Recap of July First Friday with Florida First Detector

In July’s First Friday with Florida First Detector, we talked about invasive caterpillars that feed on vegetable crops. Florida’s agriculture industry is home to a wide variety of high value vegetable production. The state is a top producer in the U.S. of tomatoes, bell peppers, cabbage and many other delicious veggies. The profitability of these farms is at risk from the introduction of invasive pests including caterpillars. Some of the important species that we are on the lookout for in Florida are Old World bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), tomato leafminer (Phthorimaea absoluta), and false codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta).

The Old World Bollworm is a major pest of vegetables. It is native to the eastern hemisphere and found throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. It has since spread to South America and the Caribbean where it causes major issues in vegetable production. The Old World bollworm was intercepted in a trap in Florida in 2015, but no additional moths have been found since then.

Tomato leafminer is a serious of tomatoes and other solanaceous crops. The larvae can defoliate the plants leading to lower yields. They can also feed inside the fruit making it susceptible to other pathogens and unmarketable. This pest is native to South America but has spread to Europe, Africa and Asia. This species is not currently found in Florida or the rest of the U.S.

False codling moth is a pest of not only vegetables but also fruits and fruit trees. The larvae feed inside the fruit with little or no external signs of damage. This leads to unmarketable fruit and sometimes premature ripening and early fruit drop. False codling moth is native to Africa and is not known to occur in the U.S. Shipments of produce that contained this moth species has been turned away at U.S. boarders on multiple occasions.

Resources on Invasive Caterpillars and More

• USDA Resources on Old World bollworm
• USDA Resources on tomato leafminer
• USDA Resources on false codling moth

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 2023. Please visit this blog for registration information and the upcoming schedule. Stay tuned for more classes and dates coming up after August 2023!

Questions?

Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu

Or

Visit the Florida First Detector Website

The post July First Friday with Florida First Detector appeared first on UF/IFAS Pest Alert.

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 2024.

What is the schedule for September 2023-2024?

This series began in September of 2022 and will continue to at least August 2024. We are meeting online via Zoom from 12:00PM-1:00PM on the First Friday of every month from Sept 2023-Aug 2024*. Sign up for one, two, more, or all of them!

• September 1, 2023, Invasive Species in Florida and Pathways
  • Registration: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_v5jvas6_SAi_9GWXzw1mFg
• October 7, 2023, NO class this month! Sorry yall!
• November 3, 2023, Invasive Whiteflies, Aphids, Psyllids and More
  • Registration: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iRbtqrOuSiCPMZ7wk8_dFA
• December 1, 2023, Invasive Hornets, Wasps and Ants
  • Registration: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KT-YVqFKTEmD4lK1K-ResA
• January 5, 2024, Invasive Plant Feeding Mites
  • Registration: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DzTHKYbCTtyEcMFaNuylnA
• February 2, 2024, Invasive Plant Pathogens
  • Registration: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_j7NMlVUpTJu26TVTrwB3OQ
• March 1, 2024, Invasive Pests on Fruit
  • Registration: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_upCWpVa2TXWn64oU8-K0vA
• April 5, 2024, Invasive Thrips
  • Registration: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_D4dS60z9Q3aRkEsHSA4mzw
• May 3, 2024, Invasive Snails and Beyond
  • Registration: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XyJhU_eoTj6oejSkuk8uNQ
• June 7, 2024, Invasive Nematodes
  • Registration: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_srZOyaayTTaqelqwFrdGFQ
• July 5, 2024, Invasive Species on Pines
  • Registration: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iZ3jGyaWSEyBf9dtgdlgfg
• Aug 2, 2024, Invasive Species on Ornamental Plants
  • Registration: TBD* Pending CEU approval

*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. 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 1, 2023 and May 3, 2024)

Questions?

Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu

Or

Visit the Florida First Detector Website

The post First Fridays with Florida First Detector, Back again Sept 2023-2024! appeared first on UF/IFAS Pest Alert.

Recap of August First Friday with Florida First Detector

In August, we talked about invasive pests on citrus. Historically, the citrus industry has been super important in Florida and continued to be today. Despite challenges in citrus production in recent years, Florida is still a top producer of citrus. The Florida citrus industry was valued at $6.9 billion (in 2021) and it supports an estimated 32,500 jobs in the state. Over the years, introduction of invasive pests has impacted the citrus industry. Some examples of introduced problems include the Asian citrus psyllid, citrus greening, snout scale, and Caribbean fruit fly.

Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening are two invasive species with some of the largest impacts on Florida’s citrus industry. Asian citrus psyllid is a vector of citrus greening that established in Florida prior to the arrival of citrus greening. With the vector well established in the state, citrus greening quickly spread throughout Florida citrus. This led to severe crop losses, decline in citrus acreage and associated jobs, increased cost of production and more. Currently, there is extensive ongoing research to improve the management of citrus greening in Florida citrus.

We covered a few pests that have not yet established in Florida that could impact the citrus industry if introduced. In August’s webinar, we covered identification of lime swallowtail, citrus longhorned beetle, Mediterranean fruit fly, oriental fruit fly, and Mexican fruit fly. If suspected in Florida, submit samples for confirmation. You can start with contacting your local county extension office for help. An important note, most of these species discussed are not currently found in Florida. Florida has a long history with several invasive fruit flies. While some invasive fruit fly species have been detected in Florida in the past, they are not currently present (excluding the Caribbean fruit fly). Lime swallowtail was recently found in Key West in 2022, but to date, has not been found elsewhere in Florida.

Resources on Invasive Caterpillars and More

• FDACS information on Lime Swallowtail 
• FDACS Pest Alert for Lime Swallowtail 
• FDACS Snout Scale Pest Alert
• USDA Resources on Citrus Longhorned Beetle
• Asian Citrus Psyllid Biological Control Information
• ASK IFAS Citrus Greening Resources
• ASK IFAS Invasive Citrus Pathogens
• FDACS Citrus Fruit Dealer Resources
• 2022-2023 Citrus Production Guide 

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 2024. Please visit this blog for registration information and the upcoming schedule for Sept 2023-2024.

Questions?

Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu

Or

Visit the Florida First Detector Website

The post August First Friday with Florida First Detector appeared first on UF/IFAS Pest Alert.

Recap of September 2023 First Friday with Florida First Detector

For our September First Fridays with Florida First Detector, we revisited some basics about invasive species and their impacts on Florida. An invasive species is a non-native species that causes some kind of damage to humans. This can be economic losses in agriculture or horticulture, negative impacts on the environment or natural resources, or harm to human or animal health. In some cases, one invasive species can cause more than one issue. For example, the giant African land snail (Lissachatina fulica) is an issue for agriculture, horticulture, and natural areas. This species also harms native species and can be a hazard for human and animal health because of the parasite it can carry.

Florida is a high risk for the introduction and establishment of invasive species. This is because of Florida has many points of entry like deep water ports and international airports. Additionally,  tourism brings many people and goods to the state every year. Florida’s mild winters and diverse climates allow for many non-native species to thrive once they arrive in the state.

While there are many organizations that work on invasive species, it is up to everyone to help stop the spread of invasive species. You can help stop the spread in a few different ways. First of all, be careful not to move invasive pests around. If you are traveling, avoid taking plants, plant materials or fresh fruits and veggies, unless they have been properly inspected. If you work in agriculture or horticulture, make sure any plant materials you purchase are properly inspected and pest free before bringing them to your farm or operation.

For anyone who is out working with plants regularly, be on the lookout for pests you have never seen before or unusual damage to plants. If you find something you don’t recognize, submit a sample for identification. You just might be the first person to find a new pest in your area!

You can also attend invasive species volunteer round up events or invasive species educational trainings to help around your local community and learn more about issues in your area. If you are in an area with any ongoing invasive species management (ie. quarantines, eradication programs, etc.), be sure to follow any local restrictions.

Resources for Diagnostics

• 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 2024. Please visit this blog for registration information and the upcoming schedule for Sept 2023-2024.

Questions?

Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu

Or

Visit the Florida First Detector Website

The post September 2023 First Friday with Florida First Detector appeared first on UF/IFAS Pest Alert.

Recap of November 2023 First Friday with Florida First Detector

In November, we looked at some more Hemipteran pests and focused on invasive whiteflies, aphids, psyllids, and more. These insects all have a piercing sucking mouth part. Many also excrete honeydew which can lead to sooty mold that impacts the plant growth and development. Some may not directly cause severe damage to plants but it is the plant pathogens they transmit that cause the most harm.

