United States Department of Agriculture Forest Health Forest Service Alaska Region R10-PR-11 April 2007 Conditions in State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry Alaska—2006 A Forest Health Protection Report Alaska Forest Health Specialists US Forest Service, Forest Health Protection http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/spf/fhp/ Steve Patterson, Assistant Director S&PF, Forest Health Protection Program Leader, Anchorage; [email protected] Anchorage, South-Central Field Office 3301 ‘C’ Street, Suite 202, Anchorage, AK 99503-3956, Phone: (907) 743-9455 Fax: 907) 743-9479 John Hard, Entomologist (retired) Tiphanie Henningsen, Biological Technician John Lundquist, Entomologist, [email protected] Michael Shephard, Ecologist; [email protected] Cynthia L. Snyder, Biological Science Technician; [email protected] Lori Trummer, Pathologist; [email protected] Kenneth P. Zogas, Biological Science Technician; [email protected] Juneau, Southeast Field Office 2770 Sherwood Lane, Suite 2A, Juneau, AK 99801, Phone: (907) 586-8811 Fax: (907) 586-7848 Prentiss Adkins, Biological Technician; [email protected] Paul E. Hennon, Pathologist; [email protected] Melinda Lamb, Biological Science Technician; [email protected] Mark Schultz, Entomologist; [email protected] Dustin Wittwer, Aerial Survey/GIS; [email protected] Fairbanks, Interior Field Office 3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709, Phone: (907) 451-2701 Fax: (907) 451-2690 Jim Kruse, Entomologist; [email protected] Jake Sprankle, Biological Science Technician; [email protected] Pacific Northwest Research Station 2770 Sherwood Lane, Suite 2A, Juneau, AK 99801, Phone: (907) 586-8811 Fax: (907) 586-7848 Paul E. Hennon, Pathologist; [email protected] 3301 ‘C’ Street, Suite 202, Anchorage, AK 99503-3956, Phone: (907) 743-9455 Fax: 907) 743-9479 John Lundquist, Entomologist, [email protected] State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources 3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709, Phone: (907) 451-2702 Fax (907) 451-2690 Robert Ott, Forest Health Program Coordinator; [email protected] Division of Forestry Central Office 550 W 7th Avenue, Suite 1450, Anchorage, AK 99501, Phone: (907) 269-8460 Fax: (907) 269-8902 /31 Roger E. Burnside, Entomologist; [email protected] Hans Buchholdt, Cartographer/GIS Specialist; [email protected] University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service 2221 E. Northern Lights, Suite 118, Anchorage, AK 99508, Phone: (907) 786-6311 Jamie Nielsen, Invasive Plant Specialist; [email protected] Michael Rasy, Statewide Integrated Pest Management Technician; [email protected] Corlene Rose, Integrated Pest Management Program Coordinator; [email protected] Forest Health Conditions in Alaska–2006 Protection Report R10-PR-11 Compiled by: Cynthia Snyder Edited by: John Lundquist Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 7 Focus On—The Challenge of Mapping Forest Disturbances in Alaska ........................................................ 8 Alaska Forest Health Highlights ....................................................................................................................... 0 Status of Insects ............................................................................................................................................17 The Ecological Role of Forest Insects ............................................................................................................... 9 Focus On—Climate Change and Forest Health in Alaska ............................................................................ Defoliators ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 Birch Leaf Miners ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 Aspen Leaf Miner ............................................................................................................................................................ 6 Spruce Budworm ............................................................................................................................................................. 8 Large Aspen Tortrix ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Willow Leaf Blotch Miner .............................................................................................................................................. 0 Sunira Moth ..................................................................................................................................................................... 0 Cottonwood Defoliation ................................................................................................................................................. 0 Alder Defoliation ............................................................................................................................................................. Woolly Alder Sawfly ........................................................................................................................................................ Spear-marked Black Moth ............................................................................................................................................. Birch Leaf Roller .............................................................................................................................................................. Larch Sawfly ..................................................................................................................................................................... Spruce Aphid .................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Western Black-headed budworm .................................................................................................................................. 5 Hemlock Sawfly ............................................................................................................................................................... 5 Gypsy Moth ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5 European Yellow Underwing Moth .............................................................................................................................. 5 Yellow-headed Spruce Sawfly ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Uglynest Caterpillar ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 Miscellaneous Defoliators .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Bark Beetles .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Spruce Beetle .................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Engraver Beetle ................................................................................................................................................................ 9 Western Balsam Bark Beetle .......................................................................................................................................... 40 Sitka Spruce Weevil ......................................................................................................................................................... 40 Eastern Larch Beetle ....................................................................................................................................................... 40 Status of Diseases and Declines ....................................................................................................................41 Managing Diseases to Achieve Forest Health in Alaska ...............................................................................4 Stem Diseases .......................................................................................................................................................46 Hemlock Dwarf Mistletoe.............................................................................................................................................. 46 Heart Rots of Conifers .................................................................................................................................................... 48 Stem Decay of Hardwoods ............................................................................................................................................. 50 Spruce Broom Rust .........................................................................................................................................................