Pests and disease

New York Times article on bark beetle impact in the West

smccreary — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:52:59 -0500

"From New Mexico to British Columbia, the region’s signature pine forests are succumbing to a huge infestation of mountain pine beetles that are turning a blanket of green forest into a blanket of rust red. Montana has lost a million acres of trees to the beetles, and in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming the situation is worse." More: don't miss the related video on "America's Disappearing Forests"

Illinois expands EAB quarantine

smccreary — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:57:02 -0500

The Illinois Department of Agriculture has added all or part of four central Illinois counties to its emerald ash borer (EAB) quarantine to prevent the artificial spread of the destructive pest through the movement of infested wood and nursery stock.

VT says, Leave your firewood at home, please

smccreary — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:52:03 -0400

Vermont is surrounded by states whose trees have already have been infested by tree-eating insects like the hemlock woolly adelgid in New Hampshire and the Asian longhorned beetle in Massachusetts. State Forester Steve Sinclair and other forestry officials hope quarantine efforts will keep timber and firewood that could be harboring the tiny bugs out of the state.

Beetle invasion threatens New England trees

smccreary — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:10:48 -0400

Asian longhorned beetles have gained a foothold in New England, and authorities plan to cut down large numbers of infested trees and grind them up to stop the pest from spreading to the region's celebrated forests and ravaging the timber, tourism and maple-syrup industries.

DontMoveFirewood.org website getting the word out on invasives

smccreary — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:10:23 -0400

Since the launch of DontMoveFirewood.org, the site has had 32,000 visitors, nearly 7000 video views, and 750 people join its MySpace network. Firewood is a major contributor to the spread of invasive pests like the emerald ash borer, and the website provides informative and humorous lessons for consumers on how they help minize this threat to America's forests. The site is looking into possible future additions, including the creation of a central repository for information on state regulations.

Uphill battle against EAB in Missouri

smccreary — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:45:11 -0400

State officials in Missouri are facing an infestation of emerald ash borer they doubt they can eradicate, but are hopeful they can slow down. The beetle was first found in Michigan in 2002, and has reached at least seven other states, killing tens of millions of trees along the way. Missouri is the farthest south and west of the known infestation.

New USFS report on wildland fire and invasive plants

smccreary — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:24:57 -0400

A new report from the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station offers a review of information on relationships between wildland fire and nonnative invasive plants that can assist fire managers and other land managers concerned with prevention, detection, and eradication or control of these invasive species. The-16 chapter study summarizes fundamental concepts regarding fire effects on nonnative invasives, their effects on fuels and fire regimes, and use of fire to control plant invasions.

Asian longhorned beetle appearance in Illinois & Mass.

smccreary — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:57:42 -0400

Foresters were chagrined to discover Asian longhorned beetles making a resurgence in two Northeastern states this month.

"After nearly five years in the clear, Illinois insect experts are bracing for the possibility of a new infestation of Asian longhorned beetles." [Chicago Tribune]

Florida's state tree dying from mysterious disease

smccreary — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:39:33 -0400

From the Associated Press: The sabal palm, Florida's state tree, is under attack by a microscopic killer that has scientists stumped. An unknown but growing number of sabal palms in the Tampa Bay area have died from a mysterious disease that researchers are struggling to identify.

Insects and fungi claiming oaks in MA

smccreary — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:55:19 -0400

Investigators estimate tens of thousands of oak trees in Southeastern Massachusetts have died during the past three years, a result of leaf-eating caterpillars and opportunistic beetles and fungi. Residents, towns, and utility companies are now left with the costly task of tree removal.