Forest Pests Forestry & Society Fall 2003 J.G. Mexal

Forestry & Society Trees Live A Long Time /PNW,2000 Lifespan (yrs)

Forestry & Society Forest Health /PNW,2000 “A healthy forest can renew itself vigorously across the landscape, recover from a wide range of disturbances, and retain its ecological resilience while meeting current and future needs of people for values, uses, products, and services.” USDA Forest Service, 1997

Forestry & Society Pest Outbreak Triangle/ PNW,2000

Forestry & Society Forest Pests- Exotic Pests Native Pests NM Pests

Forestry & Society Forest Pests- Pest Species Migration 1869: Gypsy moth – Asia?-- E. Hardwoods 1898: White pine blister rust -- Europe to Idaho to NM -SW white pine 1904: Chestnut blight -- Japan – American chestnut (50% mortality by 1930) 1929: Dutch Elm Disease -- Europe – American Elm (77 million killed in 20 th century) 1980s: Asian long-horn beetle -- China – E. hardwoods 1990s: Pinewood nematode -- Japan -- Western conifers

American chestnut- Occupied 25% of Appalachian hardwood forest Largest DBH = 17 ft Japanese chestnut imported by Bronx Zoo in 1904 Not TES because of stump sprouts Susceptible to P. cinnamoni Original Distribution

Forest Pests Chestnut Blight - Dryphonectria parasitica From Japan 1904 Eliminated American chestnut from eastern deciduous forests. Annual lost timber value for 3 states of $683.9 million (1999 dollars). Caused declines in chestnut-dependant wildlife and erosion where lost trees have not been replaced.

American chestnut- a comeback? Original Distribution

Forest Pests White Pine Blister Rust Cronartium ribicola Late 1800’s throughout range of eastern white pine and early 1900’s in 6 western. Killing pines in western high elevation ecosystems, eliminating wildlife forage; affecting soil stability, snowmelt Current risk

Forest Pests White Pine Blister Rust Spread Historic Current

Dutch Elm Disease- Ophiostoma ulmi Discovered in 1930 from Europe Occurs in most states. Killed more than 60% of elms in urban settings. A more virulent U.S. strain evolved and has caused significant impacts in Europe.

Year Millions of Acres Lymantria dispar brought to Boston, MA in 1869 for silk industry. Infests 15 states in NE US Feeds on oak, sugar maple, beech and aspen Forestry & Society Forest Pests-Gypsy moth

Gypsy moth found in Travis Co., TX/2005 Asian gypsy moths such as this male, left, and female attack more than 500 plant species. In 19 states, spot infests 12 more. Annually defoliates millions of northeastern and Midwestern forested acres; Suppression costs tens of millions. Record losses in 1981: 13 million acres defoliated; $3.9 billion (1998 dollars) in losses.

Forestry & Society Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) Imported from Asia Infested Canada, MI (1999) & OH & MD Killed 6kk trees in MI alone ( ) David Cappaert Could cause elimination of ash as a street, shade, and forest tree nationwide at an estimated cost of $282 billion.

Forestry & Society Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) D.G. McCullough, Tree Farmer (Mar/Apr 2006) Discovered in 2002 All ash species susceptible 12-15kk ash trees killed in central MI by 2006 Threatens 8kkk forest trees $282 billion) Threatens 3.8kkk urban trees Photos by David Cappaert

Exotic Pests Emerald Ash borer: –Established in Michigan in 2002 –Established in Ohio in 2003 –Established in Indiana in 2004 –Established in Illinois in 2006 Area = 40,000 square miles 3 billion trees vulnerable Removal & replacement costs ~ $7 billion

Forest Pests Sudden Oak Death = Phytophthora ramorum Joseph O'Brien Discovered in 1994 in CA In 2005, spread to OR, WA, GA, LA, TN, SC In 2006, found in 22 states 84 susceptible species in US Calif. black oak White fir Calif. red fir Coastal redwoods Coast live oak Douglas-fir Madrone Tanoak Could devastate oak forests nationwide.

Forestry & Society Exotic Pests/Balsam Woolly Adelgid/ PNW,2000 Native to Western Europe Discovered on West Coast in 1929 Subalpine fir 1965 (Adelges piceae) 1908 Attacks true fir species. Caused dramatic declines in Fraser fir in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, resulting in understory and wildlife changes.

