QUARTERLY REPORT

Insect & Disease Branch January - March 1979

INVESTIGATION PROGRESS

1. Continued loblolly pine seedling outplanting and evaluation of growth response in earlier outplantings to determine if seedlings with roots infected with mycorrhizal fungi grew better than uninfected seedlings on severe sites (Coal Spoils) and normal sites (50% completed, begun in 1976).

2. Gontinued aerial surveys to locate dying pines infested with the southern pine bark beetle to test a simplified bark-sampling method to predict trends in the beetle population. Ground sampled infested trees, one location in District 9 (a continuous project, 70% completed).

3. Continued extractiop, of seed and evaluation of effectiveness of various rates of systemic insedf~fo protect that seed from damage from damaging insects at the two seed orchards maintained by the Division of Forestry (project begun 1975, 50% completed).

4. Began collaboration with the utilization section on an expanded wood waste study in Virginia to determine losses due to decay in standing trees (0% completed) .

5. Prepared a proposal (for Federal funding) for a demonstration area on the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest to test the effectiveness of silvicultural manipulations to reduce future beetle damage (80% completed).

6. Continued cooperative egg parasite study in fall cankerworm area at Bull Run with U.S.F.S. representative (Arnold Drooz).

7. Continued to explore possible cooperative project with VARIS and NASA on remote sensing for forest inventory purposes on the Pocahontas State Forest (10% completed).

8. Establish long term "seed loss study" for Virginia Division of Forestry seed orchards.

NEW FOREST PESTS

1. Attended several planning meetings with USDA, VDACS and other state representatives on the gypsy moth suppression eradication and survey program for 1979. This forest and shade tree defoliator will continue to be increasingly emphasized in Insect and Disease Branch activities in the coming 10 years with main emphasis on biological control efforts on commercial forest land.

2. Consulted with U.S.F.S., and other state forest pest managers on a potentially damaging pine sawfly recently found in the North Carolina mountains. The introduced pine sawfly will probably prove to be a damaging white pine Christmas tree pest in Virginia. Ground surveys have been completed in (no finds) and additional cooperative surveys are planned in the summer of 1979. - 2 -

FOREST PEST SURVEYS

( 1. Completed annual roadside egg surveys to predict populations and damage from three native pine sawflies in the Piedmont and northern Coastal Plain, and for three hardwood defoliators (fall cankerworm, forest tent caterpillar and oak leaf tier) in the western one-third of Virginia (100% completed).

2. Examined 700 acres of proposed planting sites for white pine for potential infection from the white pine blister rust fungus in southwestern Virginia (80% completed).

3. Reexamined five semi-permanent blister rust spread plots in southwestern Virginia to assess variation in infection rates (100% completed).

TRAINING

1. Conducted on-day Insect and Disease training session for District 9~~0ne staff member served as instructor for Virginia Division of Forestry training course in "Instructor Training. 11

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

1. Arranged schedule for and participated in first environmental education meeting (conference) in Virginia. Laid plans for formalizing the group and for an annual conference.

2. Arranged and conducted a tour for members of Virginia's "Council on the Environment" of Virginia Division of Forestry activities and facilities in the Richmond area.

3. Gave one talk to elementary school class on the environment.

OTHER

1. One staff member completed District contacts to locate and define areas of state-owned woodland which will receive management recommendations by Virginia Division of Forestry District personnel. FOREST P E S T SURVEY R E P O R T VIRGVHA DIVISIO:i OF FO~ESTRY Charlottesville, Virginia 22903

MARCH 1979

GE!TERAL

The winter in central Virginia was a wonderfully mild one until February when conditions changes abruptly. An early and widespread ice storm decimated stands of pine and hardwood over extensive areas in District 5 (Salem). Most severely hit were Roanoke, Franklin an,·] Montgomery Counties, primarily on the east-facing slopes at elevations to 2,000 feet. Damage was most severe in recently thinned pine stands in the Piedmont Counties and in Virginia pine stands and in pole to small sawtimber-sized yellow poplar and black locust in the mountains, Other hardwoods, expecially along drainages, suffered morlerate to severe damage in many areas. Damage estimates in the 13-county District totaled 100,000 cords of pine and 50,000 corc!s of hardwood. Salvage is underway in the Piedmont areas, but little salvage is expected in the mountainous counties. Ornamental trees in the Roanoke area also suffered moderate to severe damage, In District 7 (Staunton), an estimated 2, 00() acres affected,with 500,000 board feet ''loss,'' mostly in '.1.ockbrid13e, also in Augusta, Bath and Highland ·counties; in the southwest in western Lee County, some damage to native Virginia pine stands occurred. The ice storm also caused damage to pine stands in the central Piedmont to the western edge of the Coastal Plain.

In Appomattox-:luckingham area, pine stands suffered extensive damage. On the Appomattox-Buckinsham State Forest, Stan Harner reports young, recently thinned loblolly plantations suffered the most, primarily stem breakace. Fred Trew, i-!ESTVACO, reported the loss of a large series of fertilizer experiments in Apporiattoi< County (fertilizer increases both length and diameter of needles, permitting increased ice build-up). Fred also pointed out the extensive damage suffered in many of his experimental thinning plots, from ice over the past two winters, to the point where his thinning recommendations to the Company may be in jeopardy. Although it is commonly recommeded that pine replace hardwood on most central Virsinia-Piedmont sites, the combined periodic losses from ice, storms and pine bark beetles may well offset the added growth and volume advantages claimed for substitute pine!

Deep snow also slowed activities everywhere· as the state was blanketed in mid­ February with up to 16 inches in (following an earlier 8-inch fall), the remnants of which were still lingering by March l1th. And during the last week in February, Scottsville was in trouble again with the rising flood waters of the mighty James.

GYPSY HOT'l:

Ad'.'litional funds available in late December 1978 to the tune of $1. 2 million to APHIS, USDA and $1.0 million to the USFS to "address the leading edge of the infestation" has led to a challenging effort to solicit cooperation from the ''leading edge" states of Pennsylvania, , and Virginia to put together a program of definition (Where exactly is the leading edge?) to be based primarily on extensive male moth pheromone trapping, coupled with a combination suppression effort (keep gypsy moth populations from building up to high populations from which they spread most readily) and pilot testing (try lower rates of Dimilin, virus, parasites and combinations thereof). Overall objective will be to halve normal spread (to 5 miles/year) by various treatments in selected areas, mainly in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, authorities in Pennsylvania have turned thumbs down on extensive spraying, except perhaps in the state forest areas - 2 -

in southern Pennsylvania, modifying to 50,000 acres (with biologicals only) from the inital hopes to treat 200,000 acres in 1979. The leading edge project hopefully will be funded for a 5-year period.

In Maryland, action proposed to support the leading edge concept will include 1,000 ( acres of Disparlure (pheromone) by air in each of two blocks in Catoctin Mt. National Park; 1,000 acres with Dimilin at 0.01 pounds active material per acre, single application to woodlots in central Maryland; test value of using Dimilin and pheromone in combination for eradication effort (1,000 acres in Cecil County); Dimilin at very low rates (0.001 pounds per acre) in combination with the NPV (virus), hopefully on 1,000 acres .

