Bagworm moth
In
West Virginia, light populations were reported on boxelder, black locust, and
miscellaneous conifers statewide. This
pest, which may cause significant damage to the Christmas tree and wreath
industries, was not very abundant throughout Maine in 2002. Control projects were not necessary on most
Christmas tree farms and uncultivated balsam used in the wreath industry
appeared to have received very little damage as a result of larval activities
of this insect. There was no indication
the status of this pest will increase in 2003.
Damage in Vermont was light statewide.
Balsam shoot boring
sawfly
Pleroneura brunneicornis
Region 9/Northeastern Area:
Maine, Vermont
Host(s): Balsam and fraser fir
No
survey was conducted on this insect in Maine in 2002, but reports of damage in
Christmas tree plantations were few. Damage in native stands was spotty and
generally light. Occasional light damage occurred on Christmas trees in
northern Vermont.
Balsam twig aphid
Mindarus abietinus
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Maine, New York, Vermont
Host(s): Balsam fir
In
Maine, population levels of this insect were down with trace to light damage
being reported in forest stands. Damage
was not expected to significantly impact wreath brush harvest. Balsam twig
aphid caused some minor damage to balsam fir foliage in central New York.
Occasional damage was reported in northern Vermont on Christmas trees.
Common oak moth
Phoberia atomaris
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Ohio
Host(s): White oak
In Ross County, Ohio, about 8,600 acres of white oaks were severely defoliated in June.
Lace bugs
Corythucha spp.
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Pennsylvania, West Virginia
Host(s): Black cherry, sycamore, oaks
Black cherry trees in Monongalia, Marion, and Harrison Counties, West Virginia; and Greene and Washington Counties, Pennsylvania, exhibited obvious discoloration in late July. Statewide in West Virginia, lace bugs also caused obvious discoloration during July on sycamore and oak trees.
Eastern spruce budworm
Choristoneura
fumiferana
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Maine, New Hampshire, New York,
Vermont, Minnesota, Michigan
Host(s): Balsam fir, white spruce, red spruce, black
spruce, hemlock
Monitoring of low-level spruce budworm populations continued in Maine in 2002. Monitoring included field observations, a statewide light trap network, and pheromone bated traps that are highly attractive to budworm moths. Field observations were made in 2002 but, no larvae were found and no defoliation was detected. Light traps were operated through the budworm flight period at 25 locations statewide. Spruce budworm moth catch in the network of light traps was the lowest on record with only two moths trapped. In 2002, 40 pheromone trap locations were evaluated for spruce budworm moth activity. Moth catch in pheromone-baited traps decreased sharply in 2002. Levels were the lowest since the mid 90s. No defoliation was detected in New Hampshire and pheromone trap catches were very low, indicating continued low levels in 2003. The pheromone trap moth counts in the Adirondacks in New York were down by about 30% from 2001. Most populations were low to moderate, and no noticeable defoliation was reported. The number of moths decreased in Vermont from 2000 and 2001 levels. About 91,000 acres were defoliated in 3 northern Minnesota counties. This is the 49th consecutive year of detectable spruce budworm defoliation in Minnesota. Trace amounts of defoliation were found in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Eastern tent caterpillar
In
Maryland, eastern tent caterpillar caused localized defoliation statewide. In New Jersey, the insect caused extensive
defoliation of wild cherry trees in the counties of Atlantic, Bergen,
Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean. In Ohio, cherry trees were much less
affected this year than last. Only in
Athens and Hocking Counties was defoliation noticeable. Light to moderate defoliation was observed
over most of West Virginia.
Nucleopolyhedrosis virus was reported primarily in the eastern panhandle
counties. The southern third of
Illinois sustained complete defoliation in April and May.
Defoliation
was more noticeable in Maine in 2002 than it has been for several years, but
numbers of adults appeared to drop. There was minimal damage in Massachusetts.
High Eastern tent caterpillar populations were very noticeable in southeastern
New York, with some patchy, moderate defoliation observed. In Vermont, there
was scattered light damage across the State.
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Maryland, West Virginia, Maine, Massachusetts
Host(s): Maples, oaks, other hardwoods
In
Maryland, over 1,300 acres were defoliated by the fall cankerworm in the
Counties of Prince Georges, Washington, Montgomery, Frederick, Carroll, and
Howard. In West Virginia, light
populations existed in Preston County and heavy populations were found in
Monongalia County. Larvae were found
during in Hardy, Grant, Mineral, and Hampshire Counties, but defoliation
appeared minimal in these counties because of gypsy moth defoliation.
Populations
in northern Maine remained low in 2002, however, both larval and moth activity
seemed to be increasing in oak stands in Lincoln County where defoliation has
been heavy in past seasons. In some of
these stands, oak leaftier/skeletonizer populations also seemed to increase in
2002. This complex plus gypsy moth has caused some branch and tree mortality in
past outbreaks. In Massachusetts, 5,261 acres of defoliation was detected by
aerial survey in Essex, Plymouth, and Norfolk Counties.
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Maryland, Pennsylvania, West
Virginia, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Host(s): Maple, beech, birch, walnut, apple, ash, black cherry, cherry, elm, other hardwoods miscellaneous hardwoods
Fall
webworm caterpillars continued to be less numerous than in previous years
throughout the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Only spotty and light populations were
reported.