Forestry & Society Exotic Pests/Hemlock Woolly Adelgid/ (Adelges tsugae) 1920’s from Asia. Currently in more than 4 states. Contributing to decline of eastern and Carolina hemlocks. Alters bird communities where it kills eastern hemlock.

Forestry & Society Forest Pests-Asian Longhorned Beetle Photos by M. Smith

Nebraska Forestry Service Pinus sylvestris Forestry & Society Pine Knot Nematode on Scots Pine Native to Japan Discovered in 1979 in MO Carried by pine sawyer beetle No control

SNC Aerial Survey /Greg Filip

Forestry & Society Exotic Pests/Weeds Science Findings 38/Oct’01 SE kudzu cogongrass NW English ivy Holly Scots broom Himalayan blackberry Sweet cherry

Forestry & Society Exotic Pests/Weeds Science Findings 38/Oct’01 SE kudzu cogongrass NW English ivy Holly Scots broom Himalayan blackberry Sweet cherry

Forestry & Society Exotic Pests/Weeds Science Findings 38/Oct’01 SE kudzu cogongrass NW English ivy Holly Scots broom Himalayan blackberry Sweet cherry

Forestry & Society Exotic Pests/Weeds Yellow starthistle competes with mariposa lily PNW Sci. Update 9:2:Mar’05

Forestry & Society Exotic Pests/Weeds Science Findings 38/Oct’01 Cover (%) after 3 yrs Treatment VDT = Variable density thinning 2nd Growth Douglas-fir VDT creates openings for invasion by exotics

Forestry & Society Forest Pests- Exotic Pests Native Pests NM Pests

Forest Pests Mountain Pine Beetle British Columbia Started in 1998 Attacked Lodgepole pine Area = 9 kk ha Value = $9kkk 2007: Area = 15,000,000 ha Volume = 530 kk m 3 Value = $38 kkk 40% of BC pine forest Ministry of Forests 1 m 3 = 1 telephone pole

Will climate change spell the end of forests in North America? A warmer climate allows the beetle to migrate north and potentially east and then south!!! Forest Pests Mountain Pine Beetle

Spruce beetle spread in Kenai Peninsula, AK/ van Hees PNW-RP-563, ‘05

Forest Pests Spruce Bark Beetle J. For. 104(5):254:’06 Beetle-killed spruce in Alaska Over 1 million acres destroyed (90% mortality)

Bark beetle outbreaks in Texas/ SJAF 27(2):122:2003 Infested Acres Chemical control does not work! It’s too late!

Forest Pests Billboard in Florida/ J. For. 104(5):241:2006

Forestry & Society Forest Pests-Western Spruce Budworm Year Millions of Acres Choristoneura occidentalis is native to Rocky Mountains. Feeds on Douglas-fir and true firs.

Forestry & Society Forest Pests-Oak Wilt Oak wilt = Ceratocystis fagacearum –oaks (Quercus)-- 36 species –chestnuts (Castanea) –chinkapins (Castanopsis) –tanoak (Lithocarpus) J.For. 99(5):4:’01 Discovered in 1995

Forestry & Society Forest Pests-Oak Wilt Healthy Dead J.For. 99(5):4:’01

Forestry & Society Forest Pests-Oak Wilt in Texas Year Acres J.For. 99(5):4:’01 Cost ($1,000s)

Red-Headed Pine Sawfly Enemy of young pine plantations Usually completely defoliates a tree before crawling to the next Destroys trees because there is more than one generation of eggs laid

Forestry & Society Forest Pests-USFS Expenditures Insects –Gypsy moth$3.8 million –Mtn pine beetle$1.1 million –So. pine beetle$ 315,000 –Hemlock woolly adelgid$ 116,000 –Ips beetle$ 42,000 –Spruce beetle$ 10,000 Weeds $ 285,000 Disease (oak wilt) $ 270,000 J.For. 99(5):4:’01

Forestry & Society Forest Pests in New Mexico Bark beetles –Dendroctonus– Ips –Twig beetle Wood borers –Roundhead – Flathead Mistletoe –True (Phoradendron) –Dwarf (Arceuthobium) Western Spruce budworm Tent caterpillar Cytospora canker (aspen and willows) Douglas-fir tussock moth White pine blister rust

Describe the pest outbreak triangle Why and how do these exotic pests get introduced and started? What are the major forest pests in the US? In NM? How are they controlled? Does it make sense? Why? Forestry & Society Forest Pests- Review Questions