Forest Insects

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Forest Insects DisordersBy Doyle Floyd
May 2007
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Conifer Bark Beetles
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Ambrosia Beetle

• (Platypus spp.)

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IMPORTANCE

• Attack most pine species hardwoods
• Infest weakened dying trees, green logs
  unseasoned lumber
• Degrade lumber reduce strength

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IDENTIFICATION

• Dark reddish brown in color
• About ¼ long
• Usually have sharp spines at the rear

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Injury Identification

• Large piles of fine white granular dust below
  entrance holes or at the base of standing trees
• Darkly stained galleries

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Biology

• Adults and larvae feed on fungus brought into the
  wood not the wood
• Adults bore into sapwood or heartwood of logs and
  lumber
• Females lay eggs in small clusters
• Timber is not attacked unless moisture content of
  wood is at least 48
• Seasoned lumber is never infested

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Control

• No chemical control recommended in the forest
• Rapid utilization of cut timber
• Fast drying of lumber helps prevent damage
• Winter harvest storage

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Black Turpentine Beetle

• (Dendroctonus terebrans)

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IMPORTANCE

• Found from New Hampshire to Florida from West
  Virginia to East Texas
• Attacks all pines native to the South
• Most serious in pine naval stores

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IDENTIFICATION

• Adult insect is dark brown to black in color
• 3/8 in length
• Round rear end
• Full grown larvae are white with a reddish brown
  head about 1/3 long
• Pupae are about ¼ in length yellowish white

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Black Turpentine Beetle
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Injury Identification

• Attack fresh stumps
• Attack lower trunks (0-15) of living pines
• Initial attacks generally within 2 of the ground
• Identified by white to reddish-brown pitch tubes,
  about the size of a half-dollar

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Pitch tube
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Biology

• Adult beetles bore into the cambium construct
  galleries
• Galleries usually extend downward
• Eggs laid in clusters hatch in 10-14 days
• Life cycle takes from 2 ½ to 4 months, depending
  on the season
• 2-4 generations a year

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Larvae
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Control

• Natural enemies good tree vigor keep
  populations at low levels
• Preventive sprays effective for high value trees
• Prompt removal of infested trees helps control
  outbreaks
• Management practices that promote tree vigor
  minimize root trunk damage help prevent
  infestations

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Ips Engraver Beetle

• (Ips avulsus)
• (Ips grandicollis)
• (Ips calligraphus)

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IMPORTANCE

• Kill more pine timber in the south than any other
  forest insect, with the exception of the Southern
  Pine Beetle
• Usually attack injured, dying or recently felled
  trees fresh logging debris
• Common in trees weakened by drought or lightning
  strikes

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IDENTIFICATION

• Adult beetles dark red-brown to almost black
• 1/8 to 1/5 of an inch long
• Scooped out rear end with 4-6 spines on each side
• Larvae have white bodies with orange-brown heads
  are legless
• Pupae are waxy-white and similar in size to adults

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Ips Engraver Beetle
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Injury Identification

• First signs of attack are reddish-brown boring
  dust in bark crevices or reddish-brown pitch
  tubes about dime size on bark surfaces
• Y H shaped egg galleries with short larval
  galleries extending perpendicular to them,
  usually free of boring dust

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Injury Identification

• Pitch tubes found from the ground to the top of
  the trees
• Blue-stain fungi introduced when the beetles
  attack the tree, visible in the sapwood hasten
  the death of the trees

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Blue Stain Fungus
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Biology

• Female constructs an egg gallery lays eggs
  beneath the bark of attacked trees
• Larvae make individual feeding galleries in the
  inner bark pupate at the end of their galleries
• New adults emerge after 21-40 days during the
  summer or after several months during the winter

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Control

• The best control is prompt removal utilization
  of actively infested trees
• Destroying the bark and slabs of infested timber
• Insect parasites predators, woodpeckers
  weather provide natural control
• Chemical control is not feasible under forest
  conditions
• Preventive practices include minimizing logging
  damage to remaining trees quick removal of
  felled trees

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Southern Pine Beetle

• (Dendroctonus frontalis)

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IMPORTANCE

• The most destructive pest of pines in the
  southern United States
• Occurs from Pennsylvania to Texas from New
  Mexico Arizona to Honduras
• Attacks can kill all species of pines but
  prefers loblolly, shortleaf, Virginia, pond
  pitch pines

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IDENTIFICATION

• Adult is short-legged, about 1/8 long
• Dark reddish brown to black in color
• Front of the head is notched and the hind end of
  its body is rounded
• Larva is crescent-shaped and whitish, with an
  amber head
• Larvae are approximately the same length as
  adults
• Pupae are also the same size white.
• Eggs are pearly-white and found in notches along
  either side of the adult egg galleries

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Southern Pine Beetle
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Injury Identification

• Adults bore directly through the outer bark into
  the living bark
• Tree exudes resin which forms a small pitch tube
  about the size of a small piece of popcorn
• Beetles construct winding, S-shaped galleries,
  which cut across on another and girdle the tree
• Blue-stain fungus in the sapwood hasten the death
  of the tree
• First indication of mortality is discoloration of
  the foliage
• Trees may be killed singly or in groups ranging
  from a few trees to several hundred acres

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Blue Stain Fungus
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Biology

• Adults construct winding galleries in the inner
  bark, where eggs are deposited in individual
  niches on each side of the galleries
• Eggs hatch in 4-9 days
• Larvae bore into the outer bark where they pupate
• One life cycle can be completed in 30 days under
  ideal conditions
• 3-7 generations per year depending on latitude,
  elevation climate

