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November 26, 2024

November 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector

Recap of November 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector This month we talked all about fruit flies! We focused on true fruit flies in the family Tephritidae. Florida has quite the history with non-native fruit flies. We have a few that have established and caused issues for fruit production in the state. We also…

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August 5, 2024

August 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector

Recap of August 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector In August, we focused on invasive pests of ornamental plants. While we covered a lot during our Final Friday webinar, we barely scratched the surface of invasive species as it relates to ornamental plants. Florida has an estimated number of more than 1,500 types of…

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July 8, 2024

July 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector

Recap of July 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector In July, we talked about invasive pests of pine. Florida has about 17 million acres of forestland with a significant portion covered in pine. The state also has a significant pine industry. Florida produces around 750 million board feet of pine annual used both within…

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First Fridays with Florida First Detector, Coming again Sept 2024-2025!
June 26, 2024

First Fridays with Florida First Detector, Coming again Sept 2024-2025!

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.…

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June 10, 2024

June 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector

Recap of June 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector In June, we dove into the basics of nematodes. Nematodes are all around the word, many are free living and some are parasitic on plants and animals. On plants, their damage can look similar to a lot of other things that go wrong with plants…

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May 6, 2024

May 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector

Recap of May 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector In May, we covered the basics of invasive snails and slugs. Snails and slugs are a type of mollusk called a gastropod. Slugs are different than snails in that they typically lack a visible shell. For slug identification, we look at characteristics like the body…

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April 8, 2024

April 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector

Recap of April 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector In April, we took a closer look at the pest group thrips (Order: Thysanoptera). While there are over 7,000 species of thrips around the world, only a handful of them are pests on plants. Most thrips feed on fungi or decaying matter like leaf litter.…

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March 22, 2024

Weed & Feed: Is It Helpful or Hurtful?

As I wait in line at the garden center to pay for my new spring plant purchase, I see big stacks of “weed & feed” and other lawn fertilizers conveniently located to grab and go on the way out the door.  The images of lush green grass and guarantees of a thicker lawn plus many…

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March 21, 2024

Spice Up Your Life: A Beginners Guide to Growing Basil

Are you a fan of fresh aromatic herbs in your dishes? If so, growing herbs right at home might just become your new favorite hobby. In this guide, we’ll explore how to grow basil from the comfort of your own home, including some commonly grown varieties that do well in Central Florida. We’ll also highlight…

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