Training Florida first detectors with a monthly invasive species webinar series

Invasive species pose significant threats including economic losses in agriculture and horticulture, decreased biodiversity, human and animal health hazards, disruption of native ecosystems and more. In the U.S., the losses due to invasive species were historically estimated at around $120 billion annually, but a more recent study suggests this cost is much higher at $1.2 trillion. Florida is a high-risk state for the introduction and establishment of invasive species due to the state’s diversity of agricultural commodities, mild winters, large number of international deep-water ports and airports, and highly desirable tourism operations. It has been shown that the public plays an important role in early detection of invasive species, but awareness is critical to the development of strong volunteer-based networks. Furthermore, licensed pesticide applicators are often first to notice suspicious pests which can lead to early detection of non-native species, and many are also involved in ongoing management of introduced species. Beginning September 2022, First Fridays with Florida First Detector offered one-hour, lunch time webinars on the first Friday of every month. These webinars were designed for professional and public audiences to increase knowledge on invasive species, including identification and management on species of concern to Florida. Each month highlighted a different pest group including invasive fruit flies, scale insects, palm pests, and more. Post-reflective surveys were utilized to measure knowledge gain and the intent to adopt practices learned. Six month follow up surveys evaluated behavior implementation over time. Preliminary results and challenges of the webinar series will be discussed.