State Forest Service Insect and Disease Quarterly Report November 2011 Volume 3, Issue 3

Inside this Issue: Thousand Cankers Disease Now In Fort Collins Thousand cankers disease dead areas in the called was recently confirmed in two cankers. Trees are eventually locations in Fort Collins, Colo. killed by overwhelming attacks Thousand cankers disease is a of the twig and Thousand Cankers relatively new insect and disease subsequent cankers that girdle Disease Now In issue in Colorado. Over the branches. last several years, numerous The CSFS has been working Fort Collins 1 black , a popular shade in conjunction with the City of and landscape tree, have been Fort Collins, CSU and other impacted by thousand cankers partners to address thousand disease along Colorado’s Front cankers disease in Colorado and Range and in other communities will continue to help residents of Dealing with Storm- throughout Colorado and the Colorado respond to forest health Damaged Trees 1 western U.S. issues. Thousand cankers disease is For more information on caused by a carried by thousand cankers disease visit: the . Once the www.thousandcankersdisease. Early signs of thousand cankers fungus is introduced into the tree, com or contact CSFS. it colonizes tissue surrounding disease in black walnut. Eek! Creepy-Crawlies beetle galleries and causes small and Firewood 2 Dealing With Storm-Damaged Trees The recent winter storms along fallen but are entangled and may the Front Range and several peri- break loose; downed tree material ods of extreme winds have caused that may be impacting power Winter Tree Care 2 significant damage to trees, prop- lines; and changes in the struc- erty and infrastructure in many tural integrity of the impacted communities. The CSFS offers landscape (i.e. fences, homes, a quickguide “Providing Care to vehicles, other trees). Storm Damaged Trees”, which While an initial survey of the can be found in full at http://csfs. damage to your trees may appear colostate.edu/pdfs/111317-csfs- Downed limbs on vehicle are also bleak a closer inspection of some storm-dmgd-trees-6panel-www. across the overhead powerlines. damaged trees may indicate that pdf . destroyed, power lines downed, through proper pruning and care and trees broken and torn. In the the trees will recover from the wake of this loss, neighborhoods damage and can remain a viable and entire cities may experience part of the landscape. a sense of devastation they have There are steps landowners can never known before. It is im- take to help their trees bear the portant that people approach the impacts of storms. These include: cleanup process safely and work proper tree selection for site with local officials to determine conditions; providing adequate who has responsibility for street- water and nutrients; and structural side trees, if any organized limb maintenance through proper prun- pickup service will be provided ing techniques. and where and how to properly For more information on A Downed tree impacts both garage and disposed of woody debris. responding to tree damage and vehicle. When dealing with damaged proper tree care, visit our website trees, it is important to remain at http://www. csfs.colostate. After a major storm, a com- aware of potential safety hazards. edu or contact your local CSFS munity can be instantly changed. These hazards may include: district office. Buildings may be damaged or damaged tree limbs that have not CSFS I&D Quarterly 1 Eek! Creepy-Crawlies and Firewood making appearances in homes as come in many colors and sizes outdoor temperatures drop. These and may pinch when handled. bizarre looking insects can be They are secondary that do not infest live trees and will not damage household furnish- ings. Bark Beetles

Many Colorado residents use firewood as a primary or supplemental source of heat in the winter months, or just enjoy the atmosphere of a crackling fire. This often results in armloads of Left: assassin bug Right: western firewood coming indoors, which conifer seed bug. may have you crying “EEK! Left: mountain pine beetle larvae almost an inch in length and some Right: adult mountian pine beetle. What is that?” as something six- produce an unpleasant odor when Bark beetles ,like mountain legged appears inside the house. disturbed. They don’t present any pine beetle and their larvae, can Many insects are associated threat to humans, pets or house- be found under the bark of fire- with the wood we collect as fuel. hold structure or furniture. wood. Trees that have been dead While there are insect species of for more than a year will not har- concern that can hitch a ride in Wood-Boring Beetles bor larvae. The small firewood to new locations, like Longhorned beetles and other white or cream-colored larva the exotic emerald ash borer or wood borer beetles, like the round will not impact household wood, the native mountain pine beetle, headed and metallic wood borer, but all infested wood should be most insects found inside the are often found in association burned or debarked to prevent house associated with firewood with firewood. These beetles mature beetles from emerging in are secondary insects that facili- the summer and impacting live tate the decay process and help trees. recycle woody debris in nature. Some insects and arachnids have These insects represent only just found a warm place to over- a few of the insects I’ve encoun- winter beneath the bark or in the tered in my wood pile. If you’ve wood stack. found something interesting in your wood pile send me a picture. Assassin and Leaf-footed Bug Assorted assassin and leaf- Left: wood borer Right: longhorned footed bugs are notorious for beetle. Winter Tree Care Many shade providing, flam- another good year. when it is above freezing! boyant landscaping trees are lack- Last winter was unusually dry Trees deal with additional luster during the winter months. and windy in parts of Colorado stressors in the winter as well. Deciduous trees drop their leaves and many cases of tree mortality Your trees may benefit from ad- and hardy evergreens become were associated with winter des- ditional protection from moisture portraits of a winter wonderland siccation - a result of insufficient loss, animal browse or breakage. when fresh snow falls. People winter moisture. Watering during For more information on winter spend more time inside and less dry periods in the winter is just tree care, visit the International outside tending their yards and as important as watering during Society of Aboriculture’s website gardens and appreciating their summer droughts. Be sure to offer at http://www.isa-arbor.com. trees. But winter is an important your trees, especially evergreens, time to tend your trees to ensure water if it has been dry. But only CSFS I&D Quarterly 2 Things to watch for:

2011 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests

2012 February Newsletter • Summary of Condition of World Forests (FAO Report)

• Summary of Condition of National Forests (from various state and federal reports)

• Summary of Condition of Colorado Forests (FHR 2011)

Upcoming events and announcements:

November 2011 January 2012

10 - Colorado Agricultural Aviation Association, TBD - Front Range Urban Forestry Council, TBD, Colorado Springs, Colo. Colo.

17-18 - Pesticide Applicators Workshop, Denver, Colo. February 2012

December 2011 TBD - Greeley Winter Tree Care Workshop, Greelry, Colo. 8 - Front Range Urban Forestry Council, Denver, Colo. 7-10 - ProGreen, Denver, Colo.

11 - Eastern Colo. Community Forestry Conference, Rocky Ford, Colo. Happy Holidays! Submissions for I&D Quarterly Report: Do you have a FAQ? Miss an event? Look for Is there something you want to know more about? Submit your event or announcement, ask a question updates on activities or or suggest an insect, disease or product to feature: contact a participant for an [email protected]. overview. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 15, 2012.

CSFS I&D Quarterly 3