Dade County Farm Bureau

Laurel Wilt Update Spring 2012 - Laurel Wilt Redbay Ambrosia Beetle Working Group Update Spring 2012

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Please see the following two documents regarding Laurel Wilt in Miami Dade County.

Laurel Wilt postcard 8-11-11

Sampling for Laurel Wilt

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Homestead, FL – A Visual Postcard from Josh Meltzer on Vimeo.

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GALS Workshop Information

Recently the Giant African Land Snail (GALS) was detected in Miami by the Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry inspectors.

The Giant African land snail, Achatina fulica, is one of the largest land snails in the world, growing up to eight inches in length and more than four inches in diameter. When full grown, the snail’s brownish shell consists of seven to nine whorls (spirals) that cover at least half the length of its long and greatly swollen body whorl.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the experts:

• General GALS Management in the Landscape
• General Characteristics and Identification
• Current Status of this Pest in Miami-Dade County.  Who do I need to contact? What do I need to do! 

Scientists consider the Giant African Land Snail to be one of the most damaging snails in the world because it is known to consume at least 500 different types of plants, and can pose a serious health risk to humans. These snails could be devastating to Florida’s agriculture and natural areas because they cause extensive damage to tropical and subtropical environments.

The Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension is hosting a workshop on Friday, March 23, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Museum of Science located at 3280 South Miami Avenue, Miami FL 33129

WHO:         Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension

WHAT:       Giant African Land Snail (GALS) – Workshop for Landscapers

WHEN:       Friday, November 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

WHERE:    Vizcaya Museum and Gardens/Miami Museum of Science                       

                        3280 South Miami Avenue

                   Miami, FL 33129

There is no cost to attend.  However, you must register prior to the workshop. Download the registration from the attachment.  Once you’ve filled out the form, please mail, or fax it to the Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension office.

See you there,

Henry Mayer, M.S.
Commercial Urban Horticulture Agent
UF/Miami-Dade County Extension

Sustainability, Planning and Economic Enhancement (SPEED)

18710 SW 288 St.
Homestead, FL 33030-2309
Tel: 305-248-3311 Ext. 231
Fax: 305-246-2932

The video from Florida Dept of Agriculture:

http://www.youtube.com/user/fdacsdpi#p/a/u/0/Wc8Dx2HcPgg

 http://www.freshfromflorida.com/press/2011/09152011.html

UPDATE:  October 14, 2011

We have begun applying bait to positive properties in all 9 core areas.  The bait we are using is Sluggo, an iron phosphate compound.  This bait is environmentally friendly and non-toxic to wildlife and pets.  The application method is broadcast.  To be truly effective multiple applications will be necessary.  We are attempting to get signed consent waivers from residents.  So far we are getting positive feedback from residents.  On some properties we have had to send in teams to clear debris.  There are some abandoned and foreclosed properties that we will need to use commercial lawn maintenance companies.  If municipalities have any concerns or input about this please contact me. 

Our snail count is 24,000 plus and continues to build daily.  We are continuing operations 7-days a week.  We will have additional outreach materials including posters that we will pass on to you. Outreach will also include print and broadcasting advertising in Spanish and English media.  Gary Lafaille, outreach specialist with the city of Miami’s Neighborhood Enhancement Team has agreed to assist us with outreach to the Haitian community.   News media continues to show interest locally and now nationally.  CBS Evening News, weekend edition spent two days with us and will air the report this Sunday evening.  The CBS Sunday Morning show spent a day with us earlier this week and will include GALS in a larger piece on invasive pests in the U.S. which will air on October 30^th.

We have confirmed a new detection on 10/13.  1 adult and 16 juveniles were found in the 13400 block of SW 263^rd Terr. (Princeton).  The one mile radius is SW 248^th St. to the north, SW 280^th St. to the south, SW 125 Ave to the east and SW 147^th to the west.  There are two county parks included, Naranja Park and Pine Island lake.

 Mark Fagan

UPDATE:  OCTOBER 6, 2011

Since our last update we continue to find snails on existing positive properties and have added new areas.  Out total snail count is now nearing 20,000.  These snails range in age from new born to full size adults.  The new areas are as follows

Core 6:  The property is on 14^th Terrace at 14^th Ave. within the Miami city limits.  The resident contacted the helpline Saturday morning following news accounts.  This case is a little unusual in that a quick survey of the surrounding properties showed no signs GALS activity.  I then interviewed the resident and she indicated that the snail had been in her backyard for a year.  We will do bio-metric (random limited) surveys going forward.

Core 7: This area overlaps slightly with core 4 and is due west.  The boundaries are SW 172 Ave to the west, Hammocks Blvd. to the east, SW 120 St to the south and SW 82 St. to the north.

Cores 8 & 9:  These two overlap and include the Miami Zoo and Thompson Park and the South Miami Heights neighborhood.  The boundaries are SW 152 St to the north, SW 207 St to the south, SW 137 Ave to the west and SW 108 Ave to the ease.

NOTE:  We have met with Ron Magill and other zoo staff to coordinate going forward with our response efforts. Dr.  Frank Ridgley is our liaison with the zoo and will coordinate training staff in identifying the snail.  I also met with staff at Thompson Park to coordinate surveys.  Commissioner Adam Putnam came down to core 1 last Friday and received extensive media coverage from both English and Spanish print and broadcast as he toured ans actually surveyed properties.  County Commissioner Soto also joined the tour and survey.  One final note our control efforts will mechanical (by hand) removal and we hope to begin laying bait (Sluggo) via broadcast, maybe as soon as Saturday.  The baiting will focus first on known positive properties.  Residents will be asked to sign a waiver before the property is baited.  Re-treatments will be conducted every two to three weeks.  There are some properties that will need to be cleaned and some abandoned properties that will require mowing in advance.  We will take care of that issue as well.  If you have questions feel free to give me a call.    Mark Fagan, 954.410.4119.

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Good afternoon. We are continuing to find more snails in all four of the original cores. We have a new core (#5) in the area of Bird Rd. at SW 65 Ave. Bio-Metric (random properties) surveys have been conducted and mechanical control is being conducted (removal by hand). Full surveys and mechanical control efforts continue and will for some time. We are still conducting tests to determine an effective but safe bait to aid in our control efforts. Please let you respective law enforcement agencies know that residents can expect to see out teams out 7-days a week until further notice. Total snails approximately 7,500. We continue to ask residents that suspect they have the snails to contact us through the helpline and we will send out an inspector. Feel free to link your sites to our site. Our helpline is running 7-days a week 888.397-1517. If you have questions feel free to call me.

Mark Fagan
Public Information Officer
Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
954.410.4119

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