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Control

• Natural enemies weather help maintain beetle
  populations levels bring cyclic outbreaks under
  control
• Integrated pest management techniques such as
  rapid removal utilization of infested trees,
  piling burning of infested materials, chemical
  control in high value resources

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Clerid Beetle

• (Thanasimus dubius)
• Bark Beetle Predator

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Bark Beetle Predator
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Southern Pine Sawyer

• (Monochamus titillator)

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IMPORTANCE

• Occurs throughout the eastern southern United
  States
• Destructive to pine logs held in storage pines
  killed by natural or man-made catastrophes

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IDENTIFICATION

• Adult beetles are mottled gray and brown
• 1-1 ¼ long and have antennae which are 2-3 long
• Full-grown larvae are legless whitish yellow in
  color and up to 2 ¼ long

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Injury Identification

• First signs are funnel shaped pits or egg niches
  in the bark
• Removal of bark will reveal coarse,
  excelsior-like wood shavings sculptured wood
• Elliptical shaped holes tightly packed with frass
  indicate that the larvae have bored into the
  sapwood to construct the pupal cell
• Round, pencil-sized holes in the wood are exit
  holes

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Biology

• Adult beetle deposits one to several eggs in the
  cambium area through the egg niches
• Larva feed on the surface cambium then bore into
  the sapwood heartwood
• After pupation, adult beetles chew through the
  wood making round exit holes
• At least 3 generations per year in the southern
  United States

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Control

• Rapid utilization of dead dying trees and green
  logs will reduce infestations
• Storage of large numbers of trees may be sprayed
  with insecticides or debarked
• Logs stored under water sprays may also prevent
  serious damage

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Conifer Defoliators
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Bagworm

• (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis)

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IMPORTANCE

• One of the most important pests of evergreen
  ornamentals in the South
• Arborvitae juniper are particularly susceptible
• Heavy infestations will strip evergreens of their
  foliage cause branch dieback or death
• Some hardwood species are attacked but rarely
  damaged as severely as conifers

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IDENTIFICATION

• Larvae are rarely seen outside the bags they
  construct
• Wingless female moth is grub-like and remains
  inside the tough, silken bag her entire life
• Males are nimble fliers can be seen in the fall
  circling around infested trees in search of a mate

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Injury Identification

• Bagworms consume the entire needle or leaf,
  leaving only the sheath or mid-rib
• Usually feed on none branch at a time
• Indication of damage is the presence of bags
  suspended from twigs branches

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Biology

• Over-winter as eggs, inside the bags that
  contained the female
• Eggs hatch in the spring and the larvae crawl out
  in search of food
• Construct a bag around themselves using bits of
  needles, leaves silk
• Bags are between 1 ½-2 ½ in length and the
  larvae permanently suspend their bags from twigs
  pupate

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Biology continued

• In the fall, the male moth emerges, flies to a
  females bag mates
• Females lay between 500 1,000 eggs within her
  bag
• One generation per year

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Control

• Outbreaks reduced by low winter temperatures a
  complex of several parasites
• On ornamentals around the home, it is practical
  to use mechanical method of control, picking them
  off and burning them
• Chemical control is also effective

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Conifer Sawflies

• (Neodiprion spp.)

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IMPORTANCE

• Occurs in Southeastern Canada throughout the
  eastern southern United States
• Attacks all species of pines
• Heavy defoliation can lead to growth loss and
  tree mortality

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IDENTIFICATION

• Larvae are about 1 in length
• Larvae consume needles
• One generation in the spring with defoliation in
  the spring
• Three or more generations in the fall winter
  with defoliation occurring in the fall
• Fall winter defoliators have greater impact and
  are considered more devastating

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Injury Identification

• Larvae feed in colonies containing a few to over
  100 larvae
• Feeding generally occurs on trees under 15 in
  height
• Young larvae feed on the outer portion of the
  needles
• Unconsumed portions of needles have a straw-like
  appearance
• Older larvae strip branches of all foliage
  sometimes feed on tender bark when foliage is
  scarce.

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Biology

• Over-winters in the larval stage within cocoons
  located in the soil or duff
• Adults emerge in the spring
• Female lays approximately 120 eggs in rows on the
  needles of a single twig
• Eggs hatch in 2-4 weeks larvae feed for about 4
  weeks
• Larvae drop to the ground spin their cocoons
• From 1 to 3 generations per year depending on
  species

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Control

• Natural factors climatic conditions help
  control populations
• Polyhedrosis virus are very effective at
  controlling outbreaks
• Chemical insecticides may be used to control
  outbreaks

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Pine Webworm

• (Tetralopha robustella)

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IMPORTANCE

• Occurs in southern Canada and throughout most of
  the eastern half of the United States
• Attacks the 3 major species of pine as well as
  Virginia, white shortleaf
• Usually attacks one two year seedlings but will
  infest saplings large trees
• Rarely kill the trees but does have impact on
  growth tree form

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IDENTIFICATION

• Adult moth is dark to medium gray, with dark gray
  to black forewings on the basal third and outer
  half
• Wingspread is approximately 1
• Larva are light gray with darker tan stripes
  along the body
• Larva are approximately ¾ long when fully grown
• Pupae are reddish in color approximately ½ long

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Injury Identification

• Most noticeable usually first sign of attack is
  a large mass of frass excrement pellets
  entangled in a network of silken webbing
• Mass usually has one or more larvae

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Biology

• Eggs usually laid on seedlings occasionally on
  larger trees between May September
• Caterpillars live in silken webs surrounded by
  masses of frass feed on needles
• Caterpillars drop to the ground pupate in the
  soil
• Usually two generations per year

