MISSOURI FOREST HEALTH UPDATE Locations with Walnut Declining Lindgren Funnelat High Traps Placed50wtb Pheromone Respectively Map)
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DECEMBER 2013 MISSOURI F R O M T H E MISSOURI DEPARTMENT Forest Health OF CONSERVATION FOREST HEALTH LAB UPDATE INSIDE THIS In 2012, additional infested areas were IS S U E: Emerald Ash Borer detected in southeast Missouri (Madison and Reynolds Counties) and Emerald Ash 2 The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus on the other side of the state near Borer Map planipennis, is a non-native forest pest Kansas City (Platte County). In 2013, a that is causing widespread mortality of total of 922 traps were monitored Thousand 3 ash trees in eastern and central North throughout the state by the Missouri Cankers America. By the end of 2013, it had Dept. of Agriculture (MDA) and the U.S. Disease been detected in 22 US states stretch- Dept. of Agriculture (USDA APHIS ing from Colorado to the East Coast and PPQ). EAB was detected in five more White Oak 5 in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. counties: Butler, Bollinger and Perry in Decline the southeast, Pulaski in south central The first EAB population detected in Missouri, and Jackson in the Kansas City Weather- 6 Missouri was discovered in 2008 in area (see map on page 2). Related Issues Wayne County in the southeastern part of the state. Detection surveys have In response to the detected EAB distri- New Forest 6 been conducted annually in Missouri bution scattered from western to Health Alerts since 2004, by visually examining trees southeastern Missouri, the Missouri Defoliators & 7 at high-risk sites such as campgrounds Dept. of Agriculture expanded the state (2004-2007), and later with EAB sticky FDM EAB quarantine in September 2013 to traps after they became available in include all Missouri counties. Gypsy Moth 7 2008. Continued on page 2 Survey Pine Shoot 8 Beetle Quarantine Expanded David Cappaert, David Forestry Images Serving nature and you. Emerald ash borer adult. P A G E 2 Asia were approved in 2007 for re- Emerald Ash Borer continued lease in North America. Prior to re- lease they were tested for host (EAB) USDA APHIS PPQ followed suit with MDC’s Forestry Division staff works specificity and potential non-target a similar statewide federal EAB with communities and green indus- impacts. As of 2013, these parasitoids quarantine in November 2013. try groups to educate about EAB have been released in 16 of the 22 Both agencies have been working management strategies and the infested states. The EAB biological with forest product industries and need for each community to start control program in Missouri is man- other stakeholders since that time planning and implementing their aged by the Missouri Dept. of Agricul- to educate about the impacts of response to the EAB threat. ture. All three species of parasitoids the quarantine and the potential Missourians are encouraged to be were released in 2012 and 2013 at use of compliance agreements to alert for evidence of infestations the site of the first detected EAB pop- move regulated items with speci- and visit this web site to learn ulation in Wayne County. Establish- fied protocols. more and report suspect infesta- ment of parasitoids at that site will be tions: http://eab.missouri.edu evaluated starting in 2014. Known Outreach efforts by the Missouri EAB populations in other Missouri lo- Dept. of Conservation (MDC) and Biological control is one tool that cations will be monitored with sticky partners in the Missouri EAB Pro- may eventually be useful in manag- traps to determine additional loca- gram continue around the state. ing EAB populations. Three species tions where parasitoid releases could Displays, presentations, news re- of non-stinging parasitic wasps be considered. Further details about leases and other outreach activities (Oobius agrili, Testrastichus EAB biological control are available at: occur at many workshops, fairs and planipennisi, and Spathius agrili) http://www.emeraldashborer.info/ that are natural enemies of EAB in other venues throughout the year. biocontrol.cfm In 2013, EAB was detected in five new counties: Butler, Bollinger and Perry in the southeast, Pulaski in south central Missouri, and Jackson in the Kansas City area. Missouri statewide EAB quarantine (yellow) and known infested counties (red stripe). MISSOURI FOREST HEALTH UPDATE P A G E 3 Thousand Cankers Disease of Walnut Black walnut is ecologically and examined from suspect trees. economically important to When suspicious symptoms were Missouri, and thousand cankers observed under the bark, sample disease (TCD) represents a serious branch sections were triple-bagged, threat to this resource. TCD occurs placed in a cooler with ice and when the walnut twig beetle transported to diagnostic facilities (WTB), Pityophthorus juglandis, for evaluation and culturing as attacks walnut trees, spreading the needed. Since 2010, 850 locations Geosmithia morbida fungus that have been surveyed visually and causes small cankers in the phloem 255 WTB