In
Maine, populations dropped noticeably in 2002 and remained spotty. Although the
species was again noticeable across much of southern and central Maine, damage
did appear to be much lighter and infested pockets seemed to be more
scattered. The highest activity was
reported to be in Cumberland and York Counties. There was minimal damage in
Massachusetts in 2002. Insect
populations were very low throughout New Hampshire. Populations in Rhode Island declined in 2002 following a heavy infestation
in 2001. Moderate defoliation occurred
statewide. There was scattered light defoliation across Vermont.
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont
Host(s): Aspen, basswood, pin oak, white oak, sweetgum, other hardwoods
In Ohio, individual trees and those in scattered pockets were defoliated in Jackson and Athens Counties. In West Virginia, moderate to heavy isolated populations of forest tent caterpillar was reported on 400 acres in Braxton County.
This was the fourth straight year of the current outbreak in the Lake States with populations expected to collapse in the coming year. Over 10 million acres total were defoliated in 2002, down from 15.5 million acres in 2001, 7.4 million of which occurred in Minnesota. About 2,000 acres of oak wood bottoms in southeastern Illinois were defoliated. High levels of virus activity were observed in larvae indicating a likely populations collapse in 2003
No
defoliation was reported in Maine in 2002, although larvae did appear to be
more common. In New Hampshire, there
was no defoliation reported and no moths caught in pheromone traps. This insect defoliated only about 180 acres
of mixed hardwoods in Onondaga County in New York. There was a statewide
increase in larvae and the number of moths in Vermont, with light defoliation
in Addison County.
Hemlock looper (fall
flying)
Lambdina fiscellaria
Region 9/Northeastern Area:
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont
Host(s): Eastern hemlock,
balsam fir, white spruce
The
recent hemlock looper outbreak in Maine collapsed in 2002 and less than a
thousand acres of moderate to severe defoliation were mapped during the aerial
survey. This short lived outbreak was
sparked by heavy moth activity in the fall of 2000 and peaked with nearly
27,000 acres of heavy to severe and 150,000 acres of light to moderate
defoliation in 2001. Resurgence of the
hemlock looper was unexpected because of the short interval between the 2000
increase and the collapse of the last outbreak in 1993. Small pockets of light defoliation were
observed during ground surveys in Berkshire County in western
Massachusetts. In New Hampshire, there
was no defoliation and no moths caught in pheromone traps. A number of moths were caught in traps set
for spruce budworm in New York, but no significant defoliation of hemlock was
found. Populations remained low in Vermont.
Jack pine budworm
Chorisoneura pinus
Region 9/Northeastern Area:
Michigan
Host(s): Jack pine
In Michigan, about 40,000 acres were defoliated in
2002, down significantly from 118,000 acres in 2001.
Jumping oak gall wasp
Neuroterus
saltatorius
Region 9/Northeastern Area:
New York, Missouri
Host(s): Bur oak, white oak
This
insect caused some mild damage to ornamental white oaks in Broome County, New
York. This may represent the first
report of jumping oak gall wasp in the State.
From
1998-2000 high levels of this insect were reported throughout eastern Missouri
on white oaks. Numbers of trees declined
sharply in 2001 and were at non-detectable levels in 2002.
Larch casebearer
Coleophora laricella
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Pennsylvania
Host(s): Japanese larch
In Pennsylvania, there was no defoliation reported this year in the 50-acre plantation of Japanese larch in Schuylkill County.
Large aspen tortrix
Choristoneura
conflictana
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont
Host(s): Bigtooth aspen, aspen
No
defoliation was reported in Maine in 2002.
In New Hampshire, there was no noticeable defoliation in 2002. Moderate
defoliation occurred in Vermont, in Windham and Windsor Counties, with light
damage in the eastern part of the State.
Locust leafminer
Odontota dorsalis
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont
Host(s): Black locust
Locust leafminer caused less defoliation of black locust throughout the State of Maryland than last year. In New Jersey, the locust leafminer was visible creating damage along major highways in Middlesex, Monmouth, and Mercer Counties. There were approximately 200 acres in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, defoliated this year. In West Virginia, moderate to heavy defoliation occurred again in most eastern and northern panhandle counties.
Populations
and resultant defoliation by this species remained extreme throughout the range
of the host in Maine. Mortality of black locust on stressed sites seemed to be
increasing with no letup in sight. In
Massachusetts, there was documentation of a total of 415 acres of small pockets
of defoliation. Most of the damage was
observed along interstate highways.
Defoliation was moderate in the central part of New Hampshire, a
decrease in severity from 2001. In Vermont, the damage was the heaviest seen in
recent years, with widely scattered heavy defoliation.
Maple leafcutter
Paraclemensia acerifoliella
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Maine, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Vermont
Host(s): Sugar maple
In
Maine, populations of the maple leafcutter remain low and spotty. In
Massachusetts, there was minimal damage observed in Franklin County. In New Hampshire, approximately 42 acres of
moderate defoliation occurred in Grafton County. This was slightly less than in 2001. Moderate damage occurred in
Washington County, Vermont, with light damage in the rest of the State.
Maple trumpet
skeletonizer
Epinotia aceriella
Region 9/Northeastern Area:
Vermont
Host(s): Sugar maple
There
was scattered very light defoliation reported in Vermont.
