Forest Insect and Disease Conditions in the Southwestern Region, 2019

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Forest Insect and Disease Conditions in the Southwestern Region, 2019 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Insect and Disease Conditions in the Southwestern Region, 2019 Forest Southwestern Forest Health March 2020 Service Region PR-R3-16-19 In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720- 2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632- 9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. Cover photos: Clockwise from left: white pine blister rust canker with aecia on a southwestern white pine; aspen defoliation caused by the fungal disease black leaf spot; bark beetle-killed ponderosa pine on insect and disease training field trip. Forest Insect and Disease Conditions in the Southwestern Region, 2019 Forest Insect and Disease Conditions in the Southwestern Region, 2019 Southwestern Region Forest Health Protection Clifford Dils, Director Donald Vandendriesche, Deputy Director Allen White, Regional Coordinator for Invasive Species & Pesticides Arizona Zone Joel McMillin, Zone Leader Daniel DePinte, Forest Health Specialist Monica Gaylord, Entomologist Amanda Grady, Entomologist Nicholas Wilhelmi, Plant Pathologist 2500 South Pine Knoll Drive Flagstaff, AZ 86001 New Mexico Zone Andrew Graves, Zone Leader Gregory Reynolds, Plant Pathologist Daniel Ryerson, Forest Health/GIS Specialist Crystal Tischler, Forest Health Coordinator 333 Broadway Blvd., SE Albuquerque, NM 87102 http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/foresthealth State Insect and Disease Specialists Arizona: Steve McKelvey (now retired) New Mexico: John Formby 1 Forest Insect and Disease Conditions in the Southwestern Region, 2019 Contents Forest Insect and Disease Conditions in the Southwestern Region, 2019 ....................................... 1 Conditions in Brief ........................................................................................................................... 7 2019 Weather Summary for the Southwestern U.S. .................................................................... 7 Regional Forest Insect and Disease Summary ................................................................................. 8 Aerial Survey Summary .............................................................................................................. 8 Special Survey Arizona Zone .................................................................................................. 9 Special Surveys New Mexico Zone ....................................................................................... 10 Bark Beetle Summary ................................................................................................................ 11 Defoliation Summary ................................................................................................................ 13 Disease Summary ...................................................................................................................... 13 Status of Major Insects................................................................................................................... 15 Bark beetles ............................................................................................................................... 15 Pinyon-Juniper Forest Type ................................................................................................... 15 Ponderosa Pine Forest Type ................................................................................................... 17 Mixed Conifer Forest Type .................................................................................................... 19 Spruce-fir Forest Type ........................................................................................................... 21 Defoliators ................................................................................................................................. 22 Pinyon-Juniper Forest Type ................................................................................................... 22 Ponderosa Pine Forest Type ................................................................................................... 23 Mixed Conifer Forest Type .................................................................................................... 25 Spruce-fir Forest Type ........................................................................................................... 27 Status of Major Diseases ................................................................................................................ 29 Mistletoes .................................................................................................................................. 29 Dwarf Mistletoes .................................................................................................................... 29 True Mistletoes ...................................................................................................................... 29 Root Diseases ............................................................................................................................ 29 Armillaria Root Disease ......................................................................................................... 30 Heterobasidion Root Disease (Formerly Annosus Root Disease) ......................................... 30 Other Common Root Diseases ............................................................................................... 30 Stem Decays .............................................................................................................................. 31 Stem Rusts ................................................................................................................................. 31 White Pine Blister Rust .......................................................................................................... 31 Broom Rusts........................................................................................................................... 32 Limb Rust and Western Gall Rust ......................................................................................... 33 Canker Fungi ............................................................................................................................. 33 Foliar Diseases ........................................................................................................................... 33 Abiotic Damage ......................................................................................................................... 34 Salt ......................................................................................................................................... 34 Hail ......................................................................................................................................... 34 Drought .................................................................................................................................. 34 Invasive Species ............................................................................................................................. 35 Buffelgrass ................................................................................................................................. 36 Yellow Bluestem ....................................................................................................................... 36 Saltcedar .................................................................................................................................... 37 FHP Programs and Information for Managing Invasive Species .............................................. 37 Invasive Plant Grants ............................................................................................................. 37 Regional Website for Invasive Species .................................................................................. 38 Other
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