traps deployed (see map tissue under the tree bark, eventu- on page 4). No evidence of WTB or ally causing tree decline and MissouriDept. ofConservation TCD has been detected in Missouri. mortality. Black walnut tree with TCD Common walnut problems detect- ed during surveys included drought symptoms in Tennessee. TCD has not been detected in stress, site-related issues, and Missouri; however there is concern infestation by several other wood- trees (urban areas, campgrounds, that undetected TCD infestations boring insects (primarily round- sawmills) in central and southeast could be present, or that spread headed and flatheaded borer Missouri. MDA placed 143 WTB may occur from western states or larvae). North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, traps in the St Louis, Kansas City Tennessee and Virginia where it has and southwest Missouri metro Outreach efforts were continued to been detected. Potential long- areas. Visual surveys were con- raise public awareness about TCD. distance spread of TCD through ducted by both agencies in high- Messages included the potential risk areas to identify potentially movement of infected walnut Continued on page 4 materials enhances this threat. infested trees. Branches were Existing survey technology is not very sensitive, and TCD is unlikely 2013 TCD Survey to be detected until several years after introduction. Detection of well-established infestations makes eradication efforts difficult. It is important to conduct detection surveys for TCD, as well as inform citizens about the disease and the risk of wood movement from areas with known infestations. In 2013, both the Missouri Depart- ment of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Department of Agri- culture (MDA) conducted surveys for TCD using USDA Forest Service and federal Farm Bill funding respectively (see map). MDC placed 50 WTB pheromone-baited Lindgren funnel traps at high-risk locations with declining walnut P A G E 4 Thousand Cankers Disease of Walnut continued impact of TCD, the threat posed by movement of infected walnut materi- als, and identification of suspect trees. Several state agencies and institutions including MDC and MDA as well as stakeholder groups were involved in outreach. Efforts in 2013 included TV and radio interviews, presentations, trainings, and displays at a variety of public and green industry meetings. An updated TCD FAQ for Missouri, TCD identification card, and brochure for homeowners are available from MDC to raise awareness. MDC also main- tains a website for more information on TCD, www.mdc.mo.gov/thousand- cankers. Missourians are encouraged to report suspect trees via the online A TCD awareness advertisement with key messages. reporting form which can be found linked to the TCD website or here on the University of Missouri Extension website. Photos of suspect trees can also be emailed to [email protected] as a first step in determining what trees should be visited by trained personnel. An action plan has been drafted to organize the Missouri response to the threat of TCD. The plan describes several efforts to slow the spread of TCD and prepare for a potential detection including continued outreach activities and monitoring of trees at high risk sites. It also describes a response to detection of an infesta- tion and includes a list of key stake- holders to keep informed. This action plan will supplement the Missouri Invasive Forest Pest Plan currently under development. MISSOURI FOREST HEALTH UPDATE P A G E 5 White Oak Decline White oak is important in Missouri due to its longevity, mast production for wildlife and saw timber value (2 billion dollars). Increased decline and mortali- ty is a concern for this resource. Begin- ning in August 2011 and continuing through fall 2013, the MDC Forest Health staff received many reports of rapid white oak decline and mortality, often occurring within one growing sea- son. In 2013 a majority of reports came from east central and southeast Missouri. This syndrome is different from other oak decline patterns reported in Mis- souri, which typically include red oak species on ridge tops and upper slopes of SW facing aspects and is often attributed to the combined effects of advanced tree age, high stem density, and drought. In many recent white oak reports, pockets of white oak decline in mixed oak stands have been located on lower slopes. Other oak species are rarely affected. Biscogniauxia (Hypoxylon) canker, twolined chestnut borer and other native borers are fre- quently observed. Some trees have evi- dence of Armillaria root rot. Depending on the location, white oak has been subjected to many stressors in recent years including multiple extreme weather events and severe jumping oak gall infestation in 2010. Funding has been secured through a USDA Forest Service Evaluation Monitoring grant for a white oak decline research project at the University of Missouri with coopera- tion and additional funding from MDC. Further investigations will look in great- er detail at associated insect and fungal pathogens as well as site characteris- MissouriDept.