ZooKeeper.

The 2024 Winter Lionfish Throw Down (October 14 - December 31, 2024) is a Lionfish hunting tournament held throughout the State of Florida waters. Our goal is to encourage the culling of Lionfish through the winter months to mitigate the damage done by Lionfish all year long. After the FWC’s Summer Challenge the focus on culling Lionfish declines and our goal is to keep up the hunting momentum throughout the whole year.  The Throw Down will mirror many of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Lionfish Challenge rules and is being done with their full support. 

DOI. NPS. Biscayne National Park.

University of Florida. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

See also: IPM Florida - Invasive Plants for more publications

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

USDA. Agricultural Research Service.

A genetic discovery by ARS and University of Florida scientists could speed the search for hybrid citrus trees that tolerate citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing) and produce orange-like fruit ideal for making juice.

USDA. Agricultural Research Service.

Brazilian peppertree thrips (Pseudophilothrips ichini) showed promise as biological control agents for invasive Brazilian peppertree populations in Florida according to a recent study published in the Florida Entomologist. Thrips are common insect pests on horticultural plants, but specialized Brazilian peppertree thrips from South America feed exclusively on the Brazilian peppertree's leaves and stem tips. Scientists from the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) collaborated with University of Florida and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services researchers to mass produce and release thrips throughout 567 sites in Florida between May 2019 and December 2021.

University of Florida. IFAS Extension. Integrated Pest Management.

Agricultural & Applied Economics Association. Choices Magazine.

Aquatic invasive species threaten U.S. freshwater bodies throughout the country. One of the most prevalent and prevailing of these is hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillate), which spans from Florida all the way up to Maine, and as far west as California. The state of Florida alone spent $125 million from 2008 – 2015 to manage aquatic invasive species, $66 million of which went toward managing hydrilla. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is estimated to spend $15 million annually on managing hydrilla. This submerged weed is primarily managed through cost effective, safe aquatic herbicides and more costly mechanical harvesting. Due to the prevalence of hydrilla, understanding stakeholder perceptions regarding its management is critical to its successful control. 

This infographic displays Florida’s stakeholder perceptions around aquatic herbicide and mechanical harvesting usage, which can be utilized as a model for other states as well. Data analysis of 3,000 survey responses concluded that a majority of stakeholders are concerned about both the use of aquatic herbicides and mechanical harvesting.

PBS.

Go behind the scenes of the fight against devastation caused by non-native plants and animals which have changed this precious resource forever. Charles J. Kropke joins military veterans known as the "Swamp Apes," who capture Burmese Pythons, and explores strategies to stop the Old World Climbing Fern.

University of Florida. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

See also: Publications for more resources

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

DHS. Customs and Border Protection.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists have already intercepted a dozen significant and potentially destructive pests this year at various ports of entry in Florida as part of the agency's all-encompassing efforts to safeguard American agriculture.

Unknown pests pose a significant risk in agriculture due to a lack of knowledge in controlling the pests and the extent of damage they can cause to crops. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entomologists recently classified eight pests discovered by CBP agriculture specialists in Florida as first-in-the-nation interceptions and another pest as a new species.

University of Florida. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

University of Florida. IFAS Extension. Integrated Pest Management.

Bay County Conservancy (Florida).

See also: Invasive Exotic Plants for more publications

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Plant Industry.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Plant Industry.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Plant Industry.

University of Florida. IFAS Extension. Integrated Pest Management.