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Thursday, August 27, 2009 Report No. 70-1-44 February 1970 5230 STATUS OF THE BALSAM WOOLLY APHID IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS-1969 By John L. Rauschenberger and H.L. Lambert U.S. Fore st Service Asheville, North Carolina ABSTRACT During 1969, established infestations of the balsam woolly aphid on State, Private and Federal lands continued to thrive and new ones were detected. Only the fir type of Mount Rogers in Virginia continues through 1969 to be free of aphid infestation. Emphasis was placed, during 1969, on establish­ ment of protection boundaries around accessible, high value stands of fir. Protective spraying has been discontinued and the policy has become one of spraying only actively infested trees. Intensive trapping procedures carried out in the respective protection areas revealed two areas of infestations on Roan Mountain, one on Mount Mitchell and also infestations on fir seed trees in the Linville River Forestry Facility at Crossnore, North Carolina. The aerial and ground phase of the 1969 balsam woolly aphid evaluation covered 60,000 acres of host type. INTRODUCTION The balsam woolly aphid, Adel r;es pl ce ae Ratz. was accidentally introduced into North America in the early 1900' s and detected in North Garolina in 195 7 ( Speers, 19 5 8). Since that time the aphid has become established in every major area of host fir type in the three state area of North Garolina, Virginia and Tennessee with the single exception of a 500-acre fir stand on Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in Virginia ( Fig. 1). The two native species of fir which serve as host in the Southern Appalachians are Fraser, Ables fras e rt ( Pursh. ) Poir. and bracted balsam fir, A. balsamea Var. pi a ne role p ts Fern. For a detailed history of the aphid in the Southern Appalachians, the reader is referred to the selected references cited at the end of this report. METHODS The host fir type of the Southern Appalachians can be separated into two major catagories-accessible and inaccessible. For purposes of control, this consideration is of prime importance since suppression measures involve spraying of individual trees using heavy hydraulic ground equipment. Therefore, the 1969 survey and evaluation tech­ niques were modified from previous years to take into account the accessibility or inaccessibility of given areas. Evaluation surveys were conducted in two ways; first, the general trend and status of the aphid was determined through one hundred percent aerial surveys of all host type acreage wi1h the exception of Mount Mitchell. All areas of dead or dying fir which had not been observed or ground checked previously were plotted on topographic maps. Ground checking was carried out on as many spots as possible on a priority basis dependent upon proximity to known infestations, size of spot and aesthetic and commercial value of the stand. The second method of evaluation was designed for and restricted to use on accessible high value stands of fir where applied control, if needed, could be carried out. The objective was to detect the aphid's presence prior to any tree mortality, arr impossible task using standard sketch map aerial survey techniques. The evaluation consisted of an intensive aphid trapping program which was restricted to those high value, accessi­ ble host fir stands designated as "protection areas". By intensively trapping within the boundaries of the protection area for motile nymphs of the balsam woolly aphid during the time of their dispersal, aphid activity was detected prior to any tree mortality. - 2 - MARION RED SPRUCE - FRASER FIR TYPE NORTH CAROLINA TENNESSEE Bi VIRGINIA MILES " • SPRUCE - FIR TYPE # JOHNSON CITY , GRANDF,HHER MTN • MORGANTON GATLINBURG ~ ASH£VfLL£ WAYNESVILLE RICHLAND 8ALSAM TENNESSEE BALI) Fig. 1 Location of Fraser-fir type in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The traps consisted of standard microscope slides coated with a thin layer of tanglefoot.l/ At each trap location, three such coated microscope slides were attached with spring clips to a specially de­ signed holder and attached to a host tree ( Fig. 2 ) . The traps were oriented in a horizontal position to the tree to entrap any motile nymphs which fell from that tree or blew in from surrounding host trees ( Fig. 3 ) . Traps were left exposed in the field approximately two weeks. They were then returned to the laboratory and examined microscopically with a !OX binocular scope for motile nymphs of the balsam woolly aphid. The balsam woolly aphid has two complete generations per year with evidence of a partial third. Motile nymphs are present in June and again in September. Due to the intensity of trapping, only the September motile nymph generation was trapped. A total of six host fir stands were designated as protection areas during 1969. Nine-hundred and fifty-four microscope slide traps were prepared, set and examined. The restriction of trapping to within protection areas facilitated a much more effective