Recap of April 2026 First Friday with Florida First Detector
This month, we explored several invasive pests that threaten pine forests. Florida has roughly 17 million acres of forestland, with a large portion dominated by pine species. Our pine industry is also a major economic driver. The state produces approximately 750 million board feet of pine each year, used both within Florida and exported to other states. With such a valuable resource at stake, invasive pests pose serious risks not only to our economy but also to the health and diversity of our natural ecosystems.
While we certainly deal with our share of native pine pests, this webinar focused on invasive species not currently found in the United States. Specifically, we highlighted insects and pathogens listed on the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Priority Pest List for pines.
We covered several high‑risk wood‑boring beetles that could cause major damage if introduced:
Large Pine Weevil (Hylobius abietis)
Black Spruce Beetle (Tetropium castaneum)
Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle (Tetropium fuscum)
Sixtoothed Bark Beetle (Ips sexdentatus)
We also reviewed a number of defoliating insects capable of severe damage to pine forests:
Masson Pine Moth (Dendrolimus punctatus)
Pine-tree Lappet (Dendrolimus pini)
Siberian Silk Moth (Dendrolimus sibiricus)
Pine Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa)
Pine Beauty Moth (Panolis flammea)
Pine Sawfly (Diprion pini)
The month also featured a priority fungal pathogen of interest:
Scots Pine Blister Rust (Cronartium flaccidum)
Why Early Detection Matters
Many invasive pine pests are difficult to identify, even for experienced professionals. When in doubt, submitting samples is the best first step. Accurate diagnosis helps rule out newly introduced pests and guide appropriate management strategies. You never know! You might be the first to detect a new invasive species in our area. The sooner we catch one, the better our chances of preventing long‑term damage.
Resources on Pine Pests
CAPS National Priority Pest List (click pest for info on each species and more resources)
UF Ask IFAS EDIS on Key Pests of Pine
UF ASK IFAS EDIS Topics on Pines
FDACS Managing Your Forest to Prevent Southern Pine Beetle
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 2026. Maybe longer too! Please visit this blog for registration information and the upcoming schedule for Sept. 2025-2026.
Questions?
Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu
Or
Visit the Florida First Detector Website
The post April 2026 First Friday with Florida First Detector appeared first on UF/IFAS Pest Alert.
Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 Recap of April 2026 First Friday with Florida First Detector This month, we explored several invasive pests that threaten pine forests. Florida has roughly 17 million acres of forestland, with a large portion dominated by pine species. Our pine industry is also
The post April 2026 First Friday with Florida First Detector appeared first on UF/IFAS Pest Alert.
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Source: UF/IFAS Pest Alert
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