Oak leaftier
Croesia semipurpurana
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: West Virginia, Maine, Vermont
Host(s): Black oak, northern red oak, scarlet oak
In West Virginia, surveys for oak leaftier eggs were again conducted in Barbour, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, and Tucker Counties in late winter, but no eggs were observed and follow-up summer larval surveys reported very light populations only in Randolph, Tucker, and Pocahontas Counties.
Defoliation
levels have remained low, spotty, and static in Maine since 1998. Populations,
however, seemed to increase slightly in 2002. Light damage was observed in
Chittenden County, Vermont.
Orange-striped oakworm
Anisota senatoria
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island
Host(s): Black oak, red oak
Localized infestations were reported in Carroll and Howard Counties in Maryland. In New Jersey, the orange-striped oakworm defoliation was concentrated on 375 acres in Burlington County, but several thousand acres of defoliation also was scattered across several counties. This late season defoliator caused only light defoliation in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, this year. In West Virginia, orange-striped oakworm was reported as moderate to heavy infestations only in scattered, isolated locations.
In
Connecticut, defoliation detected by aerial survey occurred on 1,597 acres in
Windham County. Oaks on Long Island in
New York were moderately to severely defoliated late in the season by orange-striped
oakworm. It was the second or third
consecutive year of such defoliation in some areas, such as Otis Pike Preserve
in Suffolk County. In Rhode Island,
4,000 acres of trees were defoliated in the central and eastern part of the
State. Populations showed signs of
collapse in Kent County but strengthened in Newport County.
Oystershell scale
Lepidosaphes ulmi
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Maine, Vermont
Host(s): Beech
Observations
on American beech in Maine in 2002 did not reveal any extensive new populations
of oystershell scale. Beech continued
to decline from numerous other agents.
Only light damage occurred in Vermont.
Peach bark beetle
Phloetribus liminaris
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: New York
Host(s): Black cherry
The
population of this insect remained high but scattered across the Southern Tier
of New York in 2002. Availability of
cherry slash seems to be a driving force behind the population’s dynamics and
distribution.
Periodical cicada
Magicicada septendecim
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Ohio, West Virginia
In Ohio, three species of periodical cicadas appeared in portions of Ashtabula, Trumbull, Columbiana, and Mahoning Counties, as well as the northern half of Jefferson County in the spring of 2002. There was also flagging on all hardwoods over 64,600 acres in Brooke and Hancock Counties, West Virginia.
Scarlet oak sawfly
Caliroa
quercuscoccineae
Region 9/Northeastern Area: West Virginia
Host(s): Black oak, pin oak, red oak
In West Virginia, scarlet oak sawfly surveys were conducted in Kanawha, Putnam, Mason, Wayne, Cabell, Upshur, and Lewis Counties periodically throughout the season this year, with little or no insect activity reported for the second straight year.
Southern pine beetle
Dendroctonus frontalis
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia
Host(s): Austrian pine, loblolly pine, pitch pine, Scotch pine, Virginia pine
No significant active southern pine beetle hot spots
were detected over the entire southern part of Delaware. Southern pine beetle populations continued
to remain light in southern Maryland.
In New Jersey, the infestation, which was first detected in 2001 in
Cumberland County with heaviest infestations in Cape May County, had spread
from there to Atlantic and Burlington Counties and had killed loblolly, pitch
and Virginia pines on nearly 23,400 acres.
In Ohio, southern pine beetle infestations were scattered, only three
spots were detected in 2002. In 12
southern and eastern West Virginia counties, southern pine beetles killed
approximately 265 Virginia pine trees.
Lindgren funnel traps baited with frontalin and turpentine lures were
placed in Jackson, Lincoln, and Wayne Counties. Trapping results indicated that the southern pine beetle
populations were declining.
Spruce beetle
Dendroctonus rufipennis
Region 9/Northeastern Area:
Maine
Host(s): White and red spruce
The
condition of many of Maine's coastal spruce stands continued a gradual decline
in 2002. The spruce beetle was the most
immediate cause of spruce stand deterioration since the mid 90s but, beetle
population levels have gradually declined and losses due to this insect have
stabilized. Drought conditions in
recent years (1995, 1999, 2001, and 2002) have been a major factor in spruce
stand decline and have certainly contributed to the persistence of the beetle
outbreak. Other factors contributing to
the generally poor spruce condition and persistent low rate of spruce beetle
attack were tree over maturity, lack of stand management, and sites with
shallow, rocky soils. The current
spruce beetle infestation remains confined predominantly to the central Maine
coast, especially Penobscot Bay. The
area infested by spruce beetle did not increase in 2002 and the intensity of
attack in infested stands continued a decline.
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Pennsylvania
Host(s): Beech
In Potter County, Pennsylvania, variable oakleaf caterpillars defoliated 180 acres. Host defoliation was mainly in the understory, but the population collapsed in the late larval stage due to an unknown pathogen.
Walkingstick
Diapheromera femorata.
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Pennsylvania
An aerial survey detected approximately 400 acres of oak defoliation in Fulton and Bedford Counties, Pennsylvania.
White pine weevil
Pissodes strobi
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey
Host(s): White pine
This perennial problem continued to limit the growth of white pine, as
well as Colorado blue and Norway spruce in Maine. In New Hampshire, white pine
weevil is an annual concern and continued to reduce timber quality statewide.
The weevil was commonly found statewide in Vermont.
This beetle was responsible for damaging about 15 acres of white pine Burlington County, New Jersey.
