Sawflies population boom killing ponderosa pines

With significant portions of Colorado experiencing conditions that are abnormally dry to severe drought (Drought Monitor), and tree defenses down due to the drought, a population boom in pine sawflies (Neodiprion autumnalis) has become another stress on ponderosa pines in the west.  In 2014, pine sawflies defoliated 7,400 acres of pine forests and a sawfly egg survey predicts another year of moderate to heavy defoliation.  The sampling plan is based on one developed in New York for a different species of sawfly and pin, and it may not quite fit the situation for Colorado.

pine sawflies (Neodiprion autumnalis) by USDA Forest Service - Region 2 - Rocky Mountain Region Archive, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

This is Colorado's first attempt at predicting the defoliation by pine sawfly by egg counting, and if it is successful, it could be used to generate a model for future outbreaks.  As chemical controls should be applied at egg hatching, the plan can help inform applicators of where the heaviest infestations are likely to occur.


Denver Post: Sawfly wasp outbreak spreading through Colorado's ponderosa pines
Colorado State Forest Service: Pines Southeast of Denver Expected to Suffer Damage from Sawfly this Summer
Franktown District, CSFS: Potential for Pine Sawfly (Neodiprion Autumnalis) Defoliation of Ponderosa Pine Forests in Elbert County, CO, in 2015

Asian Longhorn Beetle: is containment and eradication working?

The Asian longhorn beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), native to eastern China, Japan, and Korea, was found in the U.S. 1996.  The first observation was on hardwood trees in Brooklyn, New York and is believed to have come into the U.S. on infested wood pallets and other wood packing material.  It was later found in Chicago, IL in 1998 and has since been detected in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Ohio.

Despite having wings and the ability to fly for up to 400 meters at a time, ALB tends to live on the same tree for its entire life.  ALB will fly to another tree only when the population on a tree becomes too dense.  The primary method of traveling tends to be when lumber and plant material is moved by humans.  As adults tend to only cause a small amount of damage to trees by feeding on leaves and twigs, the larvae tunneling and feeding on the vascular tissues are considered the cause for tree decline and ultimate death.  ALB can feed on a variety of trees including maples, elm, horsechestnut, willow, sycamore and birch.

Areas where ALB is found are put under quarantine and moving plant material, especially lumber and firewood, is regulated.  The Ohio Department of Agriculture has quarantined 61 square miles around the infestation discovered in Clermont county and infested trees are removed.  ALB can cost a state billions of  dollars in lost timber, urban plantings, private property, and nursery stock; at least $2.5 billion worth of maple timber in Ohio.  It seems to be that quarantines and the treatment efforts are working, as in 2008, ALB was declared eradicated in Chicago, Illinois, and Hudson County, New Jersey and in 2011, it was declared eradicated from Islip, New York.

Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) by Melody Keena, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

On the quarantine efforts in Ohio: Longhorned beetle contained, still poses threat
USDA-APHIS information on ALB: Asian Longhorned Beetle
For information and reporting: Asian Longhorned Beetle
US Forest Service page on ALB: Asian Longhorned Beetle
For images of ALB: Forestry Images of Asian Longhorned Beetle
BugwoodWiki article: Anoplophora glabripennis

Introducing the Ohio State University node of the Bugwood Image Database

Several institutions help to curate the Bugwood Image Database.  The Ohio State University has recently joined Colorado State University, Cornell University, and the University of Georgia in helping to build the Bugwood Image Database.  Their involvement will be unique as there are multiple departments within the university who will be collaborating including Entomology, Plant Pathology, Natural Resources, and Horticulture and Crop Sciences. We look forward to this new partnership and are excited to see what new innovations it will foster.

Tell us what you need from extension in the south!!!

The Southern IPM Center wants to know what people consider a proirity for extension. If you are a person managing pests and you know the one thing that if extension put out would solve one of the biggest problems in your industry, then this survey is for you.

The Southern Region IPM Center has a relatively small pool of funds available, so we hope, with your help, to identify a "short list" of projects that will optimize delivery of positive impacts. You can access the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/93MLD5Q.

The survey is fairly short. You will be asked to describe one or two situations in which pest management could be improved if only the managers were better-informed or educated about a new method or tactic. We welcome responses about either agricultural or non-agricultural settings. Responses are anonymous, but the survey does include a few questions about your interest in IPM.

We expect to keep this survey open for approximately two weeks after which responses will be analyzed and results made public. The Southern IPM Center will use results to inform our own funding program. We and our partners may use the information in other ways, including prioritization of future projects.

At the end of the survey, you will have the opportunity to sign up for SIPMC's mailing list, as well as subscribe to blogs, Twitter feed and Facebook. You must already have an account with Twitter to follow the Twitter feed.

If you have questions about the survey, please direct them to Jim VanKirk at jim@sripmc.org, 919-513-8179, or Rosemary Hallberg at rhallberg@sripmc.org or 919-513-8182.

Your participation in this survey will help us focus our priorities for our next RFA and fund projects that will help us generate big impacts.

Please forward this e-mail to anyone that you think would have an interest in participating in the survey, especially Extension agents and other IPM professionals in your state.

Give us your Oak Caterpillars!!!

Researchers at the University of Georgia are initiating a regional-level study on oak caterpillar outbreaks in the southeastern U.S.  Our project objectives are to better understand the ecology and distribution of caterpillars feeding on oak trees in early spring, and to provide guidance on management of caterpillars. 

 

For the purpose of this project, we are requesting all folks who have seen caterpillars in large numbers on oak trees on their properties to send us samples.  Specific instructions for collection are as follows:

1. Collect as many caterpillars from oak trees as possible.  Caterpillars are nocturnal, and can be collected using tweezers directly from the tree.  Bands of cloth can be placed on the tree trunk to stop the caterpillars from climbing the trees and to collect many insects at the same time. 
2. We prefer >10 caterpillars per tree, but we will take up to 250.  Place caterpillars in a small plastic container or a bag, and freeze them.  Similarly, collect 4-5 leaves from each oak tree, and freeze them separately in a plastic bag.  Collect from as many trees as possible from your property. 
3. Number caterpillar and oak leaf bags from each tree individually.  So, plastic bags labeled Tree 1 will have caterpillars and leaves collected from that tree, bags labeled Tree 2 will have caterpillars and leaves collected from that tree, etc.
4. Put all samples together in a small box, and include information about location and date of collection.  Location information should include county and if possible full address so that we can estimate latitude and longitude.  This information will be kept strictly confidential.
5. You can drop the caterpillars and oak leaves at the local extension office, and send us an email about it.  Or, you can ship the frozen caterpillars and oak leaves (1-day shipping) to the address as follows:

Evelyn Carr
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
180 Green Street
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602

If you are unable to do either of these things, then please contact us to pick up samples.  The samples need to be either alive or frozen so that we could extract DNA from them to determine caterpillar species.  Any assistance with learning more about our native caterpillars will be greatly appreciated!  Thank you for your participation in the project.