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Control

• Hand picking webbings is effective method of
  control
• High value nursery stock may require chemical
  control

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Meristem Feeders
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Nantucket Pine Tip Moth

• (Rhyacionia frustrana)

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IMPORTANCE

• Bud and shoot borer
• Occurs throughout the East South
• Attacks most species of pine
• Greatest economic loss results from retarding the
  height growth deforming the main stems of trees
• Kills female flowers and cone lets

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IDENTIFICATION

• Young larvae are cream colored with black heads
• Mature larvae are light brown to orange, about
  2/5 long
• Head, body appendages of the moth are covered
  with gray scales, while forewings are covered
  with patches of brick-red and copper-colored
  scales

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Injury Identification

• Injure the growing shoots of young pines
• Larvae bore into and feed on inner tissues of
  buds and shoots
• Shoot injury occurs primarily during the first 5
  years decreases as crowns close
• Boring frass on the cone let surface dead stalk
  is the first indication of attack

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Biology

• Over-winters as pupa adults emerge in late
  winter or early spring
• Mating egg laying occur shortly after emergence
• Early larvae feed on needles surfaces of new
  growth, while later larvae move to shoot tips
  begin boring into buds or stem tissues
• Pupation occurs within damaged shoots
• 2-5 generations per year

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Control

• Control by insecticides is usually not
  recommended except for high value trees in seed
  orchard, nurseries, Christmas tree plantations or
  for ornamentals.

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Pales Weevil

• (Hylobius pales)

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IMPORTANCE

• Most serious insect threat to newly planted
  pines, particularly on recently cutover sites
• More common along the Gulf coast
• Feeds on most coniferous species and all species
  of southern pines
• Seedling mortality has been recorded as high as
  90 30-60 mortality is not uncommon

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IDENTIFICATION

• Adult weevils are oblong, robust, black to
  reddish brown about ½ long
• Wing covers have small, scattered patches of
  yellowish hair
• Mouth parts have a trunk or snout appearance

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Injury Identification

• Adults feed on the tender bark of seedlings,
  twigs or larger trees
• Small, irregular feeding patches in the bark are
  characteristic of weevil damage
• Heavy feeding may girdle the stem causing wilting
  or death
• Feeding below the root collar and on the roots is
  common

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Biology

• Adult weevils are attracted by the odor of fresh
  pine resin quickly invade recently logged areas
• Eggs are laid in lateral roots of fresh pine
  stumps hatch in 5-10 days
• Larvae feed on the inner bark tissue of dead
  roots
• Full-grown larvae construct a chip cocoon in the
  wood pupate
• Pupal stage lasts from a few weeks to several
  months depending on temperature
• Adult weevils are found year round
• Two generations per year

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Control

• Can be controlled by delaying planting for one
  season in areas cut over after July
• Treating seedlings with a registered insecticide
• Reducing the size of clear-cuts

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Piercing Sucking Insects
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Aphids
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IMPORTANCE

• Infest hardwoods and conifers throughout the
  United States
• Can be found anywhere on the tree
• Heavy infestations distort foliage, cause
  terminal die-back, reduce vitality, weaken the
  tree can cause branch crown die-back
• Greatest concern in nurseries ornamentals

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IDENTIFICATION

• Vary in color body covering
• Range in size from1/50 to ¼ long
• All soft-bodied insects
• Pear-shaped with a pair of cornicles at the
  posterior of the abdomen
• May be transparent, yellow, green, pink, brown,
  almost black or spotted
• Some may be covered with a white wooly wax
• Some are winged while others are not

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Injury Identification

• Leaf discoloration, dieback of newly formed
  terminals, branch ends new leaves
• Early leaf drop, ring-like swelling or knots at
  nodes buds
• Sooty mold ants are good indicators of an
  active or recent aphid attack

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Biology

• Over-wintering can occur in any life stage but
  the most common is the adult or egg
• Eggs hatch live births occur in the spring
• Nymphs begin feeding on selected parts of the
  plant
• Some migrate nymphs, others spend their live in
  one place
• One to several generations per year
• Some require alternate hosts in alternate
  generations

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Control

• Parasites predators are effective in
  controlling aphid outbreaks maintaining low
  populations
• Insecticides are used to protect high value
  trees, most effective against the nymphs

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Sooty Mold
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IDENTIFICATION

• Superficial on leaf surfaces, a result of the
  honeydew excreted by aphids
• Cause little damage to trees
• Controlling the insects controls the disease

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Conifer Diseases
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Needle Cast

• ( Hypoderma sp.)
• (Lophodermium sp.)

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IMPORTANCE

• Needle cast fungi are common diseases of conifers
  throughout the South
• Forest stand trees usually recover
• In non-forest conifers, such as Christmas trees,
  losses can be substantial
• Loblolly, slash, shortleaf, Virginia eastern
  white pine are susceptible

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IDENTIFICATION

• Over 25 needle cast fungi known in the South
• Only identified microscopically
• Yellow-brown color of needles
• Scorched appearance in later stages of infestation

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Injury Identification

• Needles begin to turn yellow-brown by winter or
  early spring
• Browning progresses fungal fruiting bodies are
  produced
• Small, black fruiting bodies may be bordered by
  brown or yellow margins or both
• Scorched appearance in more advanced stages

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Biology

• New needles infected in spring or summer
• Fungi colonize the needle tissue, turning it
  yellow later brown
• Fruiting bodies are formed in these brown areas,
  which produce spores that are spread during wet
  weather to re-infect new needles on other trees