Yellowheaded spruce
sawfly
Pikonema alaskensis
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Maine
Host(s): Black spruce, white spruce, spruces
Sawfly
damage continued to be visible on ornamentals in Maine and roadside plantings
but was light in forest plantations.
Region 9/Northeastern Area: New York, New Jersey, Illinois
Host(s): Ash, birches, black locust, elm, horse chestnut, maples, poplar, willow
This
destructive insect was discovered in New York City, in Brooklyn and on Long
Island, during the summer of 1996.
Since then, other infestations were discovered in Queens, Manhattan,
Bayside, and Islip. A federal
quarantine encompasses all known infested areas in New York including all newly
discovered infested areas. Many of the
trees in these areas appeared to have been infested for several years. Hardwoods, especially maples, are the
preferred hosts of this insect.
Although fewer infested trees were found in
2002 than the previous year, the beetle was still one of the most serious
threats to forest health facing New York.
To date, more than 5,800 infested trees were found in New York,
including two trees in world famous Central Park. This year, many potential host trees in New York City and Long
Island were injected with a systemic insecticide in an attempt to protect them
from attack. In an effort to eradicate
the insect, surveys continued around the perimeter of the known infestation to
identify and remove newly infested trees.
Tree planting continued to provide greenery in neighborhoods as the
infested trees were cut down and removed from the site.
Late in 2002, an unexpected infestation of Asian longhorned beetle was discovered in about 100 mixed maple trees that had been planted as part of the landscaping around an office complex in Hudson, New Jersey, directly across the Hudson River from New York City. No beetles were reported in the States of Delaware, Maryland and Ohio, where awareness projects have focused on education of professional arborists.
Surveys in Chicago, Illinois continued with only 19 additional suspect trees destroyed in 2002. Hopes are high that the population will be eradicated.
Balsam woolly adelgid
Region 9/Northeastern Area: West Virginia, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont
Host(s): Balsam fir
Balsam woolly adelgid feeding continued to increase over Downeast and central Maine, deforming and killing fir trees. Over 50% of the fir was affected east of Milbridge within 20 miles of coast. Another significant area of damage was in the area of Newport and Bangor in low-lying areas. Damage was patchier inland. It has been noted that drought effects and balsam woolly adelgid damage appeared in the same areas. A project to evaluate the survival and reproduction of Pseudoscymnus tsugae beetles (a hemlock woolly adelgid predator) in association with balsam woolly adelgids was undertaken in 2001. Beetles were shown to survive Maine winters in cages. Beetles were released in mid-coast Maine in 2002 in an effort to begin establishing populations to control both the balsam woolly adelgid and the hemlock woolly adelgid should that species become established in Maine. In New Hampshire, there was approximately 2,300 acres of scattered balsam fir mortality mapped in Coos, Grafton, and Sullivan Counties. Moderate infestations were observed in scattered locations in Caledonia, Essex, Rutland, and Windham Counties in Vermont.
Birch leafminer
Region 9/Northeastern Area: New Jersey
Host(s): Grey birch
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin
Host(s): Scotch pine, white pine, pines
In Maryland, pine shoot beetle continued to be present in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington Counties. No additional counties had a detectable infestation. In Ohio, pine shoot beetle continued to be present in the 71 quarantined counties. In Pennsylvania, this beetle was found in 30 counties in the west and northern parts of the State. To date, in West Virginia, this beetle has been found only in the four northern panhandle counties of Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, and Ohio and in two north central counties of Tyler and Tucker.
The Maine Forest Service and USDA APHIS PPQ have been conducting annual spring joint trapping surveys to detect the pine shoot beetle in Maine since 1999. Eight beetles have been trapped in funnel traps in Franklin and northern Oxford County since 2000. In 2002, five beetles were trapped in Franklin County. No signs or damage symptoms were seen during scouting surveys of red pine plantations in areas where the beetles were trapped. The State of Maine established a quarantine in 2001 that designates the northern portion of Oxford County north of the Appalachian Trail as the regulated area. Maine is now in the process of revising the quarantine to include all of Franklin County. The Federal review process to include all of Franklin County is also underway. In New Hampshire, 1700 beetles were caught in pheromone traps in Coos County. No damage to pine trees was detected. This insect was found in three additional New York counties in 2002: Fulton, Herkimer, and Schoharie. Currently, 35 Counties are known to be infested and under quarantine. In general, New York has not experienced as high a severity of damage from this insect as has been reported from some other locations. In Vermont, no beetles were caught in Franklin, Lamoille, Chittenden, Grand Isle, Orange, Windham, or Washington counties. Movement of pine products is regulated by a State quarantine.
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Connecticut, Pennsylvania
Host(s): Eastern hemlock
Connecticut reported elongate scale occurred on hemlock all over the State. Along with drought, it caused additional stress to trees damaged by hemlock woolly adelgid. Approximately 870 acres of eastern hemlock were show signs of dieback and decline from this exotic pest in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Michigan
Hosts(s): Ash species
A new
exotic insect was detected in six Southeast Michigan counties --
Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne -- in the summer of
2002. This pest, known as the Emerald Ash Borer, is an invasive species
originally from Asia and previously unknown in North America that affects ash
trees. It has also been detected in Windsor, Ontario of Canada. To
date, it has killed or damaged millions of ash trees in these affected areas.