.In Virginia/Hest Virginia, Dimilin is to be applied in three blocks along the Blue Ridge in the Loudoun County infestation in an eradication attempt (a split application, 0.03 pounds per acre, each) over 5,600 acres. A recent ruling by EPA, however, has limited the use of Dimilin to essentially pris.tine forested areas, even though Dimilin has been cleared of any carcinogenic effects. Sevin will probably become the substitute pesticide for use in populated areas.,

Isolated gypsy moth infestations have been found in Appleton, Wisconsin and Washington (nea~ Seattle) and suspected in Avery County, North Carolina and in Montgomery County, Ohio, The Michigan infestation involves 18 counties, with eradication still the objective there.

EJ':forts to establish the "Comprehensive Gypsy Moth Pest Management System'' as a viable semi-independent planning and coordinating agency, with financial and moral support from the USDA, met with limited success in December 1978, The ''system·• received the moral backing, but failed to gain financial support for a "coordinator" to oversee the day-to-day operations. Dr. Robert Altman, Maryland Department of Agriculture, has taken the reins of the "management system'' in an effort to lift it off the ground as a totally independent·effort in 1979,

Final note on the 1978 gypsy moth trapping (11,794 traps in Virginia): Catches in Fairfax County increased to 43 moths in 29 traps; Prince William to 15 moths in 15 traps and Virginia Beach, 6 moths in 6 traps for a total of 324 moths in 272 traps.

WELCOHE! to "Rob" Dekker, new Forest Pest Manager for the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

An interesting study on the use of clear and black plastic wrap to promote wound closing on red maple was reported in the November 1978 Plant Disease Reporter by Shortle and Shigo. Black plastic, applied immediately after wounding, sharply decreases the occurance of decay fungi,commonly associated with wounding,and speeded healing. Plastic wrap is also very useful in helping phloem regeneration in bark wounds where the cambium has not been destroyed.

A November 1978 "Forest Product Notes" from the Texas Forest Service points out the rapid loss of weight (water) from beetle-killed trees in Texas. Those pulpwood-sized loblolly pines killed in summer lost 25-30% of their weight within 45 days.

EPA' s latest bomb is a "suspension order with intent to cancel" all uses of 2,4,5-T and SILVEX (2,4,5-TP) except on range/pasture land and. rice crops. Industry has already sought a court inj_µnction to delay EPA' s order, and we should know within a few weeks when the hearing can be scheduled. At the moment, it is illegal to use, sell or offer for sale any products containing these two ingredients for forestry-;;;-right-of-way use. Last fall, EPA added several additional commercial products to the list of those for which one must have a commercial (or private, if you are a farmer) applicator's license to apply, They are "ZP Tracking Powder" (zincphosphide rodenticide) and "Killmaster II"' brand of DURSBAN insecticide. - 3 -

Added to the list of "restricted use'' pesticides· were Thiodan, Furidan, Di-Syston, and Thimet (the last three are systeiaic insecticides).

EPA is also currently reviewing the risk/benefit relationship of the wood preservative creosote, penta chlorophenol (penta) and those preservatives con­ taining arsenic; RPAR is proceeding against thesematerials now. The Virginia Health Department is also considering placing penta on their "Class l'' list of toxic materials, which would require all manufacturers and most users to report on their activities in great detail on ah annual basis.

The walking stick, which caused extensive defoliation in the in Virginia, late summer 1978, was also reported active in Naryland (Green Ridge State Forest).

The hickory bark beetle may be associated with dying hickories in several areas of Virginia (Byrd Center State Park at the and Virginia border) late last summer. Similar damage noted in Maryland (Calvert County) last summer. The summer drought of 1977 may be a predisposing influence in western Virginia.

The introduced pine sawfly has been the subject of considerable concern recently, with the USFS taking the lead in proposing a combination research-survey effort this coming summer in cooperation with the states of North Carolina, Virginia and . The current .infestation, centering in Avery County, North Carolina, covers about 250 square miles and is already causing problems in at least one National Park in olorth Carolina. It will have its greatest potential as a pest on white pine, possibly scotch and red also, in the Christmas tree industry. In Virginia, John Severt is accelerating his detection efforts in the southwest W'-'~~. county of Grayson, where the insect would most likely be present if it has rnade"f---"k"',f'j7 1c its way that far north. He has already examined a number of plantations in both c., Grayson and Fashington Counties. A plan for early spring aerial detection flight has been shelved due to failure to find any signs of the insect in younger plantations to date.

In the course of the annual pine sawfly egg survey, Severt picked up eggs of Neodiprion abbottii on Virginia pine along Route 58 near Gate City, Scott County. Eggs of this sawfly are laid in the needle almost touching each other, 10-12 per needle. The larvae can be readily distinguished from other sawflies by the light spot on the frons (forehead). Most of the eggs had failed to hatch due to high parasite emergence and predator feeding. This sawfly has at least two generations a season.

Jim Copony has been the Division's liason with NASA, Goddard, on utilizing LANDSAT satellite imagry in resource management. NASA is currently encouraging individual state agencies to install computer terminals to gain access to the vast data bank they maintain. Under consideration is a comparison of the visual data available from LANDSAT on the Pocohontas State Forest with the type and stand management maps developed by the Virginia Division of Forestry.

Southern pine beetle activity in Virginia remains at a low level. Reconnaissance survey flights over the central Piedmont in early March revealed a notable lack of activity. The Virginia Division of Forestry is developing a proposal to the USFS for cooperative funding for a demonstration area of 500 acres on the Appomattox­ Buckingham State Forest, where recommended silvicultural management practices will be applied to all pine and pine-hardwood stands to ''beetle-proof" them against future attack.

The annual roadside egg survey for hardwood defoliators (fall cankerworm, forest tent caterpillar and oak leaf tier) in western Virginia was completed in January. No increase in population levels is expected - in fact the populations of the oak leaf tier is the lowest in ten years. Sticky banded trees in areas of past activity - 4 - of the fall cankerworm (Bedford County, Giles County _and Prince William County) confirm declining .populations of tha, insect. a similar roadside egg survey for native pine sawflies in eastern, central and southwestern Virginia showed a continuing increase in populations, but predicted only small scattered areas of heavy defoliation (over 50%) for 1979. Neodiprion pratti pratti, E· hectrickii and_!!. taedae taedae were evaluated in the survey. REPORTS FROM FOREST DISTRICTS

A single spot infestation of southern pine beetle resulting from a lightning strike reported in North Hampton County. Ips beetles noted killing 10 loblolly-Virginia pines on !,; acre in single spot in Northumberland County (only weakened trees attacked).

A severe infestation of bagworns reported on 5 white pines in Easex County. Past evidence of heavy white p-ine aphid infestation (6 trees) noted in Portsmouth area.

Precipitation in Portsmouth 6.5 inches in February; Courtland 5.0 inches; Accomac 5. 5 inches.