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Control

• No practical control in forest stands
• Fungicide sprays may be applied in Christmas tree
  plantings nurseries

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Brown Spot Needle Blight

• (Scirrhia acicola)

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IMPORTANCE

• Longleaf pine is the only species damaged by this
  disease
• Seedlings heavily infected while in the grass
  stage
• Seedlings often die after repeated defoliations

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IDENTIFICATION

• Boat shaped spores are produced in the yellow
  bands on the needles
• Positive identification can be made by examining
  spores under a microscope
• Needles develop grey-green spots which later turn
  brown
• Yellow band develops on the needle
• Affected area increases in size, resulting in
  death of the needle

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Biology

• Spores released from the fruiting bodies on the
  needles throughout the year
• Spores splashed short distances by rain
• Longer distance spread of the fungus is done by
  perithecia which are produced on the dead needles

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Control

• Plant resistant or high quality seedlings on
  intensively prepared sites
• When using seed trees, burn in the fall to
  destroy diseased needles
• When seedlings are established, burn during the
  dormant season
• Fungicide sprays are effective for controlling
  this disease in nurseries

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Pine Needle Rust

• (Coleosporium sp.)

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IMPORTANCE

• Most prevalent on young trees
• Usually does not seriously damage trees
• Most concern in Christmas tree plantings and
  nurseries
• Most yellow pines throughout the south are
  susceptible
• Goldenrod, asters other plants serve as
  alternate hosts

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IDENTIFICATION

• Fungus has four stages
• Infected pines have white-orange blisters on the
  needles
• Fruiting structures are an obvious feature of
  infection

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Biology

• Four stages of fungal development
• Two stages on the pine needles with the other two
  stages on alternate hosts

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Control

• No control necessary in forest stands
• Alternate hosts can be reduced by mowing or
  herbicide applications
• Chemical applications are justified in high value
  areas such as nurseries

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Cedar Apple Rust

• (Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae)

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IMPORTANCE

• Golf ball-size galls that form on eastern red
  cedar (alternate hosts) are unsightly
• Cause little harm to the tree
• The primary host-apples, crabapples- experience
  foliage loss, growth loss, reduced quantity
  quality of fruit and in some cases death

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IDENTIFICATION

• Fungus forms galls on the branches of eastern red
  cedar
• In the spring, the galls produce long, orange
  tendrils or horns
• Leaf spots form on the apple host in the spring
• The spots produce yellow spores on the lower
  surface

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Injury Identification

• Brown, round galls form on the branches of red
  cedar
• Apple leaves have yellow spots that later turn
  brown result in cupping and curling of the
  leaves

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Biology

• Red cedar needles are infected in the summer by
  spores from the apple host
• Brown galls begin to appear on the needle
• Larger brown galls, with small round depressions,
  forms on the twigs
• Orange, jellylike horns protrude from these galls
• Spores produced in these horns infect the apple
  which results in leaf spot

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Control

• Picking and disposing of the galls can improve
  the appearance of the red cedar
• The stage on the apple is generally controlled
  with fungicides
• Reducing the number of eastern red cedars my
  reduce the occurrence of the disease

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Fusiform Rust

• (Cronartium quercuum)

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IMPORTANCE

• Infections that occur on the main stem within the
  first 5 years of a trees life normally cause
  death
• Infections that occur later in the life cycle
  weaken the stem resulting in wind breakage at the
  canker or quality loss at rotation
• Losses in nurseries can exceed 80
• Loblolly slash pine are the most susceptible
  species
• Longleaf is fairly resistant while shortleaf is
  highly resistant
• Oak is the alternate host

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IDENTIFICATION

• Fungus produces orange spores on the surface of
  fusiform-shaped pine galls in the spring
• Orange spores are produced on the lower surface
  of the oak leaves
• Hair-like structures are also produced on the leaf

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Injury Identification

• Spindle shaped swellings or galls develop on the
  branches or main stem
• Main stem infections on older trees are somewhat
  depressed on one side
• Trees commonly break at he canker
• In the spring, galls turn orange
• Infection on the oak host produces orange leaf
  spots and hair-like telia, which can cause
  cupping and curling of the leaf

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Control

• Reducing oak populations in pine stands help
  reduce outbreaks
• Using resistant species of pines or genetically
  improved species

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Pitch Canker

• (Fusarium moniliforme)

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IMPORTANCE

• Damage all of the commercially important southern
  pine species
• In forest stands, slash occasionally loblolly
  are seriously infected
• Mortality can result from abundant cankering,
  losses from growth suppression are more common

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Identification

• Trees exhibit shoot dieback of the current years
  growth
• Abundant resin flow from the affected area
• Wood beneath the cankers are resin-soaked
• The main terminal and upper laterals are most
  often affected

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Control

• No specific control procedures are available
• Maintain stand vigor to minimize disease hazard
• Salvage harvesting of heavily diseased stands
• Genetic resistance to the disease should be
  included in management strategies

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Annosus Root Rot

• (Heterobasidion annosum)

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IMPORTANCE

• Annosus root butt rot is a commercially
  important disease of conifers
• All southern pines are susceptible
• Loblolly slash pine are most severely affected

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IDENTIFICATION

• Conks are often present in the litter at the base
  of dead or dying trees or tree stumps or under
  root masses of wind thrown trees
• Conks, when fresh, are tan to brownish on the
  upper surface and white with tiny pores on the
  lower surface
• Rubbery tough to tear
• Conks most common in the southern U.S. from
  December to March