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Host(s): Apple, aspen, basswood, black walnut, northern red oak, pin oak, red oak, white oak
Cooperative Lands:
|
State |
Acres Defoliated in 2002 |
|
Maine |
51,503 |
|
Maryland |
13,739 |
|
Massachusetts |
4,744 |
|
New Hampshire |
11,813 |
|
New Jersey |
41,750 |
|
New York |
7,100 |
|
Ohio |
2,531 |
|
Pennsylvania |
55,798 |
|
West Virginia |
104,921 |
|
Wisconsin |
34,094 |
National
Forest Lands:
|
National Forest |
Acres Defoliated in 2002 |
|
Monongahela |
27,276 |
Other
Federal Lands:
|
Site |
Acres Defoliated in 2002 |
|
Catoctin Mountain Park |
46 |
|
Chesapeake Marshlands NWR Comp. |
147 |
|
Earle Naval Weapons Station |
62 |
|
Patuxent Research Refuge |
58 |
There was no defoliation from gypsy moth in
Connecticut in 2002. Egg mass surveys
at 102 sites yielded very low counts.
Defoliation of hardwoods resulting from gypsy moth larval feeding was
recorded on 51,506 acres in Maine in 2002.
The heaviest damage occurred in the Sanford area and east. Entomophaga maimaiga, virus and parasites
all combined to curtail much of the gypsy moth population keeping defoliation
damage to much less than the 200,000 acres that were expected. The only real surprise was an outbreak in
Calais and Bering, which denuded approximately 4,663 acres before E.
maimaiga decimated the population. Egg mass levels found in the 2002 fall
survey were back to endemic levels in most locations but it was expected there
will be scattered locations throughout southern Maine where defoliation will
occur again in 2003. In Massachusetts, a population collapse caused by the
fungus, E. maimaiga, was observed in
all areas. There were 4,744 acres of
defoliation detected by aerial survey in Barnstable, Plymouth, and Worcester
Counties, a decline from the 48.000 acres reported in 2001. Defoliation was expected to be minimal in
2003. In New Hampshire, defoliation
occurred on 11,800 acres in Carroll, Hillsborough, Merrimack, and Rockingham
Counties. Larvae killed by Entomophaga
fungus were found throughout the infested area. Many sites had very low or no egg masses present so populations
in 2003 are expected to be low. Gypsy
moth defoliation in New York was markedly down from 2001. A total of about 5000 acres of defoliation
was recorded. As in 2001, the majority
of defoliation reported was on Long Island.
Defoliation occurred in the following New York Counties: Nassau, Orange,
Rockland, Suffolk, and Sullivan. There was no noticeable defoliation in Rhode
Island. No damage was reported in
Vermont and egg mass counts indicated that populations will remain low in 2003.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
Adelges tsugae
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
New York, Rhode Island
Host(s): Eastern hemlock
All three of Delaware’s Counties have hemlock woolly adelgid. In Maryland, hemlock woolly adelgid can be found in 14 counties. In New Jersey, populations were found in every county. Tree mortality was reported in Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren Counties from this insect. In Pennsylvania, hemlock woolly adelgid continued to be found in 39 counties within the natural range of hemlock. Aerial surveys reported hemlock defoliation on 658 acres in Northampton, Warren, Pike, Monroe, and Schuylkill Counties. In West Virginia, hemlock woolly adelgid was reported in two new counties (Preston and Fayette) bringing the total to 18 counties where this exotic pest occurs.
This pest continued to occur in all 169 towns in Connecticut. Additional stress on hemlock trees came from the elongate scale and circular scale insects. Drought was also a contributing factor. There were no predator beetles released in Connecticut in 2002. In Maine, the adelgid has been found and eradicated in 120 planted hemlocks since 1999. All infested hemlocks have been linked to tree shipments from infested areas in other States and were treated and removed before the insect became spread to native stands. In 2002, hemlock woolly adelgid was detected in 21 trees on 10 landscape sites in the towns of Lubec, Bar Harbor, Camden, Rockland, Southport, Kittery Point, York, and York Harbor. Treated sites will continue to be monitored for a period of 5 years. Hemlock woolly adelgid was not established in Maine on native hemlocks. In Massachusetts, this pest continued to be of major concern. Infestations were documented in 39 communities (no new counties) that were not previously known to have infestations. Isolated areas of decline and mortality totaling 114 acres were recorded. The State continued to release the predator beetle, Pseudoscymnus tsugae, which was provided by the USDA Forest Service and purchased by as special appropriation of the MA Legislature. There were eight release sites with a total of 56,633 beetles having been released since 1999. In New Hampshire, only the town of Portsmouth in Rockingham County was infested, however, the entire county was quarantined. In 2002 one additional site was found each in Hillsborough County and Merrimack County. Eradication attempts seem to have been successful at those sites and these counties are not quarantined. It was believed the new sites were infested by natural spread of the adelgid by birds. This insect pest was found in two new counties in New York in 2002: Delaware and Monroe. The infestation in Monroe County appears to have been brought in on nursery stock. To date only ten infested trees have been found there. These trees were divided between two sites and were treated with dormant oil and pesticides. In the Southeastern part of the State, spread of the insect by wind, wildlife and humans continued unchecked, particularly along the Hudson River. The mild winter of 2002 was probably helpful to adelgid survival. If the trend continues, Albany, Rensselaer, and Schoharie Counties are all in imminent danger of infestation. There was about 3,000 acres of hemlock defoliation and mortality detected by aerial surveys. In Rhode Island, this pest occurred in all 39 cities and towns. Many landscape trees are treated but forest grown hemlocks continued to decline.
