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NATURAL AREAS CONFERENCE 2011

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Laurel Wilt Disease in Alabama

First Cases of Laurel Wilt Disease Confirmed in Alabama

Officials with the Alabama Forestry Commission are concerned but not surprised by the news that laurel wilt disease has now been found in two counties in Alabama. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Iowa State University laboratories confirmed that tree stem samples collected in Marengo and Mobile counties were positive for the fungus, Raffaelea lauricola.

     This non-native invasive insect-disease complex primarily affects trees in the laurel family, with redbay, swampbay, camphor, and sassafras being especially susceptible. Other potential hosts in the laurel species include pondberry, pondspice, spicebush, and avocado. A host tree becomes infected with the disease when a redbay ambrosia beetle transmits the fungus into the walls of the sapwood. Quite virulent, the fungus then clogs the vascular system of the tree, preventing the flow of water. As a result, black streaks appear in the sapwood. Soon, the entire crown presents wilted reddish-brown foliage and within weeks, the tree will succumb to the disease.

     Laurel wilt disease was introduced into the United States in 2002 on untreated wood packing material from Asia, first attacking redbay and sassafras trees in Georgia, then spreading into South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and most recently North Carolina. When two redbay ambrosia beetles were captured in traps near Grand Bay, Alabama back in October of 2010, the disease was predicted to spread into Mobile County within the next few years.

     One probable cause for spread of the disease is the long-distance movement of untreated wood products. Infested firewood, wood chips, and even yard debris can become possible carriers of the redbay ambrosia beetle. Avoiding the movement of infested wood and proper disposal can dramatically reduce the threat.

      Unfortunately, very little success has been achieved in containing redbay ambrosia beetle and the associated laurel wilt disease through current control methods. There are, however, some actions that can be implemented to reduce and possibly prevent the further spread of this devastating exotic pest. Any host tree confirmed of having laurel wilt disease should immediately be salvaged. If possible, burn the wood debris of the affected tree on the site, of course, following all state and local regulations. If burning is not an option, at least leave the cut tree at that location. Do not haul cut wood debris killed by laurel wilt disease to other sites. Always buy “local” firewood if travelling to another destination for recreational activities.     

     For additional information on the redbay ambrosia beetle and laurel wilt disease, please visit:

www.forestry.alabama.gov – Insect, Disease & Invasive Species – Insects – Insect Advisory; www.fs.fed.us/r8/foresthealth/laurelwilt/index.shtml; or www.aces.edu/ucf/RedbayWiltStory.php.

      Press Release from: The Alabama Forestry Commission is a state agency committed to protecting Alabama citizens and the state’s invaluable forest assets.

Image Recruiting System added to the Bugwood Image Database

Users of the image database often ask us for help in finding images that can be used in publications that they are currently working on.  At the same time, photographers often ask us what images people are looking for.  We've created a new Image Recruitment system to help bring these two groups together! 

There are currently 25 projects that are in need of images to support their work. These projects cover a wide range of topics including agricultural production, invasive species, forest pests, native pests, and exotic pathogens. 

Users who post lists get notifications when new images have been added and also have a set of tools to let them manage their lists and select the images they want to use for each subject.

If you are a photographer that wants to maximize the impact of their work, take a look at the TOP 25 section of the page.  This has an up-to date list of the most requested subjects.  We also provide an batch image uploader to make it easy to post images. 

National Invasive Species Awareness Week

February 26 to March 3, 2012 in Washington DC

A week of activities, briefings, workshops and events focused on strategizing solutions to address invasive species prevention, detection, monitoring, control, and management issues at local, state, tribal, regional, national and international scales.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

n  National Invasive Species Council (see www.invasivespecies.gov) holds public meeting

n  Grassroots action to prevent and control invasive species – Panel discussions and Webinar

·         Success stories and challenges

·         Cooperative Weed and Invasive Species Management Areas and Tribal efforts

n  Capitol Hill Briefings on aquatic invasive species, including quagga and zebra mussels and Asian carp

n  Workshop on invasive species prevention and management in urban areas

n  Invasive Species Award Ceremony and Reception

n  Kids Invasive Species Awareness Day at the US Botanic Garden

n  Weed Prevention - Best Practices Proven to Work/  How to turn away unwelcome guests

n  Prevention through Outreach and Awareness – Experts panel on lessons learned

n  Invasive Species Solutions – poster session

n  Update by federal agencies on important invasive species issues and initiatives

n  State and Local events highlighting invasive species efforts throughout the country!

Check www.nisaw.org for more details and further developments!

Contacts:          Lee Van Wychen, Ph.D.
                           National and Regional Weed Science Societies
                           Lee.VanWychen@wssa.net                                    

                           Lori Williams
                           National Invasive Species Council
                           Lori_Williams@ios.doi.gov

 Participating organizations:   The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds, the Great Lakes Commission, the Federal Interagency Committee on Invasive Terrestrial Animals and Pathogens, the United States Botanic Garden, and many others.

To Be or Not To Be Invasive

Bob Flasher, who has spent 20 years working in National Parks, was recently interviewed by Invasive Plant News. Basically the article addresses the many misconceptions about what constitutes an Invasive Plant. So I offer here a couple of definitions which are just part of a complicated issue.

• Weed: A plant, regardless of nativity, which is growing somewhere we don't want it to grow. We often use the word weed to describe plants which invade agricultural fields or our landscaping.
   
• Invasive plant: To be considered invasive a plant must meet three criteria.
1. It is non-native to the ecosystem where it is growing.
2. It is able to not only escape cultivation but continues to expand it range.
3. It's presence and population growth causes, or has the potential to cause harm to people, native plants, animals, and ecosystems.

Bob makes many good points in the article. It is a complicated issue with many opinions on the best way to tackle the problem. One thing that most people agree on is the need for Early Detection of new invasive plants. The old saying 'a stitch in time saves nine' is definitely appropriate for this situation.
Read the article.
If you would like to help tackle the problem of invasive species in your area or just learn more about that problem, contact the invasive species working group in your area.  You can report invasive plants in your area to EDDMapS (Early Detection & Distribution MAPping System). The Tools and Training page in EDDMapS has step-by-step instructions for creating an account and entering invasive plant sitings.

Invasive Fish, "I had no idea it would taste this good"

"Wow; I had no idea it would taste this good," student Alex Herman said, in an article by Jill Moon in the Telegraph.com. Also quoted in the article, famed Louisiana chef Philippe Parola says that this fish tastes good, is high in protein and contains little or no mercury. Read the article.

Not only can one of these fish get big enough
to feed the whole family, but they will literally jump right into the boat.

Michigan Sea Grant Archive,
University of Michigan and Michigan State University,
Bugwood.org



GA-EPPC Annual Meeting & Conference

GA-EPPC Annual Meeting & Conference
October 6th, 2011.

Be sure to Register soon. 

The Callaway Building at the Georgia State Botanical Gardens, University of Georgia, 2450 South Milledge Avenue, Athens, Georgia.

 

Pesticide Credits and ISA Hours: 

• Arborist: 5.0
• BCMA Science: 1.0
• Utility: 2.0
• BCMA Practice: 1.0
• Municipal: 5.0
• BCMA Management: 3.0
• Applicators Categories 21, 23, 24, 27: 5.0
• Hours for Private Applicator: 3.0