evaluation due to the limited land areas involved. More­ over, it permitted a more realistic approach to the aphid problem in that the most effort was placed on that portion of the resource that could be saved. Restrictive trapping within the protection areas in 19 69 was also important because preventative type spraying for control of the balsam woolly aphid on high value areas has been permanently discontinued. Chemical control measures are now carried out only on stands verified as being actively infested. This policy renders detection of aphid activity prior to any host tree mortality imperative. RESULTS Great S..!!!Qky Mountains National Pa.rk. - The aerial survey of the 22,280 acres of host fir type on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was carried out on May 29, 1969. Results of that survey revealed that established infestations in inaccessible areas continue to thrive causing increased mortality of host fir on the Park. On Mount Sterling, the aerial survey revealed hundreds of red fading fir trees that have succumbed to the aphid during 19 69 ( See cover ) . Although this area has been recognized as infested since 1963, this year's mortality sur­ passes that which has occurred in any single year on Mount Sterling since its detection . .l/ Mention of trade name does not imply endorsement by the U. S.D.A. - 4 - Fig. 2 Microscope slide traps and holder in place on host tree. Fig. 3 Motile nymph of the balsam woolly aphid. On Spruce Mountain, approximately fifty additional dying host fir were detected in the 200 acre infestation discovered in 1968. Fifty dying fir were also detected in 1969 south of Luftee Knob. Two roadside stretches of host fir stands were designated as protection areas on the Park during 1969. These areas were selected and cited by Park personnel as being worthy of control considerations at their dis­ cretion should aphid infestations be detected within them. The two areas designated were the fir stands located between Newfound Gap and Clingman' s Dome and those located between Paul's Gap and Heintooga Overlook (Fig. 4). The protection boundaries ran parallel to existing roads three hundred feet on each side of them. A total of 2 76 microscope slide traps were placed in the two protection areas during September, 1969. Three slides were attached to host fir trees at 500-foot interval trapping sites parallel to the road. Collection of the traps was made two weeks later by Park personnel who then returned the exposed traps to Division of Forest Pest Control entomologists for examination. Microscopic examination of the slide traps failed to reveal any aphid activity. Likewise, ground examinations conducted by Park personnel at the time of trap placement and collection revealed no aphid activity. Mount Mitchell State Park - Aerial surveys have not been conducted on Mount Mitchell since 1963 because infestations are known to occur over the entire 7,000 acres of host type. A protection area was established on Mount Mitchell State Park in 19 62. Between 1962 and 1968, preventative type spraying was carried out on a three-year rotation basis. In 1968 a trapping procedure using micro­ scope slides was initiated to detect the aphid's presence in high value roadside stands of host fir. ( Rauschenberger and Lambert, 1968) . The present trapping methods have stemmed from this initial trial on Mount Mitchell State Park. The protection area on Mount Mitchell State Park consists of approxi­ mately 300 acres along a 2. 5 mile access road between the Blue Ridge Parkway and the crest of the mountain ( Fig. 5). Protection area status is also applied to a walking trail near the summit. A total of 300 microscope slide traps were placed in the protection area during September, 19 69. Three slide traps were attached to each of 100 host fir trees scattered throughout the designated area. The slide traps were collected two weeks later and examined microscopically for evidence of aphid activity. - 6 - GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK GATLINBURG .r *';:-'5-quoyoh ... ,,.. J (our•;~-., .,/ Top ', .,... Pecks Comer M•ln , CHEROKEE c::::=> St,ruc, - f"lr Type D - 8ol11<1m Woolly Aphid Infestation - G.S.M.N.P. Boulldary ••••••· Protection areas Fig. 4 Location of balsam woolly aphid infestations and protection areas on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 1969. I I MOUNT MITCHELL STATE PARK), I PARK BOUNDARY PARK ROADS FOOT TRAILS 111'1111 Protection area ... Infestation in protection area ,,. "' '" SCALE IN MILES Fig. 5 Balsam woolly aphid protection area and infestation within and on Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina - 1969. A total of six traps revealed motile nymphs of the balsam woolly aphid. Four of these positive traps were ones which had been set consecutively in the same vicinity. An intensive ground check of the suspect area, which was located along the walking trail south­ east of the Mount Mitchell tower, revealed a very light infestation on the boundary of the protection area.
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