Red-haired pine bark
beetle
Hylurgus ligniperda
Region 9/Northeatern Area:
New York
Host(s): Pines
Since the detection of this beetle at a Christmas tree
farm Rochester, New York in 2000, similar infestations have been found
elsewhere in Monroe County, as well as in two adjacent counties, Ontario and
Wayne. The beetle generally infests
stumps of several pine species, but it is feared that it could vector destructive
Leptographium fungi to living trees.
The beetle appeared to be well established and capable of further
natural spread in the State.
Hylurgops palliatus
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Pennsylvania
Host(s): Pine, larch, spruce
Pear thrips
Taeniothrips inconsequens
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: New Hampshire, Vermont
Host(s): Red maple, sugar maple
There
was no noticeable defoliation in New Hampshire in 2002. In Vermont, over-wintering
populations were down 85% from 2000 and 2001 levels. Damage was very light and
widely scattered.
Red Pine Scale
Matsucoccus resinosae
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Massachusetts, Rhode Island
Host(s): Red Pine
In
Massachusetts, there were several new stands with a total of 172 acres of
defoliation identified during the annual aerial survey. These stands were in the same area of
Hampden and Hampshire Counties where infestations occurred in 2001. Scale occurred statewide in Rhode
Island. Salvage harvesting continued
but there is concern that mortality in inaccessible areas may contribute to
wild land fire fuel buildup.
Satin moth
Leucoma salicis
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Maine, New Hampshire
Host(s): Aspen
Defoliation
of both quaking and bigtooth aspen by satin moth in Maine was very limited and
difficult to distinguish from dieback, which resulted from past feeding
damage. The area between Millinocket
Lake and Mt. Katahdin in central Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties had
sustained heavy damage in recent years, but exhibited little or no feeding
activity in 2002. Data from light traps
had few moths and suggest the downtrend will continue in 2003. There was heavy
defoliation in aspen along highways in New Hampshire.
Smaller Japanese cedar
longhorn beetle
Callidellum rufipenne
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Connecticut
Host(s): Northern white-cedar or eastern arborvitae
and junipers
The smaller cedar longhorn beetle, a native to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and eastern China, was first seen in the United States in Milford, Connecticut, in 1998 in the branch of a live arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis. Quarantine remained in effect in several northeastern counties.
Annosus Root Rot
Heterobasidion
annosum
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Wisconsin, Rhode Island
Host(s): Red pine
In
Wisconsin, annosus root rot was first reported in 1993 as a cause of mortality
in a red pine plantation in Adams County.
Since then 10 counties have been found to harbor the disease. A survey conducted found about 3.8% of
stands in these counties are infected by annosus root rot.
There
were 12 acres of damage mapped by aerial survey on Narragansett Indian Lands in
Washington County, Rhode Island.
Anthracnose
Gnomonia spp.
Region 9/Northeastern Area:
Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, New Jersey, West Virginia
Host(s): American sycamore, ash, beech, birch,
maples, oaks, and white and miscellaneous hardwoods
In
Massachusetts, 780 acres of oak species in Worcester County experienced
defoliation. Most healthy trees
recovered, but unhealthy trees that are showing signs of decline because of
drought will probably experience further decline in 2003. In New York, ash
anthracnose was observed on green and white ash in Orange County, and Sycamore
anthracnose was reported from several locations across the State. Neither was observed to cause any severe
damage. Heaviest damage in southern
Vermont occurred on Sycamore trees.
The wet spring weather created an environment for
heavy infection of sycamore with anthracnose over most of northern New Jersey;
however, the sycamores fully recovered by July with a second set of leaves. In West Virginia, anthracnose disease of
hardwoods was wide spread throughout the State, but caused moderate to heavy
damage. Moisture conditions in West
Virginia influenced the severity of this disease. Although the spring weather was very moist, the summer was
largely hot and dry.
Eastern dwarf mistletoe
Arceuthobium pusillum
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Maine, New Hampshire, New York,
Vermont
Host(s): Black spruce, red spruce, white spruce
Severe
damage as the result of infection by this parasitic plant continued to occur in
stands of white spruce in coastal areas of Maine. Evidence of significant mistletoe infestation was noted in 2002
on coastal headlands and islands from Machias in the east to the Boothbay
region in the west. Landscape trees
succumb each year in the area of coastal residences. Dwarf mistletoe also
frequently occurred on black spruce, particularly in inland bogs, and on red
spruce in many forest situations.
Scattered occurrences continued in New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont.
Botryosphaeria canker
Botryosphaeria spp.
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Pennsylvania
Ground surveys found this fungus causing dieback and declines of chestnut oak on 8,000 acres in Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, and Luzerne Counties, Pennsylvania.
Hemlock needle cast
Fabrella tsugae
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Pennsylvania
Ground surveys detected 40 acres of eastern hemlock moderately affected by this fungal pathogen in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.
Oak wilt
Region 9/Northeastern Area: West Virginia, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois
Host(s): Northern red oak
Aerial surveys in West
Virginia for oak wilt disease were conducted over four high disease-incident
7.5-minute quads in Grant and Hardy Counties.
Additionally, aerial surveys were conducted over the four historically
oak wilt free Counties of Ohio, Brooke, Tucker, and Webster, and no oak wilt
was detected.