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Biology

• Enters the stand when fungal spores land on fresh
  cut stump surfaces
• Grows through the remaining root system into
  nearby live trees via root grafts or contact
• Mortality usually begins 2-3 years after thinning
  and often ceases 5-7 years later
• Damage increases with sand content of the soil
• Sand or sandy loam above a clay subsoil with good
  internal drainage is considered a high hazard site

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Control

• Prevention control strategies include
• stump treatment
• timing of thinnings
• prescribed burns
• manipulation of planting density

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Other Diseases
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Air Pollution
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IMPORTANCE

• Chemical discharges into the atmosphere have
  increased during the century but the total effect
  on the forest crop trees is virtually unknown
• Pollutants can cause death and losses in growth
  of forest trees
• All species of deciduous and coniferous trees are
  sensitive to some pollutants

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Identification

• Generally appears as leaf injuries
• Spots between veins, lea margin discoloration
  tip burns are common
• Symptoms are similar to nutrient deficiencies

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Biology

• Many materials enter the leaves through the
  stomata form acids
• Some enter the leaf tissue directly

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Control

• Best control is limiting atmospheric pollutants
• Use of resistant plants
• Maintaining healthy trees will provide some
  protection

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Herbicide Damage
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IMPORTANCE

• Drift misapplication of herbicides can often
  damage non-target trees
• All tree species can be damaged by herbicides

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Identification

• Symptoms are variable due to chemical mode of
  action, dosage, duration of exposure, tree
  species and environmental conditions
• Cupping or twisting of foliage, yellowing or
  browning, defoliation or death
• Witches broom is a symptom of herbicide damage
• Temperature and humidity affect the degree of
  symptom expression

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Control

• Best control is to protect trees from unwanted or
  misapplied herbicides.

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Hardwood Defoliators
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Eastern Tent Caterpillar

• (Malscosoma americanum)

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IMPORTANCE

• Primarily an aesthetic problem and has little
  adverse effect on the host trees
• Species of the genus Prunus are preferred hosts
  with black cherry being the primary uncultivated
  host but also attacks apple and plum trees

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IDENTIFICATION

• Full grown larvae are between 2 to 2 ½ long
• Have black heads with long, light brown body
  hairs
• Back has a light stripe, bordered on each side
  with yellowish-brown and black wavy lines
• Sides marked with blue black spots
• Moths have wingspread of about 2-2 ½ and are
  yellowish-brown with two narrow, light lines
  across the front wings

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Injury Identification

• Larvae construct a white web or tent in the
  crotch of a small branch
• Larvae consume the entire leaf with the exception
  of the midrib

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Biology

• Over-wintering eggs hatch about the time black
  cherry buds open in the spring
• Young larvae begin to construct a tent and
  enlarge the structure as they grow
• Full-grown larvae construct tough, silken cocoons
• Moths emerge in early summer and lay eggs in
  shiny, dark brown masses around small twigs or
  branches of host trees

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Control

• Control is not normally necessary
• Defoliated trees usually re-foliate after being
  attacked
• Chemicals can be used to protect fruit trees or
  tents containing the caterpillars may be picked
  off destroyed

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Fall Webworm

• (Hyphantria cunea)

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IMPORTANCE

• Not considered an important forest pest
• Webs can distract from aesthetic values
• Preferred host in the south are persimmon, pecan
  sourwood

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IDENTIFICATION

• Adult moth has a wingspan of 1-1 ¼ and is snowy
  white, usually with dark spots on the wings
• Larvae are 1-1 ¼ long and covered with silky
  hairs.
• Color varies from pale yellow to green with a
  black stripe on the back a yellow stripe on
  each side
• Pupae are found inside a gray cocoon constructed
  of silk, frass and debris
• Eggs are small, yellow or light green and turn
  gray before hatching

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Injury Identification

• First signs of attack are the large silken web
  and skeletonized leaves
• The web usually contains large numbers of
  caterpillars

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Biology

• Moths emerge in the spring
• After mating, females lay eggs in masses
  (400-500) on the underside of host leaves
• Eggs hatch in approximately 2 weeks larvae
  begin to feed construct webs
• They enlarge the web as they continue to feed for
  4-8 weeks
• Spin a pupal cocoon in a sheltered place or in
  the duff or soil
• At least two generations per year in the south

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Control

• Biotic agents and unfavorable weather take their
  toll on these insects
• Chemical control may be necessary

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Gypsy Moth

• (Lymantria dispar)

218
IMPORTANCE

• Originated in France
• Most important pest of oaks in Northeast
• Favored hosts are oak, basswood, birch, poplar,
  sweetgum, willow hawthorn but will attack
  hickory, maple, cherry, cottonwood, elm,
  blackgum, sassafras hornbeam
• Causes widespread defoliation, resulting in
  reduced growth, loss of vigor, mortality
• Reduces aesthetic, recreational wildlife values

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IDENTIFICATION

• Older larvae are brownish-gray, with tufts of
  hair on each segment and a double row of five
  pairs of blue spots followed by six pairs of red
  spots and the back
• Mature larvae are 1 ½ to 2 ½ long
• Adult male moths are dark brown with wavy dark
  bands across the forewings
• Females are white cannot fly

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Injury Identification

• Young larvae chew small holes in leaves
• Older larvae feed on leaf edges, consuming the
  entire leaves except for the larger veins and the
  midribs
• The entire tree is often defoliated.

