Exotic Pests of Oregon’s Forests: Causes, Consequences and Control Wyatt Williams Invasive Species Specialist CONNECT Conference The Welches April 23, 2015 Oregon Department of Forestry Promoting and Practicing Sustainable Forestry Invasive Species Specialist, ODF Focus: All invasive species of Oregon’s non-federal forestlands. Emphasis put on preventing new invasions. Also concentrate on controlling priority existing populations. ODF’s Forest Health Team Jim Cathcart, Danny Norlander, Alan Kanaskie, Christine Buhl, Jon Laine, Manager Survey Specialist Forest Pathologist Forest Entomologist Forest Health Technician What is an invasive species? - Non-native origin - A pest - Tremendous negative consequences Native Pests Non-native Hypothetical community What is an invasive species? - Non-native origin - A pest - Tremendous negative consequences Pests Native Invaders Non-native Hypothetical community What is a “pest”? -PestNon-native noun \΄ originpest\ - A pest - Tremendous negative consequences : any [organism] that causes problems for people (Merriam-Webster dict.) : any organism judged as a threat to human beings or to their interests. Native Pests Non-native (Encyclopedia Britannica) Hypothetical community Why are the major negative consequences? 1. $120 billion/year in U.S. 2. Vectors of disease 3. Alter ecosystem functioning 4. Widespread species extinctions Avian malaria & island birds • Second only to habitat degradation Scotch broom invasion Cheatgrass & fire Nile perch has caused hundreds of extinctions How do forest invasive species get to U.S.? 1. Live plant trade (~70% of species) 2. Wood packing material (~25% of species) Oregon situation for two international pathways Oregon Dept. Ag. Port of Portland • Nursery is #1 Ag. commodity • 40 million tons of cargo ($20 billion) • Oregon ranks 3rd in Nation annually on Columbia River • $700+ million in sales • PDX imports in 2012: 2.8 million tons ($200 million) “Pathways” Solution Approach: WPM Pathway: Live Plant Pathway: Founded 1951 ISPM 15 – implemented 2005 Requirement to treat wood materials: • pallets, crates, dunnage, etc. • must be debarked then treated Domestic pathways • Live plant trade (interstate movement) – Example: Sudden Oak Death and Oregon Nurseries • Firewood, untreated wood products – 50% of untreated firewood bundles have live insects – Huge public outreach program: Don’t Move Firewood www.dontmovefirewood.org General rule of thumb: Don’t move firewood more than 50 miles from its source location Oregon Firewood import rules 2012 law: firewood sold commercially in Oregon must either be: 1) Locally harvested (ID, OR, WA), or 2) heat-treated (140°F for one hour) & certified Use local firewood whenever possible… Forest invaders are still arriving in the U.S. Forest invaders in the U.S.: • 2.5 exotic insect spp. arrive per year • 1 new invasive species every 2 years Blue = All non-native forest insects Red = Invasive forest insects and disease Aukema et al. 2010. Distribution of U.S. forest invasive species - Over 450 non-native forest insect species are established in U.S. Liebhold et al. 2013. Diversity & Distributions What can we do about invasive species? 3. IPM 2. EDRR 1. Prevention HISTORICAL EXAMPLE AND FUTURE THREATS Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) • 1869 in Boston, $800 million in annual costs • 200+ host trees, including DF • Serious threat to PNW forests • Large successful eradication efforts in 1980s • Effective EDRR tools = successful prevention! Why is the Gypsy Moth EDRR successful? • The right tool for the job • Effective management techniques • Well-oiled machine – ODA, ODF, USFS, BLM, APHIS, others Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) • First detected in 2002 • 100+ million trees killed • All 16 native ash species at risk of extinction EAB in North America Likely introduced via infested wood packing material • First identified, Detroit, MI and Windsor, ON in 2002 • Infestation had been established since ~1992-1993 • Now in 25 states, 2 provinces Feb 2015 EAB –1st detections in 2013 Ex. The last few EAB detections in 2013: In 2013, 86 new county- Date State Means level detections across Fall 2013 WI Infested tree, Contract arborist entire U.S. Fall 2013 IN Infested tree, Forester 50/86 or 58% were Fall 2013 IL Infested tree, Ag staff reported by professionals Fall 2013 CO Infested tree, Forester =People on the ground Summer 2013 VA EAB trap are better at detection Summer 2013 WI Infested tree, than the official EAB traps City workers Summer 2013 NC Infested tree, Forester ODF conducts statewide survey for EAB Oregon Ash – A widespread and common tree in western Oregon Risk of EAB to Oregon and Washington EAB risk modeling conducted by: USDA Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, 2014 Costs of Emerald Ash Borer Invasions “Emerald ash borers have become the most destructive and costly forest insect to ever invade North America.”