DPI is working with you to safeguard Florida’s agriculture industry and environment. Travelers often unknowingly transport harmful plant pests and diseases like Mediterranean fruit flies, red palm mites, citrus greening, cycad scale and many others. It is estimated that one exotic plant pest or disease is introduced into Florida every month.
If you enjoy flying or sailing around the state, be a responsible maritime vessel or aviation operator. Remind passengers of the potential risks associated with bringing fruit and vegetables into Florida. Know the rules about the movement of agricultural products by visiting www.freshfromforida.com or calling 888-397-1517. Safeguard unrefrigerated fruits and vegetables by wrapping them in plastic. Secure peels and other waste from fruits and vegetables in tied plastic bags and dispose of them in a closed dumpster, or double-bag them to set out with household trash. Always be on the lookout and report any suspicious plant pest or disease to your county extension office or to DPI at 888-397-1517. Don’t move firewood. Firewood and unprocessed wood products, including handicrafts, can harbor harmful pests and diseases. Also, purchase plants from registered nurseries. Help keep our food supply safe. When you travel, don’t pack a pest!
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Meet Linus.
February 3, 2011
The Division of Plant Industry has a new favorite pup. His name is Linus, and he’s an agriculture detector dog.
DPI is partnering with state and federal agencies to create a video and signage that will be used in airports and on flights to spread the message about harmful invasive species that can be unintentionally introduced into the nation by travelers. The video features Linus as a main character and portrays the perils of packing a pest through the eyes of an agriculture detector dog.
Many people are familiar with K-9 law enforcement units, but few consumers are aware of the canines that contribute to U.S. national security and protection of the nation’s food supply on a daily basis. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection employs a team of beagles and human handlers, to inspect luggage at U.S. airports for agricultural products. Beagles are ideal “federal agents” because of their keen sense of smell and ability to work around both adults and children in public places like airports. Agriculture detector dogs and their handlers are intensively trained to inspect for agricultural products and work together as a team to serve as a barrier to invasive plant and animal pests and diseases. Trained detector dogs take their duties seriously, but it is important to note that the job is fun for the animals.
For Linus, being an agriculture detector dog has its perks, like being the star of a commercial. Public information officers from DPI are currently shooting the airline video in Atlanta, Ga. Stay tuned for updates on Linus and the video!
Little beetle, big problem.
November 19, 2010
Almost every month, a new exotic insect, plant or plant pathogen is detected in Florida. Some of these exotic invaders turn out to be serious agricultural pests, like laurel wilt disease and the redbay ambrosia beetle.
Pests and diseases like laurel wilt and the redbay ambrosia beetle are often spread throughout the state unknowingly by travelers. For example, the redbay ambrosia beetle can be harbored in firewood, and transporting firewood increases the spread of the beetle and laurel wilt disease.
Laurel wilt is a destructive disease of redbay, avocado and other trees in the laurel family (Lauraceae). The disease is caused by a fungus (Raffaelea lauricola) that infects the sapwood of host trees, restricting the flow of water, causing the leaves to wilt and the trees to die. The fungus is carried into trees by the non-native redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus), which was first detected in the U.S. near Savannah, Georgia, in 2002 and subsequently found in Duval County, Florida, in 2005. Laurel wilt has caused high levels of mortality in redbay trees in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, and has affected several other hosts including sassafras and avocado.
Florida’s avocado industry represents a farm gate production value of $13 million with over 6,773 production acres located in Miami-Dade County with some acreage in Collier County, according to Florida Agriculture Statistics. The spread of the tiny redbay ambrosia beetle could result in the elimination of avocado production in Florida.
The Division of Plant Industry’s Save the Guac campaign was established to educate the public about the potential devastating effects laurel wilt and the redbay ambrosia beetle could have on Florida avocado production. According to the report, Estimates of the Replacement Costs of Commercial and Backyard Avocado Trees in South Florida authored by Edward A. Evans and Jonathan H. Crane, the cost to replace commercial and backyard avocados, if the redbay-laurel wilt disease complex became established, would be $423 million. DPI established a firewood and unprocessed wood product regulation in August to protect our trees, natural environments, forest and wood material industries and, of course, avocados.
You can help stop the spread of exotic invasive species like the redbay ambrosia beetle and help Save the Guac by not transporting firewood or unprocessed wood products.
Have questions? Call DPI’s toll-free helpline at 888-397-1517 or e-mail us at dpi-blog@doacs.state.fl.us.