C. L. Morris, Chief Insect & 'Disease I~vestigations

March 19, 1979 F O R E S T P E S T SURVEY R E P O R T

VIRGIN.IA DIVISim1 OF FORSSTRY Charlottesville, Virginia 22903

MARCH - APRIL 1979

GE''ERAL

It is turning out to be a reasonably wet spring (as forest fire control records generally attest), characterized by reasonably mild temperatures, but no really warm days (except two successive 80°F days in late March).

Hatch of the pine sawfly, !l,._ pratti pratti, whose eye-spot within the egg was barely visible on March 20 at Oilville (Goochland County), was predicted on March 30, about an average hatching date. On April 18 larval hatch and survival looked high; larvae were in early to mid~second instar at Oilville.

Last month we reported late winter ice damage across wide areas of the Common­ wealth. Added to the totals given then are additional reports from:

District 4 with localized moderate daraage, reported in Campbell County· (1,500 cords), Charlotte County (100 cords), Halifax County (250 cords), Appomattox (10,000 cords) and Bucldngham County (2,000. cords).

In District 3: Albemarle County, 2,500 cords and 30 MBF on 250 acres; Amherst, 1,500 cords; Culpeper, 460 cords and 50 HBF; fluvanna, 780 cords; Louisa, 1,070 cords and 40 M'lF; Nelson, 510 cords and 60 MBF; Orange, 565 cords and 58 l•IBF. The Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest reported 3,000 cords were to be salvaged.

He also reported the loss of WESTVACO fertilizer plots in Appomattox and Buckingham Counties. Fred Tre~, wrote us to emphasize that there was·~ difference in losses between fertilized and non-fertilized plots, however. He also emphasized that when thinned loblolly stands had 4 years to respond to thinning before ice damage, .there was minimal damage,

GYPSY MOTIi

Our report of last month indicated that EPA was being very, very picky as to how much habitation could be present when DIMILH: insecticide was utilized. Based on recent decisions on the use of this ·'chitin inhibitor' in Michigan and in Virginia on eradication efforts, DIMILIN has been endorsed for use in less than pristine areas. Apparently the rule of thumb in current use· is that DIMILIN can be utilized· (at the rate of .015 pounds active, per acre, lower than the .03 pounds originally proposed, in two applications - total ,03 pounds per·acre) if there are fewer than ·\ 42 houses per square mile. First spray in Virginia is scheduled on May 8th, the -~!' isecond 10-14 days later. · , \),/ \ , l \' The Virginia Gypsy 110th Advisory Committee, with Dr. John Weidhaas, Extension Entomologist, VPI & SU as continuing chairman, met for the first time since 1974 to· update the membership of gypsy moth activities. The group decided to limit its membership to the state agencies of Agriculture and Forestry, Extension, USFS (FIDll) and representatives from the George Washington National Forest and the Shenandoah National Park, but permit enlarging the membership as changing conditions may dictate. -2-

A recent relaxation of federal requirements ··:for future registration of biologicals (virus, fungi, bacteria, etc.) and pheremones souThds wonderfully practical. Recent emphasis on Integrated Pest Hanagement (1PM) and· the extraordinary testing costs involved may have moved the hard heart of EPA. In any event, there is hope that DISPARLURE (the gypsy moth pheremone) and certain pheremones of bark beetles may now stand a chance to see limited use in the future when just a few months ago there was not a chance in the world of any industry interest in bearing the high cost of yesteryear's registration requirements. One must realize, however, that many bio~ logicals (like virus) are very host-specific, thereby limiting the available market and hen~e industry interest.

Get ready for the buzzer! Periodic cicadas will be widespread this summer in much of Piedmont Virginia; from Fairfax to Patrick and Henry Counties.

Sid Miller, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Roanoke, recently reported new finds (locations) for the hemlock wooly adelgis (Adelges tsugae) in natural stands in Botetourt County (Arcadia exit east of Buchanan on National Forest near Blue Ridge). To the earliest finds in natural stands in Franklin County has been added Roanoke County (and Roanoke City), l1ontgomery County, Floyd County and a single location in the vicinity of Salem. Earlier reports in 1970-1972 confirm established infestations on ornamentals in Henrico, Chesterfield, Essex, Pittsylvania, ''lorthumberland. and Caroline County. ;lo visible damage to hemlock in natural stands has been reported to cl.ate. ·

Another ''aphid'' is in the news: the balsam wooly aphid has not yet been found in the natural stands of fir on Mt. Rogers. U. S. Forest Service personnel (FII'M, Asheville, :Torth Carolina) are planning to position a number of sticky glass slide traps in these stands in early June to see if crawlers are present.

Plans for selective investigation on the biology of the introduced pine sawfly (found late 1977 in western clorth Carolina, defoliating eastern white pine) is planned by FIDI,, USFS, Asheville, utilizing a summer employee. Sex surveys in North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and possibly South Carolina are planned for late summer 1979 using virgin female sawflies in sticky traps or a synthetic pheremone if it is developed in time.

Eac:1 year our Augusta tree nursery grows seedlings from collected from saplings growin13 in ,lelson County derived from previously irradiated nuts, in hopes that thes~ trees, once outplanted and bearing, might combine recessive genes.of blight resistance from other nearby saplings to produce - in the next generation - blight resistant individuals.

This year, as for the past two years, a considerable p1;oportion of the seedlings were infected - some killed - by the blight fungus in their first growing season in the seedbeds. Of 449 seedlings lifted this past !larch, 265 were classified as healthy, 82 diseased, SO as possibly diseased, 22 dead (and cankered). Lab cultures confirmed the fungus present in 5 of 10 seedlings in the "possibly diseased" class. A good update on the status of the effort to develop hypovirulent strains of the blight fun~us to help in the battle to reinstate the ''fallen giant," is found in the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (New Haven) Bulletin 777. The large number of strains of the American blight fungus will require matching the appropriate hypovirulent strain in a shotgun approach. The scattered old native chestnuts in the eastern United States which are infected, but have not succumbed, are apparently infected with less aggressive (hypovirulent) strains of the blight fungus. -3-

Eastern tent caterpillar remains at high (or higher) populations again this year, at least in the central and southern Piedmont and in the Richmond area. Caterpillars were reported hatched April 2 in Essex County before leaves had emerged on the host black cherry.

A single gall of eastern gall rust just beginning aecial production in Charlottesville on April 19. Spittlebug masses just evident on pine in Boyd Tavern on April 19. REPORTS FROM FOREST DISTRICTS

White pine decline (2 trees) reported on location in Portsmouth. Last year's defoliation of loblolly pine seedlings by pine sawflies (most likely red-headed) in a larger number of locations than usual in Lunenburg County (a few trees at each location, 10-50% defoliation). Aphids on white pine, also Lunenburg County.

Eastern tent caterpillars evident "many'' locations in Lunenburg, noted hatching early in Essex County.

Overwintering stages by bagworm on single white pine, Halifax County.

