forest pests and diseases near lewistown, mt amy eckert forest pathologist
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Forest Pests and Diseases near Lewistown, MT
Amy Eckert
Forest Pathologist
Insects1. Mountain pine beetle : PP, LPP, and WP
2. Red turpentine beetle: PP,LP, and piñon
3. Douglas-fir bark beetle: Douglas-fir
4. Pine engraver beetle (Ips): pines
5. Western spruce budworm: Douglas-fir
6. Bronze birch borer: birch
Mountain pine beetle : PP, LPP, and WP
Bluestain fungal spores
Mountain pine beetle : PP, LPP, and WP
Look for small pitch tubes in bark and woodpecker feeding
Red turpentine beetle: PP,LP, and piñon
Large pitch tubes: Combination of resin, bark dust, and frass
Douglas-fir bark beetle: Douglas-fir Look for insect frass or boring dust in bark crevices
Best beetle proofing strategy:
Recognize high hazard situations and act to reduce potential beetle infestations
What forest/tree conditions are most favored by beetles?
What forest/tree conditions are most favored by good grass growth and grazing?
Why can’t we just spray?
Target stand = 80-100 sq. ft basal area
10”tree= 150-180 tpa (16’x16’ = 170 tpa)
12”tree= 100-125 tpa (18’X20’ = 121 tpa)
Infects slash and small pine trees.
Pine engraver beetle (Ips): pines
Look for tiny holes in bark and red boring dust on slash
Best ips prevention?
Western spruce budworm: D-F, spruce and WL
Adult
Larvae
Eggs
Web-like material on branch ends, needles turn brown
Best spruce budworm prevention strategy:
Enhance budworm predator habitat (birds, carpenter ants) how?
Maintain tree health and vigor- how? why?
Maintain adequate spacing and reduce thick understory regeneration
Plant resistant trees such as pine and larch
Bronze birch borer: birch
Top kill, branches die from the top down
Keep birch healthy and vigorous: use iron enriched fertilizer, water. Prune infected branches.
Diseases1. Aspen cankers and decline
2. White pine blister rust: WP
3. Western gall rust: LP and PP
4. Fire blight: apple species
Aspen Trees
Cytospora canker of aspen
Weak pathogen
Aspen Trees
Cytospora canker on aspen stem with insect frass. Some insects that are attracted to aspen are: poplar borer, bronze poplar borer, bark beetles, ambrosia beetle.
Insect Frass
Weak insects
White pine blister rust
Native or exotic?
Ribes
Cotoneaster hedge
with fire blight infection
Peeling bark
Canker-like twig discoloration
General scorched-like appearance of infected twigs and leaves
Fire Blight
Western Gall Rust: Lodgepole and Ponderosa
Infects young shoots and forms galls on branches, cankers and stems
Remove infected trees during thinning. Increase air flow in stand