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Biology

• Larvae emerge in late April or early May from
  over-wintering eggs and feed through June and
  into early July
• Pupation occurs in sheltered places and lasts 2
  weeks
• Adults emerge in July August
• Females deposit egg masses, 100 to 800 eggs,
  covered with buff-colored hairs
• Eggs deposited under rocks on tree trunks,
  limbs, houses, picnic tables, trailers, campers,
  mobile homes, cars other sheltered places

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Control

• Natural controls include introduced pest
  parasites predators, virus diseases, and
  adverse weather conditions
• Chemical microbial insecticides have been used,
  primarily in urban recreational areas to
  prevent defoliation and the nuisance effects of
  the pest

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Orange- striped Oakworm

• (Anisota senatoria)

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IMPORTANCE

• Occur throughout the eastern United States
• Voracious feeders and quickly strip trees of
  their foliage
• Defoliation takes place in late summer to fall
• Red white oaks are generally able to survive
  with only minimal growth loss or crown dieback
• Greatest damage is the aesthetic impact and
  nuisance the caterpillars create in urban areas

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IDENTIFICATION

• Larvae are black with eight narrow yellow stripes
• Larvae are about 2 inches long and have a pair of
  long, curved horns
• The adult moths are a similar yellowish red, with
  a single white dot on each of the forewings

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Injury Identification

• Young larvae feed in groups, skeletonizing the
  leaf
• Consume all but the main veins and usually
  defoliate one branch before moving onto another
• Older larvae are less gregarious and can be found
  crawling on lawns sides of houses

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Biology

• Adult moths appear in June July and deposit
  clusters of several hundred eggs on the underside
  of leaves
• Eggs hatch within a week
• Larvae feed during July to September for 5-6
  weeks
• The pupae over-winter in the soil
• Only one generation per year

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Control

• Natural enemies generally prevent widespread
  defoliation.
• Chemical control may be needed for high value
  trees.

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Bark Beetles Borers
239
Locust Borer

• (Megacyllene robiniae)

240
IMPORTANCE

• Most serious insect pest of black locust
• Infects the trees with Formes rimosus which
  causes substantial defects, growth loss some
  mortality
• Black locust is the only host

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IDENTIFICATION

• Adult is an attractive, long-horned beetle, often
  seen feeding on goldenrod in late summer and
  early fall
• Has bright yellow bands expanding across a jet
  black thorax and wing covers
• The third band on the wings forms a W design
• Legs are yellow-orange and long
• Full-grown larvae are full-bodied, pale and bout
  1 inch long

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Injury Identification

• First sign occurs in the spring around the time
  of bud burst
• Oozing sap at he point where the larva bores into
  the tree causes a wet spot on the bark
• Larvae tunnels into the wood pushing granular
  frass out of the entry hole
• Wood infested by borers can be honeycombed by
  the larvae

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Biology

• Eggs deposited in rough bark surfaces and around
  wounds of living trees
• Newly hatched larvae excavate a small hibernating
  cell in the inner bark and over-winter.
• In spring, they bore into the wood, enlarging the
  tunnel to the exterior
• About mid-July, they emerge a the original attack
  point
• One generation annually

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Control

• Most preventive recommendations are designed to
  encourage or maintain health vigor
• Planting superior trees, avoiding pure locust
  stands removing low vigor over-mature trees
• Excluding damaging livestock from locust stands
  can reduce beetle attacks

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Piercing Sucking Insects
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Scale
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IMPORTANCE

• Many different types effect hardwoods conifers
• Can reduce growth, weaken the tree cause branch
  or crown dieback
• Greatest concern in nurseries, seed orchards,
  shade ornamental trees
• Honeydew sooty mold associated with scales
  usually mar the beauty of ornamentals

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IDENTIFICATION

• Vary in shape form
• Soft-bodied, hard bodied armored scales
• May resemble a small turtle, oyster, barnacle or
  even part of the bark of the tree
• Some are white obvious while others match the
  host color
• Can be found on any part of the tree

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Injury Identification

• Cause poor vigor, branch crown dieback
• Scale feeding may cause abnormal plant growth at
  the point of attack, such as stunting of leaf or
  shoot growth
• Leaves turning yellow or red branch swelling
• Early leaf drop or dieback of newly formed
  terminals, branch ends new leaves
• Ring-like swelling or pits cause rough
  appearance
• Sooty mold ants frequenting a tree are good
  indicators of scale infestations

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Biology

• Eggs usually produced underneath the female in
  the spring
• After hatching, nymphs seek feeding sites
• Some nymphs migrate to different sites to
  over-winter, others spend their entire life in
  one place
• One to numerous generations per year

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Control

• Parasites predators are effective in
  controlling infestations
• Insecticides are used to protect high value trees
  most effective against immature scales

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Cicada
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INFORMATION

• Belong to the sub-order Homoptera
• Generally called either annual or periodical
• Annual cicadas are present each year
• Periodical cicadas emerge in mass either on a 13
  or 17 year cycle
• Three species with 13 year cycles 3 species
  with 17 year cycles
• Generally the 17 year broods are northern 13
  year broods are southern
• Last 13 year brood in Georgia was in 1998

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INFORMATION

• Females damage trees by laying eggs on twigs
  smaller branches
• Eggs are laid in Y-shaped pits in living twigs
  with each pit containing 20 eggs
• A female may lay up to 600 eggs
• Eggs hatch in about 1 month and nymphs drop to
  the ground , burrow underneath to begin their 13
  or 17 year development
• Nymphs pierce suck juices from roots
• Brood emerges between May June

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INFORMATION

• Annual cicada are found throughout the United
  States
• Appear in late summer to early fall every year
  although their life cycle requires 4-5 years for
  development
• Twigs branches can be severely damaged by
  cicadas but trees appear to recover