Oak wilt continues to
be the single most important disease in the Central States. In the last two years, 15 counties in
Missouri have been confirmed to have the disease. Barron County in Wisconsin was added to the list of infected
counties in 2002.
White pine needle cast
Region 9/Northeastern Area: New Jersey
Host(s): White pine
Aerial surveys
detected about 50 acres of discolored white pine in Burlington County, New
Jersey. Ground checking determined that
white pine needle cast was the damage-causing agent.
DISEASES: NON-NATIVE
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey
Hosts(s): American beech
Infections
from beech bark disease occurred throughout Connecticut. This disease, which
was introduced to Maine in the early 1930’s, continued to kill or reduce the
quality of beech stems statewide. But
the disease probably does not threaten to eliminate beech from the Maine forest
because some trees are resistant and even susceptible trees sprout profusely
from roots when trees are damaged, killed or harvested. Losses attributable to
beech bark disease were extensive but the effects of drought, oystershell
scale, late spring frosts, and various hardwood defoliators complicated
assessment of the damage. In Massachusetts, beech bark disease continued to be
a major decline factor in trees in Berkshire County. A total of 1,593 acres of damage was documented during the annual
aerial survey. Drought conditions added
stress to trees and increased intensity of the disease. More mortality was noticed in the higher
elevations. New Hampshire reported that
the disease was widespread throughout the state. Beech bark disease was readily
found throughout New York State. It was
not found in any new counties in 2002.
About 3,800 acres of dieback of American beech was associated with the
disease in combination with drought in 2002, particularly along ridge tops and
other dry sites. In Rhode Island,
mature stands of American beech in Washington and Kent Counties were infected.
In Vermont, beech scale and nectria infection were the heaviest recorded in
many years. Severity of the disease was
increased by drought conditions.
In Lake County, Ohio, the beech scale remains the only part of the complex present; whereas, in Pennsylvania, the beech scale can be found across the north central counties of the State. A survey in 2002 in West Virginia found that the beech scale was widespread and established on 2.4 million acres in parts of 12 counties while the killing front was detected over an area encompassing 1.2 million acres in portions of six counties. The survey added five new counties in 2002 (Greenbrier, Mineral, Nicholas, Preston, and Webster).
Michigan has over 7 million acres of Maple-Beech-Birch type with an estimated 138 million trees in all size classes. Beech bark disease was discovered in Michigan in the spring of 2000. “Killing Front” loss trends from beech bark disease place Michigan’s estimated losses during this first phase of the disease at 7.5 million beech trees in the greater than 9 inches diameter category. This conservatively represents 800 million board feet of saw timber. The disease has not been found outside the core area identified in 2001.
Dutch elm disease
Hosts(s): American elm
Again, symptoms of this disease were conspicuous throughout the Mid-Atlantic States. In Wilmington, Delaware, high-value, American elms with slight symptoms of the disease were protected with a fungicide.
Symptoms of this disease were conspicuous throughout the 20 state region. Many old elms that escaped the initial wave of infection now succumb each year, at least partially because more aggressive strains of the disease organism have developed.
European larch canker
Lachnellula willkommii
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Maine
Host(s): Larch
European
larch canker is a fungal disease, which originated in Europe and was first
found on native larch (tamarack) in southeastern Maine in 1981. Information gathered from existing cankers
indicates this disease has been present in Maine since at least the 1960’s and
perhaps much longer. This disease may
infect any species of the genus Larix or Pseudolarix. Since larch canker has the potential for
causing serious damage to both native larch stands and reforestation projects
utilizing non-native larches in Maine and elsewhere, the disease is under State
and Federal quarantine. The trend for this disease was static; no evidence of
spread from infested areas to non-infected areas was noted in 2002.
Cronartium ribicola
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: West Virginia, Connecticut,
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont
Host(s): Eastern white pine
This disease remained common, but static at moderate levels in Mercer, Monroe, Pocahontas, and Summers Counties, West Virginia.
This
disease occurred across New England and New York at various levels of infection
in white pine stands. It remained static at moderate levels, but was common
throughout Maine. The State continued limited control efforts in certain high
value pine stands. In 2002, a total of 710 acres of high quality pine timber
was scouted for Ribes plants in Androscoggin, Oxford, and Cumberland counties
and 2,030 plants were destroyed. White pine blister rust continued to be a
problem of trees in the landscape as well, often involving trees, which were
infected when purchased as nursery stock. There was an increase in damage in
Massachusetts in 2002. Most severe
damage occurred in white pine regeneration in southern Berkshire and central
Worcester Counties.
Butternut canker
Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Regionwide
Host(s): Butternut
Butternut
canker was first found in Maine in 1993 when it was located in Kennebec County.
Surveys have continued in succeeding years and the canker has now been located
it in all counties in Maine, except Washington County. Butternut canker was prevalent statewide in
New Hampshire. Butternut canker was common in New York wherever butternut is
found and it is unusual to see a symptom-free butternut. This disease was not reported from any new
counties in New York in 2002. In Rhode
Island, the disease occurred statewide although not confirmed in Bristol
County. The disease occurred statewide in Vermont causing dieback and mortality
and uninfected trees were rarely observed.