' ,1 J i· ' '/: J,'n,,. C - \ ) I) .;;..-..td)../&· t/ -..;.."L .... C. L. Morris, Chief Insect & Disease Investigations i\pril 20, 1979 F O R E S T P E S T SURVEY R E P O R T

VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Charlottesville, Virginia 22903

APRIL - MAY 1979

GENERAL

Wet, wet weather in May has offered some interesting propsects: first,~ strong possibility of increased incidence of white pine declin£- wh,oh is definitely tied in with a waterlogged conditions of the heavier soils on which white pines may be planted. Secondly, the excessive rainfall in May of 1978 in the piedmont plus this year's (about 4.8 inches through May 25 in Charlottesville), may help to trigger increased southern pine beetle activity. North Carolina is already reporting in­ creased activity by southern pine beetle in their northern piedmont.

Our summertime assistant, John Pugh, is aboard and involved with burlap banding for gypsy moth in northern Virginia and parasite release there. He will be involved later in gypsy moth trapping, bark beetle surveys and bark sampling, establishing a Demonstration Area for silvicultural control o_f the southern pine beetle on the Buckingham State Forest and work in the seed orchard.

The second spray for the gypsy moth in northern Virginia began on May 22; periodic rainfall after that date probably has slowed progress. Malaise trap catches of 1978 from a single trap, Charlottesville, yielded no exotic gypsy moth parasites. The first gypsy moth parasites (1,200 Exorista japonica from the USDA) were released in Loudoun county infestation on May 24, 1979.

The E. tent caterpillar was at about the highest level ever noted in the cantral piedmont this spring, with very high populations reported in Orange, Culpeper, throughout District 9 (Tappahannock), Westmoreland County, Amherst County, Lunenburg County, in Bland and Wythe counties and Bath, Rockbridge and Augusta Counties. Larval activity was esse;,tially over in the Charlottesville area May 10.

The second insect present in notable numbers on Virginia pine throughout the central piedmont and northern coastal plain was the Virginia pine sawfly (~pratti pratti) also reported on the George Washington National Forest. Defoliation throughout the egg-survey area were accurate; based on the increasing populations, next year should be a "goodie. "

A third insect is causing considerable interest in the piedmont counties - the periodic (17 year) cicada. Emergence from the ground started in earnest in the Charlottesville area on May 7 and peaked on May 11. Damage to twig tips of oaks and other hardwoods from egg laying should be evident in another few weeks.

In spite of well distributed, adequate rainfall last summer very little in­ fection by the pine needle rust fungus or needle cast (Hypoderma lethale) noted in the central piedmont this spring. The unusually damp spring in 1979, however, has caused noticeable increase in foliage diseases of ash and sycamore, maple and oak (leaf blister) -2-

Adults (beetle~) ~f locust leaf.miner noted May 1 in Charlottesville area; adults feeding and mating (no eggs) on May 4th.

Introduced pine sawfly (Ji,_ Similis) reported hatched on April 5 in Avery County, North Carolina. Suspected eggs of red-headed pine sawfly on young plantation of Austrian pine, Wytheville, on May a. 3/4 grown larvae of Ji,_ abbotti on loblolly, New Kent Forestry Center, May 24.

Periodic cicada emerging early in week of May 7 in Charlottesville; peak emergence at end of week. Woody ornamentals in areas of high cicada activity can be protected by netting or by a spray of Sevin.

The oak leaf tier (Croesia semipurpurana) reported to have hatched in south­ west Virginia on May l; populations expected to be low·with negligible defoliation this spring.

Fusiform rust cankers on pine still furiting on May 11 in Portsmouth.

Walkingstick reported active on Shenandoah National Park in mid May by park observers.

Full grown larvae of forest tent caterpillar noted in Prince William Forest Park on May 18.

A number in qu1r1es received in early May on defoliation by the larvae of the mourning cloak butterfly (larvae also called the spiny caterpillar, since they feed on elm - and willow and- oaksi The larvae have a series of red spots down their backs, feed gregariously and occasionally cause noticeable defoliation.

A recent notification by the USDA indicates a new introduced pine-infesting nemetode has been discovered in Missouri. The nematode infests the vascular system of the tree (Austrian, Scotch, Japanese black pines) and causes rapid wilting and death. The nemetode is transmitted by adults of the "long-horned" (cerambicid?) beetles.

A recent evaluation of die-back in a boxwocd sample indicated that the fungus Verticillium was primarily responsible. This fungus is reportedly a pathogen of boxwood and generally found much less often than the Volutella stage of boxwood canker in samples received in this office.

Portsmouth personnel report an estimated 20,000 acres defoliated (light to heavy) by the forest tent caterpillar southwest of Lake Drummond in the Great Dismal Swamp (mostly on u. s. Fish and Wildlife Service land).

REPORTS FROM FOREST DISTRICTS

coastal Plain Pine sawfly larvae (Ji,_pratti pratti) causing light defoliation to 30-year old Virginia pine near Jacks Fork, .Essex county on May 9. Also noted causing 20-90% defoliation near P0Hhatan Courthouse on Virginia pine. Noted feeding on one slash pine, Hanover County.

Southern pine beetle casuing death of 6 loblolly pines in January 1979 near Belle Hmren, Accomack county; also killing several loblolly pines on Pocahontas State Forest (Chesterfield County) and 6 trees in Charles City County. E. tent caterpillar widespread on wild cherry and fruit trees in Chesterfield, Goochland, Powhatan and New Kent.

Luna moth active on single hickory, New Kent County.

Flights of adult pine looper moths reported earlier than usual in scattered areas of District 9 (Tappahannock).

Elm leaf beetle adults feeding on Chinese elm April 24 near Deep Creek, Accomack County. Unknown malady of Chinese elm causing death of leaves in late April, one location, Accomack County.

Rainfall (April) at Sandston, 4.06"

Piedmont

Virginia Pine sawfly active in local areas on Virginia pine near Scottsburg, Halifax County; numerous on Virginia and loblolly pine in Lunenburg County.

Turpentine beetle noted active on occasional pines, with some pitchouts, Lunenburg County.

Needle blight (on loblolly?) reported "common", Lunenburg.

Fusiform rust very common in one stand of 20-25 year old loblolly, Lunenburg County.

Moun~ain

Aphids noted numerous on white pine, Rockbridge County. Two plantations of white pine reported infected with white pine blister rust, :o:ighland County.

Ips bark beetles killing pines (red/white mix) on 5 acres in a plantation south of Willis in Floyd County.

Rainfall (April) at Wytheville): 2.54"

c. L. Morris, Chief Insect & Disease Investigations May 30, 1979 FV~!CST· P E S T SURVEY R E P O R T

VIRGINIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY Charlottesville, Virginia 22903 J~ >-!ax 1979

GENERAL

More than adequate rainfall in the piedmont and coastal plain continued into June, accompanied by lower than normal temperatures.