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Hardwood Diseases Insects
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Black Knot

• (Dibotryon morbosum)

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IMPORTANCE

• Important disease of cherry because it degrades
  this valuable veneer lumber species
• Found throughout the southeast except for
  southern Florida southern Louisiana
• Many species of cherry are effected but black
  cherry is the only commercially important species
• Effects plum trees as well
• Rarely fatal

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IDENTIFICATION

• Swellings on the branch of the host plant are
  covered with an irregular, rough, fruiting layer
  of fungal tissue
• Spore bearing fruiting bodies form within this
  fruiting layer
• Causes irregular black swellings on the stems,
  branches twigs
• Often has a white fungus is found growing over
  the swellings

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Biology

• Infection occurs in the spring
• Swellings develop the following spring
• Swellings are overgrown by a black irregular mass
  of fungal fruiting bodies

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Control

• Generally achieved by pruning out diseased tissue
  along with at least 12 inches of uninfected wood
• In forest stands, trees with disease should be
  removed during improvement thinnings

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Nectria Canker

• (Nectria galligena)

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IMPORTANCE

• Most common canker disease of hardwood trees
• Seriously reduces the quantity and quality of
  forest products
• Usually does not kill the tree but causes serious
  volume losses
• Common on black walnut sassafras
• Also occurs on red oak, maple, beech, poplar
  birch

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IDENTIFICATION

• Fungus identified by the creamy-white fruiting
  structures that appear on cankers soon after
  infection
• Well-defined localized areas of bark, cambium
  underlying wood are killed by the fungus
• Concentric, annual callus ridges develop around
  the expanding canker
• Bark sloughs off the older parts of the canker
• Canker resembles a target

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Biology Control

• Fungus survives through the winter in cankers
  produces spores during the spring
• Windblown water splashed spores infect tree
  wounds branch stubs
• Cankering may be minimized in high value areas by
  avoiding wounds pruning out branch cankers
• Sterilize pruning tools before pruning conduct
  pruning operations during dry periods when spores
  are less abundant

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Hypoxylon Canker

• (Hypoxylon spp.)

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IMPORTANCE

• Generally cause a white rot of hardwood slash
• Known to cause severe cankering of stressed
  hardwoods
• Contributes to premature death of trees stressed
  by drought, construction damage or other problems
• Rapidly rotting tissue leads to structural
  weakening which causes serious hazard to people
  or property in high-use areas

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Identification

• Fungus visible as a definite fruiting layer that
  has dislodged the bark
• Fruiting layers vary in color
• Invades the cambium and fruiting layer exerts
  pressure to dislodge bark
• Fruiting layer may resemble bark of some trees

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Biology

• Weakened trees most often attacked
• Spores enter wounds, germinate grow into the
  cambium, severely cankering often girdling the
  tree very quickly
• White rot of the sapwood under the canker begins.
  
• Fruiting structures eventually cover the cankered
  area rupture the bark
• Spores are produced at a rapid rate are wind
  borne to new hosts

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Control

• Prevention can be achieved in high value trees by
  keeping trees vigorous unwounded
• Fertilize water trees during droughts
• Remove infected limbs trees to remove source of
  spores

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Slime Flux
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IMPORTANCE

• Disease results in persistent, bad smelling,
  bleeding cankers on the stem or at the base of
  many species of hardwoods
• Oaks are the most seriously affected species
• Severe quality loss occurs to the infected tree

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IDENTIFICATION

• Prime wounding agents are insect borers,
  mechanical injuries natural cracks and splits
• Clear sap flowing from the wound becomes
  colonized with bacteria, darkens develops an
  unpleasant odor
• Patches of wet bark with a sour smell are first
  symptom
• Insects are attracted to the wet area
• Bark separates from the tree

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Biology Control

• Wounding causes sap to flow allowing bacteria to
  colonize causing typical odor
• Fluid is toxic to the bark enlarges the wound
  in time
• Minimize wounding of trees in the forest
• Maintaining vigorous tree growth in urban areas
• Removing bark will reduce damage to an individual
  tree

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INFORMATION

• Condition in trees characterized by the bleeding
  of sap through a wound in the bark
• May occur in the spring or fall
• Generally confined to trees of 12 in diameter
• Some type of wound happens prior to slime flux
  appearing
• Oaks, elms maples most often affected but
  certain softwoods are susceptible

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INFORMATION

• Oozing of sap is a result of bacterial activity
  in the wound
• Sap may be clear and alcoholic in odor or thick,
  odorous variously colored
• Cannot be cured
• Some believe that it is not life threatening
• Drainage pipes installed below the fluxing point
  are a means of relieving internal pressure

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INFORMATION

• Sap becomes an attractant for yellow-jackets
  wasps
• Fluxing usually diminishes after several years
  and is considered non-life threatening

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Insect Gall
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INFORMATION

• Abnormal vegetative growths on trees resulting
  from the feeding and egg laying activities of
  various insects and mites
• Chemical secretions from the adults while laying
  eggs as well as the saliva from the feeding
  larvae cause the plant to react abnormally

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INFORMATION

• Aphids, beetles, jumping plant lice, midges,
  mites wasps are insects that produce galls on
  plants
• Swelling of plant tissue that is characteristic
  on specific plant parts such as stem, twig, leaf
  or petiole
• Generally not life threatening
• Premature leaf fall dieback of several branches
  are the most drastic effects

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INFORMATION

• Control by pruning and destroying galls
• Removing and disposing of leaf twig litter at
  the base of the tree are methods of controlling

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Mistletoe

• (Phoradendron sp)

