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 topic. 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. This series began in September of 2022 and will continue to at least August 2025.
What is the schedule for September 2024-2025?
This series began in September of 2022 and will continue to at least August 2025. We are meeting online via Zoom from 12:00PM-1:00PM on the First Friday of every month from Sept 2024-Aug 2025*. Sign up for one, two, more, or all of them!
- September 6, 2024, Invasive Species in Florida
- October 4, 2024, Resources for Identification of Plant Problems
- November 1, 2024, Invasive Fruit Flies
- December 6, 2024, Invasive Stink Bugs and More
- January 3, 2025, Invasive Caterpillars on Vegetables
- February 7, 2025, Invasive Scale Insects on Ornamental Plants
- March 7, 2025, Invasive Pests on Citrus
- April 4, 2025, Invasive Wood Boring Insects
- May 2, 2025, Invasive Bark Beetles
- June 6, 2025, Invasive Snails and More
- July 11, 2025, Invasive Pests on Oaks, Note: This class was postponed to July 11th due to the 4th of July holiday falling on the first Friday in July.
- Aug 1, 2025, Invasive Species on Palms
*Schedule subject to change in the event of 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. Participants are also able to receive 1 CEU for FNGLA certified professionals and FL Water Star accredited professionals per webinar. 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 6, 2024, Oct 4, 2024 and June 6, 2025)
- (Wood treatment* available ONLY on Apr 4, 2025 and May 2, 2025)
Questions?
Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu
Or
Visit the Florida First Detector Website
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