Southern pine beetle activity in Georgia and several other southern states is on the increase. An exam of three spot infestations in 70-80 year old shortleaf pine on the Pocahontas State Forest (Chesterfield County), which originated in late summer 1978, showed current low level beetle activity in two; woodpeckers had been extremely effective in reducing the overwintering beetle brood. A 5-hour survey of northern Virginia for gypsy moth defoliation on June 20 with Chuck Dull, USFS, showed no unusual pine mortality, nor was any suspicious defoliation noted - except a small area of defoliation by the fall cankerworm at Hawksbill on the Shenandoah National Park (larvae 3/4 grown on June 22). What was evident was the widespread damage fromtheperiodic cicada over large forested areas in the northern valley, and thin-crowned pines in several areas near Front Royal. A ground check with Dull on June 20 showed extensive defoliation of pitch and Virginia pines in the vicinity of Little Fort Valley, apparently by the Virginia pine sawfly (!!,_pratti pratti). All larvae had pupated; the parasitic bee fly was common in defoliated areas. A thin-crowned white pine in the same area showed many fallen needles infected witlr the needle-cast fungus, Lophidermium pinastri.

Spider mites are causing extensive biowning of older foliage on Norway spruce and hemlocks in the central piedmont; prolonged wet, cool weather invariably contributes to increased damage by these pests. KELTHANE is the recommended miticide of choice for control.

Reports from the USFS (Asheville) indicated adults of the Introduced pine sawfly were trapped recently along the in North Carolina within 10 miles of Virginia. Severt positioned pheromone traps for this pest along Route 58 on June 14, north of the catch area in North Carolina; additional traps will be placed in Virginia later in the summer.

Gypsy moth traps are currently being placed in five central Virginia counties by VDF personnel; the northern third of Albemarle is being trapped at the in­ tensive rate of one trap per 2.5 km.

Dutch elm disease - infected trees are considerably more common throughout the State this year, many showing first symptoms earlier than usual (early June).

Results of a survey of the Mt. Rogers area for the balsam wooly aphid by USFS yielded one positive location; infested firs were noted in al", acre area; the infestation may have been present for as long as a dozen years. Plans are being made to spray the areas for possible eradication. -2-

Copony is now intimately associated with the NASA computer at Goddard Flight Center (Maryland) in a VARIS project to determine changing forest land ( use and general forest land type classification in James City County. A computer terminal has been installed in Charlottesville to talk to the big "Mother" at ~J'l3cd¢@rrl. Mined Land Reclamation and Water Resources are also working with the ~James City satellite imagry • ~ .J"'' OTHER GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

Pine spittlebug at somewhat higher than usual populations in central and northern Virginia this spring. First new egg masses of E. tent caterpillar on wild cherry noted in vicinity of Charlottesville on June 15.

Suspected Eucosma gloriola larvae collected from white pine seed orchard, Buckingham, in late June.

First dying twigs of oak damaged by cicada egg laying in Charlottesville vicinity on June 2.

Sycamore anthracnose widespread and severe this year throughout the State; some infected trees showing top die-back and extensive branch mortality.

Adults and eggs of 2nd generation of locust leaf m_i~~ evident June 22, Charlottesville.

REPORTS FROM FOREST DISTRICTS

Coastal Plain:

Pine sawflies (on loblolly and on Virginia and shortleaf) noted severe on one loblolly stand in Richmond County now being cut following repeated annual defoliation, most probably by Hetrick's pine sawfly; also on single loblolly lawn tree (7G% defoliation) in Richmond County. The Virginia pine sawfly reported causing visible defoliation in occasional areas, Westmoreland County. Sawflies also noted on loblolly and other pines in Powhatan (moderate defoliation), Hanover (heavy) and Goochland (moderate to heavy).

Ips bark beetles noted killing loblolly pines over 4 acres near Naylor's Beach, Richmond County; also reported causing death of 10-15 pines one spot, Westmoreland County (began in windthrown trees). Bark beetles recorded killing three Scotch pines, one location Westmoreland County; Pissoides sp. infesting dying loblolly, shortleaf and longleaf pines (scattered trees) throughout Accomac County (salt damaged?)

Cicadas widespread in western portions of Powhatan and Goochland Counties.

Forest tent cateripllars noted on single white oak, Powhatan County.

The wooly pine aphid common on occasional young loblolly pines, Chesterfield County. Wooly bark aphids noted on 25 white pines one location Powhatan County.

Pine spittlebug reported as "very heavy" on loblolly and white pine, Richmond County, as was E. tent caterpillar on cherry in same county.

Leaf spots, particularly on maple, unusually severe this spring in Westmoreland county. Anthracnose on single water oak caused 30% defoliation, Churchland. -3-

Cottony maple scale recorded 5 trees, Zuni, Isle of Wight County.

Rainfall (May): Portsmouth 8.0 inches; Courtland 11.5 inches; Accomac 6.5 inches; Sandston 3.2 inches.

Piedmont:

Virginia pine sawfly noted causing 95% defoliation on 2 acres of Virginia pine in Fairfax; recorded on occasional spots on shortleaf and a few loblollies in Lunenburg; defoliated single shortleaf pine in Appomattox (Hixburg).

Pine spittlebuqs infesting most sapling loblolly pines, Lunenburg County; also noted on Virginia and Scotch pine (heavy) throughout Fauquier County and on Virginia pine (heavy) throughout most of Fairfax County.

Cicadas: acoustically evident and damaged twigs noted Fairfax and Lunenburg Counties.

Anthracnose of Norway maple caused some crown kill (4 trees, Fairfax). Locust leaf miner da?Tlage evident much Of. eastern l1.mherst County.

!1bilntain:

E. tent caterpillar infestation heavier than usual in Bedford County.

Locust leaf miner damage (?) damaging leaves of maple, apple, ash and peach, Montgomery County.

Cicada damage severe in southeast Bedford County; also in Page and Rockingham counties.

Sycamore anthracnose severe on 4 trees, Wythe County.

Turpentine beetles infesting scattered white pine two locations (l-10 trees), Wythe and Bland Counties.

White pine bark aphid reported widespread and severe throughout District 6; aphids on white pine noted 3 locations in Wythe County.

Pine sawfly larvae causing heavy damage to 12 loblolly pines, one location, Augusta County. Pine tip moth present 5% of loblolly pines, one plantation, Augusta County. Spider mites causing discoloration of older needles of 6 blue spruces, Augusta County. White pine weevil damage to 12 white pines, single location, Augusta County.

Rainfall - Staunton 3.54 inches. ~---1 t:,6.r/Jfldr.. /

July 1979

GENERAL

Southern pine beetle is definitely on the increase. in local areas in Virginia: aerial survey flights and ground checks of Albemarle County (July 12), Buckingham State Forest (July 19) showed no southern pine beetle activity, but a flight over the Pocahontas State Forest and Parlt (Chesterfield County) on July 24 indicated increasing southern pine beetle activity in ten areas (six of which had not been picked up previously on the ground) . Ground checks and bark sampling (to predict beetle population changes) were completed July 30 and August l, indicating increasing activity (several spots had 5-7 trees currently infested with active beetle brood in late pupa and adult stage. "Attack to Emergence" .ratios of the bark samples processed to date indicate a 1:5 to 1:15 relationship, thus an expanding to "high static" population indicated. Additional samples will be taken later this summer to substantiate the upswing indicated. District surveys in Halifax in late July showed only 7 potential "spots"; Accomack County (partial) flight at same time indicated several multiple tree spots and continued activity in a few "old"_ infestations. An aerial flight in southwest Virginia indicated no·beetle·activity. First reports of the season of southern pine beetle activity in Henrico and New Kent (see District Report).

