FLORIDA FIRST DETECTOR
First Friday Webinar Series
The First Friday program is a collaborative webinar series between the Florida First Detector program and UF/IFAS Seminole County Extension. Designed to reach Floridians across the state, this free online workshop series offers valuable information on invasive species, how to submit samples, and offers many CEU opportunities.
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 2026.
Cost of Admission
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.
CEU Information
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. 4, 2026, Oct. 2, 2026 and June 4, 2026
- General Household Pest Control* available ONLY on Sept. 4, 2026, Oct. 2, 2026
- Limited Structural* available ONLY on Sept. 4, 2026, Oct. 2, 2026, Apr. 2, 2027, May 7, 2027, and July 2, 2027
- Wood Treatment* available ONLY on Sept. 4, 2026, Oct. 2, 2026, Apr. 2, 2027, May 7, 2027, and July 2, 2027
For more information, please contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu
We are meeting online via Zoom from 12:00PM-1:00PM on the First Friday of every month from Sept 2026-Aug 2027*
Click one or more classes to go to the registration page
- September 4, 2026, Florida First Detector: Invasive Species in Florida
- October 2, 2026, Resources for Identification of Pest Problems
- November 6, 2026, Invasive Fruit Flies
- December 4, 2026, Invasive Stink bugs and Related Hemipterans
- January 8, 2027, Invasive Caterpillars on Vegetables Crops *Rescheduled to January 8th due to NYD holiday
- February 5, 2027, Invasive Scale Insects
- March 5, 2027, Invasive Pests on Citrus
- April 2, 2027, Invasive Wood Boring Insects
- May 7, 2027, Invasive Bark Beetles
- June 4, 2027, Invasive Snails and Other Gastropods
- July 2, 2027, Invasive Pests and Pathogens on Oak
- Aug 6, 2027, Invasive Species on Palms
*Schedule subject to change in the event of unforeseen circumstances.