We covered several insects that are already found in Florida including the Asian citrus psyllid, coriander aphid, Bondar’s nesting whitefly, Ficus whitefly, and rugose spiraling whitefly. The Asian citrus psyllid has had a huge impact on Florida’s citrus industry. The coriander aphid can cause problems in herb production. Bondar’s nesting whitefly, Ficus whitefly, and rugose spiraling whitefly all can cause damage in ornamental plant production and landscaping.

We also talked about a few insects that have not yet been found in Florida but we are on the look out for to prevent introduction to the state. The US Regulated Plant Pests that we covered were the orange spiny whitefly, the potato psyllid, the Ligurian leafhopper, small brown planthopper, and the spotted lanternfly. These pests are regulated because of the potential impacts they could have on Florida’s agriculture and horticulture. We learned identification strategies for all these insects so that we can be on the look out for them in the field. If detected in Florida, regulatory agencies will try to work quickly to eradicate the pest and stop the spread to other areas.

Resources on Invasive whiteflies, aphids, psyllids and more

• US Regulated Plant Pest List
• Ask IFAS, Asian Citrus Psyllid Resources
• Ask IFAS, Bondar’s Nesting Whitefly
• TREC Ficus Whitefly Resources 
• Ask IFAS, Rugose Spiraling Whitefly
• Ask IFAS, Coriander Aphid
• Ask IFAS, Orange Spiny Whitefly
• FDACS Pest Alert Potato Psyllid
• USDA Spotted Lanternfly Resources

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 2024. Please visit this blog for registration information and the upcoming schedule for Sept 2023-2024.

Questions?

Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu

Or

Visit the Florida First Detector Website

The post November 2023 First Friday with Florida First Detector appeared first on UF/IFAS Pest Alert.

Recap of December 2023 First Friday with Florida First Detector

In this month’s webinar, we focused on Hymenoptera, an order of insects that includes wasps, bees, ants, hornets and more. Hymenoptera is an extremely diverse order of insects. Some feed on plants and others are predatory or parasitic. Many Hymenoptera are beneficial insects and provide unique ecosystem services like pollination or nutrient recycling. We utilize many for biological control agents to help control pests in agriculture, horticulture and beyond. While this order has many beneficial species, there are some invasive species too!

Two notable species that we are on the lookout for in Florida are the Northern Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) and the Yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina). Both species are native to Asia. While recent news stories may have alarmed folks about these two species, the main concern is the potential harm they can cause to honey bee hives. They can very quickly kill off a bee hive. Both species can sting humans, but this is usually not life threatening for folks without an allergy to bee/wasp stings. Both species have been spotted in other states in the U.S., but to date, none have been found in Florida.

Another pest we discussed was the Africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera scutellata) which is a subspecies of the honey bee that many beekeepers manage throughout the world. The subspecies is originally from Africa but has been introduced to Central and South America and Southern parts of the U.S. including Florida. The Africanized honey bee looks very similar to other subspecies but it tends to be much more aggressive, swarms more frequently and is less selective about its nesting sites. If you encounter an aggressive hive out in the field or near your home, you should slowly back away from the hive and consult a professional. If the bees attack, run away from the hive and keep running. Cover your nose and mouth to prevent bees from entering the airways. Avoid jumping in water as the bees may wait for you to emerge. If possible, run to a protected area like a building or car. If you have severe stings, or are allergic to bees, seek medical attention.

Resources on invasive hornets, wasps, ants, and more

• UF Fire Ant Control Recommendations
• UF EDIS on the Northern Giant Hornet
• USDA Resources on Northern Giant Hornet
• UF EDIS Africanized Honey Bee
• FDACS Yellow-legged Hornet Resources 
• USDA Resources on Yellow-legged Hornet

Resources for Florida Beekeepers

• FDACS Apiary Inspections Information
• UF Beekeepers Resources 
• UF Honeybee Research and Extension Lab

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 2024. Please visit this blog for registration information and the upcoming schedule for Sept 2023-2024.

Questions?

Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu

Or

Visit the Florida First Detector Website

The post December 2023 First Friday with Florida First Detector appeared first on UF/IFAS Pest Alert.

Recap of January 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector

For our first webinar of 2024, we focused on mites! As a group, mites are incredibly diverse. There are mites pretty much everywhere. You can find them on plants, animals, people, stored products, soil, water and more! Some mites feed on animals and humans. Some work as decomposers to break down things in the environment. There are even some mites that feed on plants and they can be a pest for us. Other mites are actually predatory and used for biological control of mites, insects and other pests.

