STREET TREE SEMINAR, INC. - Your Los Angeles/Orange Regional Urban Forest Council

Street Tree Seminar, Inc. Your Los Angeles/Orange Regional Urban Forest Council STS Newsletter P.O. Box 6415 Anaheim, CA 92816-6415 MAY/JUNE 2014 VOLUME XX ISSUE 3

The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer By Leon Boroditsky

he March 27, 2014 Street Tree sent there are 26 known host plants Seminar meeting was held at the including: Box Elder (Acer negundo), T beautiful LA County Arboretum Castor bean (Ricinus communis), Avo- and Botanic Gardens where their own cado (Persea americana), English Oak botanist Frank McDonough talked about (Quercus robur), coast live Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB). oak (Quercus agrifolia), Big leaf maple Frank McDonough studied at Cal Poly (Acer macrophyhllum) silk tree (Albizia Pomona, has taught for the University of julibrissin) Liquidambar (Liquidambar California and has been on staff at the styraciflua), Coral tree (Erythrina cor- Arboretum since 1998. Frank called alladendron), Titoki tree (Alectryon PSHB a game changer, paradigm shift excelsus), California sycamore and a scary /disease model. He (Platanus racemosa) and Blue Palo SAVE THE DATE: said the destruction and economic dam- STS Member Ted Lubeshkoff gets hands-on Verde (Cercidium floridum). May 22, 2014 age will be much greater than a large bomb. learning. After his presentation, Frank took the group on Soil & Plant Lab w/ Paul Santos PSHB was first noticed in the Whittier Narrows tour of the Arboretum showing the damage East Anaheim Comm. Center in 2003 but was misidentified as a close relative, tea shot hole PSHB has inflicted on the gardens. We started at the Koereu- Anaheim Hills, CA borer Euwallacea fornicatus (an exotic Asian ambrosia ) teria which was the first victim identified at Arboretum, which from which it is morphologically indistinguishable. In 2010 is still hanging in there. We moved on to the English oak the pest was found on a box elder (Acer negundo) and in 2012 PSHB was found on where the damage formed pil- (Quercus robur) which has sustained much beetle infestation. lars of exudate called “sugar voluncanos.” Akif Escalen a After we moved through the garden enjoying the majestic plant pathologist from UC Riverside quickly mobilized as he beauty, taking note of much more than the PSHB as Frank is a was a member of the Board. Around this same time, wealth of knowledge and the group added much to the discus- 2014 Meeting Schedule damage was being identified at different sites primarily in the sion, making the tour extremely enlightening. We moved on San Grabriel Valley: a Koelreutaria at the Arboretum; differ- through the garden to take note of a few species of trees that ent species at the Huntington Library; coast live oak and Cali- are exciting new introductions to the Southern California ur- May 22 Soil & Plant Lab w/Paul Santos Anaheim, CA fornia sycamore at Eaton Canyon in Altadena; red willow in ban forest including Pasadena Glen and the Arroyo Seco. two species from PSHB Mexico: Quercus pol- June 19 Annual Golf Tournament Anaheim, CA spreads a ymorpha and Platanus few species Mexicana. Both spe- of fungus: cies show more prom- July 24 WTMS Summer Program Pomona, CA ise than just resistance euwallaceae, to Polyphagous Shot August 21 Palm Walk & Talk w/ Don Hodel Costa Mesa, CA Fusarium solani and Hole Borer. If it’s Graphium been a while since Oct 23 TBD TBD sp. As well you’ve visited the LA this species County Arboretum, Frank McDonough leads a walking tour of the LA Arboretum of Euwal- you may want to re- Dec 18 Annual Scholarship & Officer Installation Pomona, CA lacea sp. turn soon (http:// prefers live wood where most shot hole borers prefer dead www.arboretum.org/). MISSION STATEMENT wood. Limiting the movement of the infected wood Frank also teaches “To promote the advancement of urban forestry and provide a forum for tree care professionals to share their experiences, (“wood hygiene”) is of utmost importance at curbing the nighttime photography knowledge, and expertise for the benefit of the membership and the enhancement of Southern California’s community forests.” spread of the beetle as they have emerged from 1” chipped classes which meet pieces of wood. The wood needs to be chipped and com- one evening a month. VISION STATEMENT posted under plastic sheeting on site. They seem to enter PSHB Damage to a tree “To enhance the health and beauty of Southern California cities by improving the quality of our community forests.” at the base of branches, prefer humidity and are attracted by alcohol. There are no insecticidal control, the beetle bore deep into the host plant, are very incestuous. At pre- Remember to email Christy Cuba at [email protected] with your reservation How to STS NEWSLETTER Page 2 Page 3 VOLUME XIX ISSUE 3 reach us Pest Alert: Geosmithia pallida & Western Oak STS March 2014 General Meeting PRESIDENT Dr. Fred Roth Declining Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) trees Our March 2014 meeting was held at the beautiful LA Arbore- If you are a current member and do not have your plastic name Cal Poly University, Pomona have recently been found throughout urban land- tum. badge, please contact the office at 714.639.6516 to get one. 3801 W. Temple Avenue scapes in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Pomona, CA 91768 Barbara, Ventura and Monterey Counties. The fun- Past Presidents in attendance were: Alan Hudak, Kevin Holman, We have a new policy going into effect in 2014. 909/987-7165 gal species Geosmithia pallida was recovered from Dan Jensen Non-members (and members who forget their name badges) will

