using their own electronic device.
Each webinar has been approved for 1 CEU in the following FDACS Pesticide CEUs categories:
- Ag row crop
- Ag tree crop
- Demonstration and research
- Forest pest control
- Limited commercial landscape maintenance (LCLM)
- Limited lawn and ornamental (LLO)
- Natural areas weed management
- Ornamental and turf
- Pest control operator (PCO) lawn and ornamental
- Private ag
- Right of way
- (Aquatic* available ONLY on Sept 2, 2022 and Oct 7, 2022)
Questions?
Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu
Or
Visit the Florida First Detector Website
Source: UF/IFAS Pest Alert