As far as plant pests go, the three most economically important families are Tetranychidae (spider mites), Eriophyidae (gall mites), and Tenuipalpidae (false spider mites). Like all mites, plant feeding mites can be distinguished from plant feeding insects by looking at their basic anatomy. Mites will have two body regions with a gnathosoma and an idiosoma. Other arachnids, like spiders and scorpions, lack the gnathosoma. Mites also have four pairs of legs in the adult stage. Insects have three body regions and three pairs of legs. Mites are often very small and may require magnification to see these distinguishing features.

One of the most infamous mites in agriculture and horticulture is the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. This species is native to Eurasia but is currently a pest in many temperate and subtropical regions of the world including Florida. It feeds on over 200 plants including edible crops and ornamentals. We also discussed the bermudagrass mite (Eriophyes cynodoniensis), the red palm mite (Raoiella indica), and the lychee erinose mite (Aceria litchii). These three species are invasive species that are currently causing problems on Florida’s plants.

We also discussed three species that are not known to be established in Florida including rose rosette virus mite, (Phyllocoptes fructiphilus), Japanese zelkova eriophyid mite (Aceria zelkoviana), and citrus brown mite, (Eutetranychus orientalis). For these species, we are monitoring to ensure they do not spread in Florida. Mites can be challenging to identify, even with magnification. If you are seeing unusual damage caused by mites, we suggest reaching out to your local county extension office for help in identification.

Resources on invasive plant feeding mites

• Invasive Mite ID Lucid Key
• FDACS Red Palm Mite Resources
• UF EDIS, Ask IFAS Red Palm Mite
• UF EDIS, Ask IFAS Twospotted Spider Mite
• UF EDIS, Ask IFAS A Guide to Citrus Mite ID
• Pest Tracker Citrus Brown Mite
• UF Tropical Research and Education Center Lychee Erinose Mite Resources
• FDACS Lychee Erinose Mite Resources 
• FDACS Pest Alert Japanese Zelkova Eriophyid Mite
• FDACS Pest Alert Rose Rosette Virus Mite

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 2024. Please visit this blog for registration information and the upcoming schedule for Sept 2023-2024.

Questions?

Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu

Or

Visit the Florida First Detector Website

The post January 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector appeared first on UF/IFAS Pest Alert.

Recap of February 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector

In this month’s webinar, we talked about plant pathogens. A pathogen is any organism that causes disease. Some pathogens that can impact plants include fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes and more. When we are checking our plants for issues, we look for both signs and symptoms. Symptoms are a visible change in the plant like yellowing, necrotic spots, dieback, etc. Signs are physical evidence that a pathogen is present. In the plant pathogen world, this can be something like fungal bodies, spores, bacterial exudates, and others.

While the pathogen is the causal agent, the disease is how the plant is impacted. We looked at several examples of plant diseases in this webinar including boxwood blight, sudden oak death, citrus greening, lethal bronzing, rose rosette virus, red ring disease and more. Many of these have been recently causing a lot of trouble for our agriculture and horticulture industries! Several of the related pathogens are not currently found in Florida like the red ring nematode, Ralstonia solanacearum R3B2, and Phytophthora ramorum. 

Identification of plant pathogens can be challenging! For many plant pathogens, laboratory diagnostic testing is needed. If you are seeing unusual symptoms on plants, especially something you haven’t seen before, connect with your local county extension office. A sample submission may be recommended for proper identification and management recommendations.

Resources on invasive plant pathogens

• ASK IFAS Citrus Greening Resources
• USDA-APHIS Sudden Oak Death Info
• USDA-APHIS Ralstonia Info
• UF Ask IFAS Rose Rosette Virus
• FDACS Pest Alert Rose Rosette Virus Mite

Diagnostic Services at UF

• UF IFAS Plant Diagnostics Clinic
• UF Fort Lauderdale REC, Dr. Brian Bahder’s lab, Diagnostic testing for lethal bronzing and lethal yellowing on palms

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 2024. Please visit this blog for registration information and the upcoming schedule for Sept 2023-2024.

Questions?

Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu

Or

Visit the Florida First Detector Website

The post February 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector appeared first on UF/IFAS Pest Alert.

