Recap of October 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector
In October’s First Friday, we looked more into the agencies involved in invasive species work and talked a lot about sample submission. Identification of the pest prior to treatment is critical for all pest management. Starting next month, we will be talking about identification of invasive species of concern to Florida in more detail. What should you do if you find a pest that you are not familiar with? You can always do a little big of digging on your own, but if you can’t find the answer, the next step is to get a sample to someone who might know the answer.
The good news is that it is easy to get a sample to someone who can help. University of Florida/IFAS Extension has an office in all 67 counties in Florida with extension agents ready to help. If they don’t know the answer, they can certainly help you find the right person who does. There is also the option to submit photos of samples online through the UF/IFAS Distance Diagnostics and Identification System (DDIS). Sometimes a photo is sufficient to identify a pest, but if not, the experts on DDIS will recommend you submit a physical sample.
When you submit a sample and it gets identified as an invasive species, it can trigger a rapid response if it is priority pest that is not currently found in Florida. If it is one of these priority pests, the appropriate agencies are notified to create a plan and respond. This may lead to an eradication program, quarantines or other action to help stop the spread of the priority pest.
Many of the agencies that work on invasive species, including UF/IFAS, have a lot of great resources for diagnostics of plant problems and invasive species. When something seems weird or unusual, there is a chance it is a newly introduced, potentially invasive pest. When in doubt, submit a sample!
Resources for Diagnostics of Plant Problems
- UF/IFAS Diagnostic Services (Plant Disease, Insects, Nematodes, Soil/Water, Plant/Weed, etc.)
- Distance Diagnostic and Identification System
- Your Local County Extension Office
- FDACS Sample Submission
Resources on Invasive Species
- Florida Invasive Species Council
- Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas
- Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey
- National Plant Diagnostic Network
- National Invasive Species Information Center
- Protect U.S.
- UF IFAS Assessment of Non-native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas
Want to watch the recording?
What is the upcoming schedule?
We are meeting online via Zoom from 12:00PM-1:00PM on the First Friday of every month from Sept 2022-Aug 2025. Maybe longer too! Please visit this blog for registration information and the upcoming schedule for Sept. 2024-2025.
Questions?
Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu
Or
Visit the Florida First Detector Website
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