PAST PRESIDENT symptomatic plant tissues in association with the be charged an additional fee for meetings. Robert Sartain western oak bark beetle Pseudopityophthorus pubi- Prizes were donated by: Ann Hope & Mauget, Christy Cuba, City of Santa Clarita pennis (Coleoptera: : Scolytinae). Alan Hudak, Kevin Holman & RPW STS Golf Tournament: STS is holding our 23920 Valencia Blvd. Pathogenicity tests on detached shoots showed that annual golf tournament June 19th at Dad Suite 255 G. pallida is pathogenic to coast live oak seedlings Raffle Winners: Jon Baker, Emina Darakjy, Ross Montes, Annie Miller Golf Course in Anaheim. This is a Santa Clarita CA 91355. and produced symptoms of foamy canker. Sheets, Ann Hope, Tom Paulson, Rebecca Criscillis, Scott McAl- great opportunity to network and have fun 661/286-4078 Symptoms: Symptoms occurring on the trunk laster, Kevin Holman & Alan Hudak while supporting the STS scholarship fund. and primary branches include wet discoloration Please visit www.streettreeseminar.com to VICE PRESIDENT Christy Cuba seeping through entry holes caused by the western Fig. 1. Branch die back symptoms of foamy canker Next Meeting: Please join us May 22nd for Soil & Plant Lab download the registration form & sign up. Carlberg & Associates oak bark beetle (Pseudopityophthorus pubipennis). with Paul Santos at the East Anaheim Community Center– RSVP We are also looking for sponsors and raffle prize donation. For 80 W. Sierra Madre Bl., #241 Peeling back of the outer bark reveals phloem ne- to [email protected] more information please contact Heather in the STS office– Sierra Madre, CA 91024 crosis surrounding the entry hole, and multiple entry [email protected] or 714.639.6515 626/248-8977 holes may be observed on each tree. As the disease Have you renewed for 2014? Look for your renewal in the mail. advances, a reddish sap may ooze from the entry SECRETARY hole, followed by a prolific foamy liquid. This Leon Boroditsky foamy liquid may run as far as 2 feet down the STS Board in the Community! City of Los Angeles, Rec and Parks - Forestry Div trunk. 3900 W. Chevy Chase Dr. The Beetle: Western oak bark beetle is a small With March being heavy in Arbor Day and Earth Day Celebrations, STS’ board has been out Los Angeles, CA 900939 beetle that burrows through the bark, excavating and about and representing us in our communities. 310/779-0111 shallow tunnels under the bark across the grain of the wood. Female lay their eggs in the tun- TREASURER nels; the developing larvae tunnel at right angles to Dan Jensen these, but mostly within the phloem (inner bark) R. Dan Jensen & Associates close to the surface (Costello et al 2012). 18011 Clearwater Note: Symptoms may be confused with those Huntington Bch, CA 92648 714/841-2905 caused by Fusarium Dieback/Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB). DIRECTORS The size of the entry hole associated with foamy Fig. 2. A cinnamon colored gum, followed by a creamy, Jon Baker foamy sap, running down the bark. County of LA Fire Dept canker is smaller than that made by the PSHB. 1910 N Sycamore Cyn Rd San Dimas, CA 91773 Who to contact if you find the problem: 909/599-4615 If you suspect that you have found these symptoms of the foamy canker on your tree please contact ei- Ken Pfalzgraf ther your local farm advisor, pest control advisor, City of Beverly Hills county Ag Commissioner office or Dr, Akif Eskalen 455 N. Rexford Dr. Rm 200 [email protected] . Fore more information visit Beverly Hills, CA 90210 310/285-2537 www.eskalenlab.ucr.edu Emina Darakjy at the City of Beverly Hills Earth Day Event Emina Darakjy, Ken Pfalzgraf & his daughter Kendra repre- senting at the City of Santa Clarita Arbor Day evemt/. Emina Darakjy 1044 Prospect Blvd Pasadena, CA 91103 Save the Date! 626/792-0586

MEMBERSHIP Mark Your Calendars! Kevin Holman Our Bi-Annual Western Management Tree Symposium: Summer Program 714/412-5348 Date: July 24, 2014 SCHOLARSHIP Kellogg West , 3801 W. Temple Ave., Pomona, CA Al Remyn 714/538-3821 Registration Opening Soon @ www.streettreeseminar.com Fig. 3. Brown discolored canker caused by the fungus on MAILING ADDRESS Fig. 4. Brown canker caused by the fungus in the bark. the bark. Street Tree Seminar, Inc. P.O. Box 6415 Anaheim, CA 92816-6415 www.streettreeseminar.com