Recap of March 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector

Fruit crops are very important for Florida’s agriculture industry. The state is a top producer for many tree fruits, berries, and melons. Despite challenges associated with citrus greening in Florida, citrus still remains one of Florida’s most important crops. In this month’s First Friday, we covered many invasive pests that could effect fruit.

In the webinar, we discussed briefly Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening  and how these invasive species have impacted citrus production in Florida. We also mentioned some other invasive fruit pests like brown marmorated stink bug and spotted wing drosophila which have causes losses in fruit production since their establishment in Florida. We also learned how to identify a few species that have not yet been found in Florida including the citrus fruit borer and the summer fruit tortrix. Lime swallow tail is another species that has been found with limited distribution in the Florida keys, so we are monitoring to see its current distribution and what impacts it could have on Florida’s citrus.

Invasive fruit flies, in the family Tephritidae, remain one of the biggest challenges for Florida’s fruit production, including citrus and many other fruit crops. Caribbean fruit fly is one invasive species that is currently found in Florida and is a management challenge for fruit producers. Other invasive fruit flies like Mediterranean fruit fly, oriental fruit fly, Mexican fruit fly, guava fruit fly, and peach fruit fly could cause serious impacts if they were introduced in Florida. For this reason, there are a lot of ongoing efforts to prevent the introduction, spread and establishment of invasive fruit flies, like these species discussed, in the state. In a previous webinar, we focused on invasive fruits flies and covered this pest group in more detail.

If you are seeing unusual pests, especially something you haven’t seen before, connect with your local county extension office. It may be the first time it is found in the state! By catching it early, we may be able to eradicate it or stop it from further spreading.

Resources on invasive fruit flies

• Ask IFAS, Fruit fly topics
• FDACS Website on Non-Native Fruit Flies
• USDA Resources on Invasive Fruit Flies

Resources on other invasive species on fruit

• FDACS information on Lime Swallowtail 
• FDACS Pest Alert for Lime Swallowtail 
• UF EDIS Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
• UF EDIS Spotted Wing Drosophila

Resources on citrus and citrus greening

• Ask IFAS Citrus Greening Resources
• UF EDIS Asian Citrus Psyllid 
• UF IFAS 2023-2024 Citrus Production Guide

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 2024. Please visit this blog for registration information and the upcoming schedule for Sept 2023-2024.

Questions?

Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu

Or

Visit the Florida First Detector Website

The post March 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector appeared first on UF/IFAS Pest Alert.

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. Thrips can be distinguished from other insects by their fringed wings. They have unique rasping mouthparts which lead to damage like leaf discoloration, leaf distortion, abortion of flowers or buds, plant stunting and more. For the species that do feed on plants, they can feed on leaves, buds, flowers or fruit. Some thrips species can also vector plant pathogens like tospoviruses.

While we covered several thrips species in the webinar, we spent quite a bit of time on Thrips parvispinus. While native to Asia, this species has been found in other parts of the world, including parts of Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. This species was recently first detected in Florida in 2020 in Orange County. It has since been found in several other areas in Florida, but we are still learning about where it has spread. Thrips parvispinus causes damage to vegetable, ornamental, and fruit crops. This pest has caused damage to the Gardenia and Mandevilla production in south Florida. Thrips parvispinus is a regulated pest by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry (FDACS-DPI).

Since thrips are very small, they are often hard to detect on plant material. When plants are moved to new locations, thrips may also be moved. Many detections of new thrips species in Florida are on plant shipments. If you are seeing unusual pests, especially something you haven’t seen before, connect with your local county extension office. It may be the first time it is found in the state! By catching it early, we may be able to eradicate it or stop it from further spreading.

Resources on invasive thrips

• FDACS Pest Alert for Thrips parvispinus
• UF Mid-Florida Research and Education Center Thrips parvispinus Resources Page
• FDACS Pest Alert for Asian Bean Thrips
• FDACS Pest Alert for Sugarcane Thrips
• UF EDIS Chili Thrips
• UF Ask IFAS Topics on Thrips
• Pest Thrips in the US, Field Guide
• Thrips Identification Keys and Other Resources

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 2024. Please visit this blog for registration information and the upcoming schedule for Sept 2023-2024.

Questions?

Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu

Or

Visit the Florida First Detector Website

The post April 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector appeared first on UF/IFAS Pest Alert.