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IMPORTANCE

• Affects many species of hardwoods
• Oaks hickories are most commonly attacked
• Found throughout the south
• Impact is not normally severe but may lower
  branch vigor
• Severe infestations reduce tree vigor where
  insects fungus combine to kill trees

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IDENTIFICATION

• Perennial, broad-leafed, evergreen plants appear
  in crown
• Easier in winter when host tree leaves are absent
• Has inconspicuous flowers that produce white to
  red berries in the fall
• Presence of plant is the only reliable sign of
  infestation

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Biology

• Seeds are animal bird dispersed between and
  within tree crowns
• Sticky substance on the seeds helps them stick to
  young branches
• A peg-like root penetrates to the trees vascular
  system extracting water nutrients

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Control

• Control is usually not necessary
• If desired, tree branches may be pruned at least
  one foot back from the plants attachment point
  then discarded.

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Forest Hazards
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Fire Ants
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INFORMATION

• Major nuisance throughout the south
• Red black species imported from South America
  (Brazil Uruguay)
• Southern fire ant is a native species
• Mounds are common in pastures, lawns along
  roadsides
• Stings always cause intense burning produce
  necrotic pustules that itch for days

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INFORMATION

• Can be distinguished from most other ants by
  having two nodes on the pedicel
• Venom contains a potent alkaloid only a trace
  of protein

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SPIDERS

• Can cause a number of symptoms from minor to
  severe swelling, itching, nausea, blistering
  pain but are not generally serious.
• Two notable exceptions are the Black Widow,
  considered to be the most venomous spider in the
  U.S. the Brown Recluse also called the
  Fiddleback spider.

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Black Widow Spider
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BLACK WIDOW

• Possess a neurotoxin that effects the central
  nervous system
• Bites are extremely dangerous and should seek
  medical attention immediately

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INFORMATION

• Considered an extremely poisonous species
• Mature female easily identified by red hourglass
  mark on the underside of the abdomen
• Younger females variously marked with red and
  white on the upper abdomen
• Kill males after mating, hence the name

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INFORMATION

• Build webs close to the ground, under houses,
  stones, wood, blocks trash piles
• Venom is classified as a neurotoxin
• The bite is seldom felt but immediate pain
  follows
• Victims suffer with sever muscular pain,
  stiffening of abdominal muscles, weakness,
  tremor, sweating salivation

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INFORMATION

• Convulsions may occur in small children
• Death is rare but does occur more frequently in
  children and older persons
• Local treatment of the bite site is not usually
  effective
• Seek immediate medical attention if bitten
• Taking the insect may aid in treatment

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Brown Recluse Spider
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BROWN RECLUSE

• Poison is a necrotoxin which causes the
  surrounding area to decay
• Bites are extremely dangerous and should seek
  medical attention immediately
• Also known as the fiddleback spider

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INFORMATION

• Easily recognized by a violin or fiddle shaped
  mark on the top of its body
• Shy, prefer quiet, undisturbed places
• Shoes clothing in storage often infested
• Reactions to venom may be mild to severe
• Venom is classified as a necrotoxin
• Bitten area becomes painful swollen in a short
  period

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Saddleback Caterpillar
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INFORMATION

• One of several stinging caterpillars
• Feed on the leaves of various trees shrubs
  between March September
• Capable of causing severe reactions in some
  people
• Equipped with stinging spines located over their
  bodies
• Each spine injects venom when touched
• Wearing long sleeved shirts when working around
  trees shrubbery are means of protection

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Scorpion
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INFORMATION

• Nocturnal and rarely seen by people unless they
  invade the home
• Little southern devil is a common species
  throughout the south
• Stings are not life threatening and usually
  require no medical attention unless victim is
  sensitive to venom

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Tick
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INFORMATION

• Important vectors of organism causing diseases in
  humans
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), Lyme disease
  (LD) and ehrlichiosis are most noted diseases
  carried by ticks
• RMSF is caused by organism called rickettsia,
  symptoms include fever, headache rash
• Takes only one infected tick to bite to contract
  it

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INFORMATION

• Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete and is
  characterized by a distinctive skin lesion in
  about 65 of the cases
• Lesion is called erythema migrans (EM) and
  appears from 3 days to 1 month after a bite
• Victims suffer headache, fever, arthritic-like
  pain stiff neck

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PREVENTION

• Chemical repellants containing DEET are effective
• Light colored clothing help make detection easier
• Check yourself frequently when in wooded areas
• Examine scalp groin areas in particular
• Immature ticks are larvae called seed ticks and
  have only six legs while adults have eight legs
• Both are capable of transmitting diseases

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Bees, wasps, yellow jackets hornets

• Usually nest in hives in the ground, trees,
  bushes or old buildings or barns
• Very aggressive with multiple stings common
• Can cause allergic reactions in some victims
• PROTECTION Keep alert and watch for nests or
  signs of insects

Yellow jacket
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Yellow-jacket
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INFORMATION

• Medium sized wasps marked with black yellow
  bands or stripes
• Builds nests below or above ground
• Below ground nests are often built in rotten
  stumps, under landscape timbers, firewood piles,
  sides of terraces or ditches
• Above ground nests occur in barns between stacks
  of baled hay or straw, under porches, in block
  wall voids

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INFORMATION

• Eastern southern are two common species
• Very aggressive when nesting sites are approached
  intruders are often stung repeatedly before
  they can retreat
• People often stung while mowing grass, plowing or
  excavating dirt or walking through wooded
  brushy areas
• Nests located in wall voids may threaten people
  inside the home when they enter a room t