Forest Entomology and Pathology in the Northern Region, Getting to Know the Neighborhood

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1 Forest Entomology and Pathology in the Northern Region, Getting to Know the Neighborhood Curtis Ewing Forest Health Specialist California Department Of Forestry and Fire Prevention 6105 Airport Rd., Redding, CA 96002

2 Overview Native Alder Trees in Coastal California: Cankers and Bark Beetles Balsam Wooley Adelgid: An Invasive Species in California s Miracle Mile White Fir Mortality and Epsilon Engraver Scolytus subscaber Incense-Cedar Infestation with Scale Xylococculus macrocarpae White Fir Mortality and Fir Engraver Scolytus ventralis

3 Native Alder Trees in Coastal California: Cankers and Bark Beetles Pacifica: San Pedro Valley County Park Reported on Invasive Shot-Hole Borer Web Site ( Tom Smith visited and noted extensive Scolytinae activity on dead/dying red alder trees Follow up visit confirmed that Invasive Shot-Hole Borer NOT PRESENT Native Species: Alder Bark Beetle (Alniphagus aspericollis) Also found associated cankers on boles and branches

4 HISTORY Native Alder Trees: Pt. Reyes NS 2011 Previous reports of mortality in alder trees Pt. Reyes in Fall of 2011 Collected by Nancy Gillette (USDA now retired) Samples from red alder along watercourse, the Muddy Hollow Trail Pathologist consensus: Mortality caused by flooding Nancy sent samples to Mike Wingfield (U of Pretoria, South Africa) Samples had Ophiostoma (quercus group) Photos: Steven Koike

5 Native Alder Trees: San Pedro Valley Park 2018 Initial samples 6 Aug 2018 Collected tissue and 2 beetles Tissue samples sent to CDFA Diatrypella nr. pulvinata cultured: From cankers and galleries Is considered a decay fungus

6 Native Alder Trees 2018 Follow up sampling 12 Oct 2018 with Chris Lee (Cal Fire Humbodlt State) Visited Pt. Reyes Fact finding visit to determine if sampling should be done once permit issued Appears similar to San Pedro VP Mortality in alders above the watercourse San Pedro Valley Park 6 alder bark beetles (Alniphagus aspericollis) Canker and gallery samples Cultured at Humboldt State Beetle walks/smears and tissue samples Ophiostomoid and Alternaria < Both Are Potential Pathogens Sexual Ophiostomoid from beetle gallery Photos: Chris Lee

7 Native Alder Trees 2018 Follow up sampling 12 Oct 2018 with Chris Lee (Cal Fire Humbodlt State) Visited Pt. Reyes Fact finding visit to determine if sampling should be done once permit issued Appears similar to San Pedro VP Mortality in alders above the watercourse San Pedro Valley Park 6 alder bark beetles (Alniphagus aspericollis) Canker and gallery samples Cultured at Humboldt State Beetle walks/smears and tissue samples Ophiostomoid and Alternaria < Both Are Potential Pathogens Photo: Chris Lee Alternaria From Alniphagus aspericollis

8 Native Alder Trees Beetle Activity and Cankers Alnipaphagus aspericollis Branches and sapling bole > Attacks at self pruned branch stubs Attack healthy tissue Cankers develop over time

9 Native Alder Trees in Coastal California: Cankers and Bark Beetles Initial stages of investigation: Sampling So Far Pacifica: San Pedro Valley County Park Additional Sampling Sites Marin County Pt. Reyes National Seashore Permit Issued Marin County Novato San Mateo County Pescadero San Mateo County Arroyo de los Frijoles Park South Sacramento Cosumnes River East Bay Also SoCal Reports from: San Bernardino County Mt. Baldy Los Angeles County Topanga Photo: Brice McPherson

10 Russian Wilderness Miracle Mile Sugar Creek visited with Cynthia Snyder USFS Entomologist Shasta-Trinity candidate Research Natural Area

11 Russian Wilderness Miracle Mile Sugar Creek visited with Cynthia Snyder USFS Entomologist Shasta-Trinity candidate Research Natural Area Richest known assemblage of conifers in the world 18 Conifer species in 1 square mile

12 Russian Wilderness Miracle Mile 18 Conifer species in 1 square mile subalpine fir Engelmann spruce Brewer spruce mountain hemlock Pacific yew incense-cedar common juniper western juniper (disc 2013) Douglas-fir foxtail pine whitebark pine western white pine Jeffrey pine ponderosa pine lodgepole pine sugar pine white fir Shasta fir

13 Russian Wilderness Miracle Mile Sugar Creek visited with Cynthia Snyder USFS Entomologist Shasta-Trinity candidate Research Natural Area Richest known assemblage of conifers in the world 18 Conifer species in 1 square mile Subalpine Fir, Abies lasiocarpa Threatened with extirpation Preferred host in Pacific NW CA Is a satellite population and the only one in California

14 Subalpine Fir In California primarily on grand fir (3 rd preferred host) North coast Also Pacific silver fir (2 nd preferred host): OR, WA & satellite CA populations Klamath Mts Russian Wilderness Miracle Mile

15 Subalpine Fir In California primarily on grand fir North coast Also Pacific Silver Fir OR, WA Invasive Species Balsam Woolly Adelgid Adelges piceae Russian Wilderness Miracle Mile

16 Subalpine Fir In California primarily on grand fir North coast Also Pacific Silver Fir OR, WA Invasive Species Balsam Woolly Adelgid Adelges piceae Europe > 1928 nr. SF Russian Wilderness Miracle Mile

17 Subalpine Fir 2 generations/yr. Seem to primarily attack buds at this site Cause serial goutiness on branches Russian Wilderness Miracle Mile

18 Subalpine Fir 2 generations/yr. Seem to primarily attack buds Cause serial goutiness on branches Sometimes mass attack boles Russian Wilderness Miracle Mile

19 Subalpine Fir 2 generations/yr. Seem to primarily attack buds Cause serial goutiness on branches Sometimes mass attack boles Crown thins and eventually trees die Russian Wilderness Miracle Mile

20 ε engraver (Scolytus subscaber) and white fir sapling mortality Documented to only attack branches Often healthy trees

21 ε engraver (Scolytus subscaber) and white fir sapling mortality Tahoe City Burton Creek State Park Killing large numbers of white fir saplings

22 ε engraver (Scolytus subscaber) and white fir sapling mortality Successfully reproducing Numerous exit holes

23 Incense-Cedar: Pitching and Flagging Multiple reports of pitching and flagging in incense-cedar Tahoe to Lassen County Xylococculus macrocarpae Incense-Cedar Scale Not always apparent Attacks in upper crown Pitch on lower branches and bole from above

24 Causing the greatest amount of conifer mortality in northern forests in 2018 Some of the damage is 2 or more years old Varies over short distances Scolytus ventralis Fir Engraver

25 Thank You Laphria sp. Robber Fly with Scarab