– Deborah McCullough, Michigan State University Federal Local Residential government government Household Property Timber Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Value Loss Loss Total Total $92M $1.7B $760M $830M $130M $3.5B Aukema et al. 2011. PLoS one. Projected costs of EAB in Western States Removal: $435 M ($290/tree) Replacement: $580 M ($387/tree) New EAB invasion in Boulder, CO could cost Denver metro area ~$1 billion! City of Portland Street Tree Inventory 4.8% or 72,000 public ash $21M removal $28M replacement $49M total cost to PDX The effects of EAB in natural areas Dead and dying native ash in the Midwest. Note dead crowns. Oregon ash – important riparian plant? A common scene in western Oregon. Stand of 100% Oregon ash surrounded by grass seed fields and vineyards. What kind of wildlife rely upon these islands of habitat? How important is Oregon ash in hydromorphology? What would be the fuel loading for wildfires? What will replace Oregon ash if it disappears? No one knows because it hasn’t been studied!!! Treatments – Eradication/Suppression Visual surveys by tree care professionals. If you see signs, please report! Delimitation surveys include harvesting Eradication includes removing host trees in urban and peeling branches. Hard work! and natural areas. Expensive, ineffective. Treatments - Chemical • Tree injections • Systemic insecticides – Imidacloprid – Emamectin benzoate • Costly ($100-$500 per tree) • Repeat applications – every 1-2 years. • Not feasible on large scale Treatments - Biological Control • Three parasitoids introduced starting in 2007 • Tetrastichus planipennisi shows most promise • Released in 2007-2008, follow up surveys in 2012, Michigan • 21% parasitism rate • Rates still rising Duan et al. 2013 T. Murray The crux of the problem • EDRR has not worked in the past for EAB • 22 eradication attempts in U.S…. • Most, if not all, were detected 4+ years after initial establishment • We need…. – a better EDRR tool, and… – statewide preparedness plan Oregon Forest Pest Detector Project Goal: Train tree care professionals to recognize and report exotic wood borers Components: • Training modules • Reporting infrastructure • Develop ‘Invasive Wood Borer Preparedness Plan’ Amy Grotta OSU Extension forester Columbia, Wash., Yamhill Counties Asian longhorned beetle Emerald ash borer Asian Longhorned Beetle – a major threat to urban and natural PNW forests ALB (Anoplophora glabripennis) • Broad host range • Currently in NY, MA, OH • Eradicated in IL, NJ • Preferred hosts: Portland Parks - 2013 Street Tree Inventory Genus Common name Lesion inside bark Acer Maple Aesculus Buckeye, horsechestnut Betula Birch ! Salix Willow Ulmus Elm www.portlandoregon.gov/parks OFPD summary • OSU Extension program • Five online Modules Powerpoint/short videos – Invasive Species background – EAB – ALB – Reporting – Communicating with public • Face to face training • Field courses with simulated damage (Cathedral Park, PDX; Clean Water Services - Hillsboro) • CEUs, pesticide credits • Kickoff: April 9, 2015 • Three training sessions, 50 professionals trained to date Module 2 Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) Forest Pest Detector Course Features of Ash- Leaves, Branches • Compound Leaflet leaf with 5- 11 leaflets YES! • Opposite branching pattern No! Leaf Forest Pest Detector Course Life Cycle ADULT PUPA EGGS LARVA Forest Pest Detector Course Life Cycle- Larva • Flat with segmented body • Bore through bark to feed on phloem and cambium • S-shaped tunnels • Spend winter under bark Forest Pest Detector Course Adult Emergence • Adults emerge when development is complete • D-shaped exit holes Forest Pest Detector Course Signs of EAB • S-shaped galleries • D-shaped exit holes • Increased woodpecker activity or damage • Adult insect or larvae Forest Pest Detector Course Module 3 Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) Forest Pest Detector Course Introduction Video Forest Pest Detector Course ALB Damage • Larva consume phloem and xylem • Trees decline slowly over time • Over 80,000 trees lost • Millions of dollars spent vascular tissue (xylem) Forest Pest Detector Course Adult Look-Alikes Oregon fir sawyer ALB (Monochamus scutellatus oregonensis) Female Male banded alder borer (Rosalia funebris) Forest Pest Detector Course Where to Report? www.OregonInvasivesHotline.org Forest Pest Detector Course OFPD next steps • Next training, September ISA meeting in Bend • Continuing to recruit key professionals: – Arborists, city foresters, natural area managers, etc • Partners are developing “Invasive Woodborer Preparedness Plan” for public, communities Oregon Forest Pest Detector Program is funded by USDA-APHIS and by