Elsewhere in the southeast, southern pine beetle activity is increasing in northwest South Carolina, in the pied..rnont of North. Carolina and still very active in Alabama and Georgia. It would appear that by next summer beetle activity in Virginia will be definitely increasing toward outbreak conditions.

Dursban;B,'·4 .. E insecticide has been registered by EPA for use in protecting pines against beetle attack and for spraying standing infested ·trees or infected logs. Labeled rate is 1% (2.1 gallons per 100 gallons water).

The introduced pine sawfly (N. similis) will be the subject of a small scale research and applications program by Fim!, with Arnie Drooz (Forestry .Sciences Laboratory at Durham, NC) cooperating on the biological control (parasite) aspects. Plans are underway to collect, rear and release two effective parasites, Exenterus amic~-rius and Hontodontimerus dentipes into the edges of the infestation (both parasites have been identified as being already present in the North Carolina infestation). An expanded survey,· using pheromone traps, is under,1ay by FIDM (USFS). Eight traps provided by FID!l in mid-•June 1979 and positioned by John Severt (VDF) along ,,.Rout.e 58 near Independence (Grayson county) yielded close to 100 adult males in°•·op'e trap and varying numbers in the remainder; obviously the pest is active in 'that.area of Virginia. Ground observations in July showed no ihdication of defoliation of white pine in the area, hm·1ever.

Oak sawfly defoliation in southwest. Virginia was not evident from the air in a mid-July flight by John Severt.

Gypsy ,10th: Intensive trapping in Loudoun County, Virginia and Jefferson County, West Virginia in the area ·where eraC:ication sprays were applied in spring 1979 indicates a scattering of male moths caught in mid-July just north and west -2-

of the upper spray block and a scattering of catches in a few traps southeast of Shannondale, !\Test Virginia (information courtesy of APHIS, USDA, Roanoke, Virginia). Earlier in the summer, a single larva was found in a burlap flap in Jefferson County just east of the Shannondale ccmrnunity, but outside the spray blocks. Spray treatment with ground equipment in the larval-catch area would be one possible approach next year.

In :,•ew Jersey, gypsy moth defoliation was considerably dmm from last year, while in Pennsylvania the level of activity continued quite low following a collapse in the summer of 1977, apparently due to increased parasite effectiveness.

The Virginia Division of Forestry monitored burlap bands placed in three locations along the Applachian Trail earlier this year. No evidence Df gypsy moth beneath the bands; the few parasitic insects collected are being checked for identity.

An interesting study published by the USFS on oak mortality in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania following 2-3 years of moderate to heavy defoliation shows that the average stand sampled (56% of the BA in oak, 68 years of age, average Dbh 7.0 inches, site index 59) five years after defoliation lost 12% of the original stand volume, averaging 2.5 cords per acre. However, 75% of the stands lost less than 2.5 cords per acre, 20% of the stands suffered no loss at all and only 5% lost more than 10 cords per acre. Conclusion: stand mortality following defoliation depends on a variety of factors, and can range considerably from stand to stand. See "Forest Service Research Note NE-273 (1979)."

Dogwood "canker" -- a problem with, as yet, unidentified cause ··- is plaguing dogwood trees in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. Infected trees exhibit basal cankers which eventually girdle the tree. Borers, of. course, can complicate the problem when active in the same area.

The palsam wooly aphid, an unrelenting nemesis to Frazier fir in the southern Applachians, has been found (and possibly established for a dozen years) in the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area by USFS personnel in June. More recently, VDF District personnel located a Frazier fir plantation nearby (Mud Flats, Grayson County) which was also infested; the original plantation trees were transplants from the infest'ed area in North Carolina.

The annual oak wilt air survey of 4 quads in Rockingham County and 4 in Washington County, Virginia was completed in early July. In Rockingham County, there were 23 active spots noted (14 in old spots, 9 new infection centers); in Washington County, 4 active centers were observed (2 old, 2 new). These figures correspond closely with the results of similar surveys over the same areas con­ ducted in the past 4 years.

Suspected twig damage from Eucosma gloriola was much reduced this year in the white pine seed orchard in Buckingham County (32 of 40 sample trees had 1 or more twigs damaged).

OTHER REPORTS

First adult of Japanese beetle noted in Charlottesville area June 25, 1979. The West Virginia Forest Survey reports populations of the forest tent caterpillar increasing along the western side of the Blue Ridge in Jefferson county.

Rainfall: Portsmouth: 2.72 inches in June, 3.26 inches in July; Courtland 6.12 inches·in June. Both Accomack and Portsmouth report a 14 inch· surplus in rainfall for the year to date (Accomac had 10.4 inches in July). Sandston 4.96 inches in July; Charlottesville 10.0 inches in June, 1.65 inches in July. -3-

REl?ORTS FROM FOREST DISTRICTS

Coastal Plain:

Dutch elm disease noted on winged elm in Goochland, several trees showed moderate to light dieback. In Westmoreland county dieback was evident on deodor cedar, white birch and Norway maple (1-2 trees).

Southern pine bark beetle reported in Henrico and New Kent Counties, 15 trees dead. 10% defoliation of ornamental scarlet oak (Isle of Wight) caused by strumella canker.

Miscellaneous l?ests

Maple leaf spot found on two red maples in Westmoreland County, minor damage reported. Hickory bark beetle in Westmoreland County (5 trees dead). l?lant hopper on azalea (Portsmouth). Scotch pine Christmas trees in Richmond County and box,-,oods in Westmoreland county infested with mites. l?iedmont:

Mimosa wilt noted throughout Culpeper county - 40% mortality. Light to moderate damage in north1·1est part of Culpeper County by locust leaf minor. Wooly aphids were evident on Nonmy maple in Famville (30+ trees).

Black knot was reported in Sale.~ (75% defoliation, 2 mortality). Elm spanworm suspected in Culpeper County - minor damage reported,

Mountain:

Pales weevil. ·evident on 1'1hite pine in Floyd and Bedford Counties with 20-30% mortality. Dutch elm disease caused severe damage in Rockbridge, Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties, 13 trees killed,

Nearly all sycamore trees in the Salam area are infested with Anthracnose. l?ine sawflies are just beginning to infest a white pine in Augusta County.

Hiscellaneous Pests

Aphids on white pine in all counties. Severe damage by the apple aphid on 6-23 crabapple trees in Roanoke County. Needle cast causing light to moderate damage on loblolly pine in Bedford County. Spittlebug reported on one pine tree in Rockingham County - no damage. Also in Rockingham County, the Eastern tent caterpillar was noted on apple and cherry trees causing light da..-i1age county-wide. The elm leaf beetle was found on all in Harrisonburg - light damage reported throughout the city. The locust leaf minor caused light damage in several spots of Rockbridge County. One white pine was found infested with black rust in Augusta. I ..;,· -, -,L ,_) llJ.CTJ), '1A., -,; / c. L, !-!orris, Chief Insect & Disease Investigations August 7, 1979 t ..

C F01EST PEST SURVFY RF.PORT

Virginia Division of Forestry Charlottesyi~le, Virginia 229:3

August - September 1979

General:

Intensive rainfall through August and the aftennath of two hurricanes in September resulted in extensive flooding in Patrick County and near major inundation in many other areas; this sumn~r will probably be a record one in terms of total rainfall in many areas of the State. In spite of the unusually wet weather, yellow jacket (,,,asp) activity is noted as being more severe. than in many a year; at the Appomattox-Buckinghan State Forest, independent woods crews were forced to retire from their work for a ,·,eek in August due to yellow jacket activity in the woods. Ticks also appeared to be more in evidence than usual· this past summer.

An interesting article in "The Futurist", April· 1976 listed twelve ·genera of "root-nodulated nitrogen-fixing plants, exclusive of the well known legume family. The group comprises ~lnus, casuarina, Ceonothus, Cercocarpus, Coriaria, Discaria, Dryas, Eleagnus, Hippochae, tlyrica, Porshia and Shepherdia." Woody plants in these genera were suggested as useful selections to both "build" the soil and provide fuel wood in these many Asian and north African countries where once wooded hillsides ha•Je long since been denuded.

Sam Alexander, Forest Pathologist at VPI & SU, reports that several interesting root pathogens have been isolated from pine seed orchards in Texas, North Carolina and Virginia, where various sub-soiling and root-pruning techniques were practiced. Fames annosus was not uncommonly found infecting damaged roots (but not at the Virginia Division of Forestry seed orchard at New Kent) along with a staining fungus, Verticicladiella procera. This latter fungus was isolated from resin­ soaked areas.

The Insect and Disease Branch has finalized a cooperative research project with the USFS, Forestry Sciences Lab at Durham, North Carolina on the introduced pine sawfly. We will be working with Al Thomas on developing sampling methods for this "new" insect in Virginia. Sixty additional :pheromone traps (for adults males) placed in Grayson County by John Severt on September 29 in an attempt to further delineate IPS infestations in southwest Virginia. Two releases of the tiny imported cocoon parasite, Dahlborninus fusci ennis, will be made in mid­ October (one in :t-Torth Carolina by Arnie Drooz, USFs,r one by John Severt in south­ west Virginia) from lab-reared insects supplied by the VDF. Dahlbominus was picked up fron field collections of~ pratti pratti (a native pine sawfly in Caroline County earlier this summer). Establishment of Dahlbominus would com­ plement the three other major"t>~asites already active in the North Carolina population of the IPS. '- · · Gypsy Moth:

The effort to recover exotic parasites of the gypsy moth in· Virginia were cro,med with success on two occasions this past month. The fly Compsilura concinnata was identified by the USDA from native tussock moths collected along the in southern Loudoun county (VDACS lists earlier releases in Loundoun County) and in Charlottesville (where this insect was released by VDF in 1976). Earlier recoveries by the VDF at Humpback Rock (Nelson County) and in Green County seem to indicate fairly wide establishment in north-central Virginia.

11ale moth trapping results remain incomplete, with no great surprise at the ,:,ioment. A new small spot infestation was located as the result of trapping effort in Floyd County (7 miles northwest of Floyd); plans to eradicate that infestation are being formulated by the USDA and the VDACS.

Recovery of gypsy moth egg masses were reported recently from Bethesda, Maryland (on the outskirts of .. Washington, DC).

Air Pollution:

Air pollution (9zone) damage is reported_as having been more noticeable this past summer than in the past several years in the mountains of Virginia (Blacksburg, specifically). Evaluation of the potential self-contribution that the natural hydrocarbons emitted by both pines and hardwoods can have on ozone damage remains to be more fully investigated.

Oak Sawfly:

I'/1· 1976 we established four plots in several areas in Washington County, Virginia defoliated from three to five subdessive years by Caliroa quercuscoccineae. An evaluation of those plodf showed only 5% of the defoliated red oaks in the two lightly defoliated plots (defoliated three years) exhibited twig dieback. In the two plots where heavy defoliation occurred for five successive years, however, bet~1een 30-50% of the red oaks in the plots suffered outright mortality, while of the remaining:, 40-50% had between 40-50% of their crown moribund; an estimated 30% of the remaining trees had from 10-30% of their crowns killed. Comparison of the two plot areas illustrated both the effect of poor site and longevity of defoliation in increasing mortality and dieback.

Balsam t·Jooly Aphid:

Sinceourlast report an additional aphid-infested plantation of Frazier fir was located about 4 miles from the one reported in our July Pest Survey·Report. The team of aphid hunters from USFS, FIDrl, Asheville, re-surveyed the native fir on the Mt. Rogers rlational Recreation Area in early September and located an additional infestation there. Meanwhile, there remains active interest in establishing a frazier fir seed-production area on the State Park at Mt. Rogers.

Southern Pine Beetle: Additional aerial surveys in August and early September in Henrico County, •1ew !~ent county and over the Pocahontas State Forest and Park (Chesterfield county) showed no alarming increase in activity except on the Pocahontas. Additional bark sampling and ground checks are planned. A single part-time logger is active in the salvage-control effort on the Pocahontas State Forest and the Virginia State Park supervisors are cooperating in a long-term stand improvement effort and soon to get underway. Ground checks of six beetle spots in Halifax county by District personnel indicates IPS bark beetles primarily responsible and on the increase in the southeastern portion of the couhty.

Training:

Horris spent 2'! weeks •i;, late· August" and early September on the one-on-one insect and disease training effort in Districts·1, 5 and 6.

Observations on Other I & D Activity:

Maryland reports defoliation of 3,400 acres.of hardwoods by the forest tent caterpillar in Wicomico County this past spring.·

Conopthorus coniperda (the white pine cone beetle) was noted by District personnel tunneling like a bark beetle and ki:J,li'lg ti>ligs of white pine in the Galax area in mid August. Although this beetle generally confines its feeding and breeding ·activity to white pine cones, it is reported as·occasionally attacking twigs. · · ·

l\ hardwood sawfly (!lacre..'llphytas sp.) noted feeding on a variety of trees and shrubs, two locations in Albemarle County (full gro~m larvae - August 13). Extensive infection (and mortality) of lower branches of 6-foot Austriari pines raised for Christmas trees in plantation near Childress, Montgomery County. This fungus(~tropellis tingens) is not uncommon on scotch pine, killing an occasional small qranch.

Populations of the pine looper (Lambdina athasaria pellucidaria) is reported on the upswing in E. North Carolina this past summer (Drooz). It remains at low populations in eastern Virginia at this moment.

"In 1978 the United s_tates shippcd .. over 100 million dollars in oak lumber and logs to European countries.·· The major importers included Belgium, the Netherlands, and the Federal Republic of Germany. Germany received 85 percent of the log . :imports. Recently in Europe, questions arose concerning the potential for spread of oak wilt, caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum, to European forests from diseased log and lumber shipments. At the present, oak wilt does not occur in Europe. "There appears to be some real concern about the spread o't' oak wilt. However, there are some indications that this 'concern' is an effort by certain countries to reduce A.'llerican competition with the native European oak market. In July, USDA representatives, Department of State officials, and pathologists from several state universities met in Brussels to discuss the problem with European representatives. They reviewed ways to alleviate the concern for the introduction of oak wilt to Europe. The discussions centered around the certification of origin of oak logs and wood from disease-free areas, physical and/or chemical treatment of the logs and lumber to kill the oak wilt fungus and a direction for future research. Hopefully, European concerns will be satisfied without interfering with the ciak exports •.!?'

Branch cankers on.ornamental and Christmas tree white pines in Grayson-Carroll Counties caused by white pine aphid feeding •

.!/"Forest Insect and Disease Newsletter," w. VA Department of Agriculture, Vol. 13, No. 3, 1979. -4-

The VDACS conducted a survey to determine the incidence of dogwood canker in 1978. Their conclusions: dogwood canker is prevelant throughout Virginia; the source of cankered dogwoods is widespread; a strict regulatory program to prevent further import of infected stock is suggested.

Several surveys by the USFS on the Shenandoah National Park and.the Jefferson and George Washington Hational Forests were conducted during the summer 1979. No evidence of gypsy moth (or other hardwood defoliators) were noted except for fall cankerworm along the and the pine sawfly ~pratti pratti on pitch pines in Fort Valley (Gl'JNF) and in scattered locations on the Jefferson National Forest. Extensive areas of damage by the periodic cicada and locust leaf miner observed. An interesting area of damagedto hardwoods on Mt. Rogers and White Top attributed to leaf hoppers was noted.

An interesting example of the right conditions at the right time occurred in the Charlottesville area in mid-summer this year. Several samples of red oaks suffering early leaf fall and/or extensive leaf blade browning were con­ firmed as heavily infected by a rust fungus, most probably Cronoartium quercuum.

Recent changes in the federal law governing pesticide application now permits:

1. APplying registered pesticides at a rate less than the label dosage (effective April 1, 1979, for agricultural or·forestry uses).

2. Use of a pesticide to control a target pest not on the label if the site is on the label, the desired use is not specifically prohibited, and the registered rate of application is not exceeded.

3. Use of an application metho~ not prohibited by the label even though the method may not be mentioned specifically on the label.

Fall Webworm:

The fall webworm is evident in scatt,:,red areas of the state, fairly common in Williamsburg area; reported on several hosts in llontgomery, Floyd and Roanoke Counties. The local concern engenered by the outbreak on Chincoteague in 1978 apparently subsided this past summer.

Reports From Forest Districts

Coastal Plain:

Southern pine beetle killed most of the trees in three spots of loblolly pine in Henrico County; the worst area on Richmond Battlefield Park, where turpentine, southern pine and Ips are combining to kill large numbers of 70-year old loblolly pines, particularly at Fort Harrison. SPB also found on 20 loblollies in Accomack, these trees are to be marked for salvage thinning • .!P§. bark beetles responsible for death of nine loblolly pines near Sanford, Accomack County. ~ also responsible for killing single loblolly at New Kent and a single at Charles City. Turpentine beetles active in several loblolly pines, Chesterfield County.

!loderate damage to red cedar by the bagworm throughout Powhatan. The bagworm also evident in Accomack County, 40% defoliation and two trees killed in -s-.

a group of 48 red cedars. Pecan casebearer noted on single Ginkgo, Accomack County. Fall 1-!ebworm on pecan generally light in Accomack.

The elm leaf beetle caused 65% defoliation on three Chinese elms in Accomck County and is reported more active than usual on elms in Portstnouth districts. Light to moderate infestation of the fall webworm is widespread throughout Richmond Count-;".

25 crepe !lyrtle and white pines scattered throughout Powhatan show moderate damage by aphids. In Frederick County ~hids were also' evident on 12 white pines, causing littledamage.

Locust leaf miner is widespread throughout Accomack County. Three Austrian pines suffered 25% defoliation by Dinlodia pinea in Isle of Wight. In Gloucester the orange striped oakworm caused 90% and 20% defoliation to two willow oaks.

Rainfall: 6.73 inches in August, Tappahannock; 5.59 inches, PortstUouth (plus an additional 5 inches from Hurrican "David" on September 5-6 in most areas; Winc.sor-Smithfield received 12"); 7.21 inches, Sandston.

Piedmont:

Ips bark beetles are active in Amelia, killed two shortleaf pines and active on a third; and in Lunenburg County they have killed several individual trees.

A July aerial survey of Halifax County r€vealed six S1Uall spots of suspected ~ damage as well as scattered single trees; ground checks revealed Ips to be primarily responsible.

The pine sawfly was found on one S1Uall Virginia pine in Fauquier County. A heavy concentration of yellow-necked caterpillar was found on two wild cherry yard trees in Farmville. Aphids on 12 white pines noticeable in Fredericksburg area. Walking stick (immature, half-grown on August 30) along Fire Trail 3402, Fauquier County.

~urpentine beetles causing death to portions of loblolly pines scattered locations in Lunenburg County. In Lunenburg County the fall webworm was causing an average of 10% defoliation to individual trees.

llountains:

Severe Dutch elm disease damage is evident on single trees in three spots and along the highways (especially Route 11) in Shenandoah County.

Two spots of white pine, averaging 1-6 trees per spot, were damaged by the Turpentine beetle in Bland County.

The balsam wooly aphid caused moderate damage to several Frazier firs in Grayson County, while adult aphids left four elms with moderate damage in Augusta. Moderate to heavy aphid populations were found on white pine (especially young ( trees) scattered over the entire District 5 region. Franklin County has widespread locust leaf miner damage on its black locust. Borers found in Augusta County killing four black oaks. Fall webworm active Salt Pond !1t., Giles County, in July. -6-

Several small white pines suffered needle blight (possible ozone damage) in Rockbridge. Suspected air pollution damage caused partial browning of white pines scattered throughout Bland County. Suspected frost damage (late May, early June) responsible for damage on north side of young white pines.

1/4 to full-gro~m larvae of red-headed pine sawfly defoliating 3' Scotch pine, Abingdon office, VDF on August 28.

Rainfall: 1.32 inches in Salem in August; 2.62 inches in Staunton. In \·lytheville, May--July rainfall was 5.2 inches above normal.

I ' . ---- .. ~~-}.:.:,/ ; -~ c. L. Morris, Chief Insect & Disease Investigations

October 5, 1979