Dogwood Anthracnose
Discula species
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Regionwide, featuring Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia
Host(s): Flowering dogwood
This disease has spread throughout the range of flowering dogwood in the Northeastern States. The incidence of dogwood anthracnose continued to be prevalent in all three Delaware counties with dead and dying dogwood trees quite noticeable in many areas of the State. Dogwood anthracnose was found in all counties in Maryland. Diseased and dying trees were found in all counties in West Virginia.
This disease occurred throughout the range of
flowering dogwood in the Northeastern States.
In Massachusetts, the disease was observed in all but the island
counties of Dukes and Nantucket. Rhode
Island reported presence of the disease in all five counties in the State. Vermont reported an increase in dieback and
mortality and the elimination of flowering dogwood, which is an endangered
species in Vermont, from some sites.
Leaf Tatters
Unknown Cause
Region
9/Northeastern Area: Illinois, Indiana,
Wisconsin, Minnesota
Hosts(s): White Oaks and Hackberry
For about the last 13 years this condition has appeared sporadically
across the landscape. Symptoms appear
in the spring when leaves develop without mid-vein tissue. The second flush of leaves develops normally. The cause is unknown but herbicide, weather,
or insects may be involved.
DECLINES/COMPLEXES
Ash Decline
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: New Hampshire, New York, Rhode
Island
Host(s): White ash
In New Hampshire, decline of white ash is scattered
throughout the State, possibly due to ash yellows. Ground checks of ash stands in the Finger Lakes region of New
York, that were noted as being in “decline” during the aerial survey, did not
result in any conclusion as to the primary damage causing agent. No evidence of emerald ash borer infestation
was found, nor were most trees showing symptoms of ash yellows or other
disease. Poor site and the drought may
have played a role. In Rhode Island,
white ash decline occurred statewide with unknown cause.
Brown ash decline
Fraxinus nigra
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Maine
Host(s): Black ash (brown ash)
Maine
brown ash plots were not measured in 2002 but some plots were visited to check
for drought effects. Forest Health
Monitoring staff made observations of crown conditions in several plots in 2002
and found that brown ash condition was stable with no obvious decline due to
drought. If ash crowns were affected by
low water in 2001 and 2002, crown decline was not apparent during the 2002
field checks. Measurement of a
representative sample of brown ash plots is planned for 2003 to check for
drought damage.
Bacterial leaf scorch
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey
Host(s): Maples, Northern red oak, scarlet oak, and pin oak
Bacterial leaf scorch is now known to occur in New Castle County, Delaware. No surveys were conducted in Kent or Sussex Counties, Delaware. In Maryland, ground surveys in 2002 were conducted throughout the State and the disease was found on mostly maples and oaks in all counties except Garrett, St. Mary’s, Somerset, and Charles. High-valued, urban trees in Annapolis and Ocean City, Maryland, were found to have this disease in 2001. In New Jersey, surveys conducted in 14 counties found discoloration of oak trees scattered over 200,000 acres.
Elm yellows
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
Host(s): American elm, slippery elm
Elm yellows exists at low levels in Frederick, Washington, and Allegany Counties, Maryland. In Ohio, elm yellows was found in the crowns of scattered elms. In Pennsylvania, the disease continued to be widely distributed and active throughout the Commonwealth. Symptomatic trees were observed in early to mid-June in the Harrisburg area and by early July tree mortality was evident from Dauphin County to Washington County. The elm yellows disease outbreak continued in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, but a 2002 survey found no major changes in the range of elm yellows in the same area.
Larch stressors - Larch
sawfly, Pristiphora erichsonii, and
Eastern larch beetle, Dendroctonus
simplex
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont
Host(s): Eastern larch
Approximately
7,550 acres of seriously defoliated, discolored, and dead larch were mapped in
Maine in 2002. In addition to this mapped
acreage, scattered individual larch and small clusters of stressed or dead
trees were seen throughout eastern and northeastern Maine (an area of over 1.4
million acres). Nearly all stands
mapped in 2002 contained examples of all the stressors listed but the most
common and most visible agent in mapped area was larch sawfly. Most stands that
were heavily defoliated by sawfly or that have been stressed by drought and
then flood level waters have become heavily infested with eastern larch beetle.
New Hampshire reported 406 acres of larch decline in the northernmost county of
Coos. This was less than in 2001. Larch
decline in Vermont was worsened by drought and larch casebearer defoliation,
along with the eastern larch beetle statewide.
Oak Decline
Region 9/ Northeastern Area: Missouri
Host(s): Red oaks
In Missouri, oak decline in the Ozarks is a complex phenomenon involving
primarily red oaks of advanced age that are growing on soils that are shallow,
rocky and drought prone. Drought
conditions of the past several years have accelerated the decline and led to
attacks by secondary fungal agents and wood boring insects. Armillaria root rot and hypoxylon canker are
commonly associated with decline and mortality, as are the red oak borer,
twolined chestnut borer, carpenter worms and a variety of other borers
(Cerambycidae, Buprestidae, and Brentidae).
It is estimated that over 100,000 acres of Mark Twain National Forest
land has sustained scattered mortality due to oak decline.
Sugar maple decline
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Pennsylvania
Host(s): Sugar maple
Since the mid-1980s, the health and decline of sugar maple in northern Pennsylvania has been associated with several droughts and several insect defoliations across the unglaciated and glaciated regions of the Allegheny Plateau. Studies across elevation gradients in this region have shown that low soil pH adversely influences tree growth and crown vigor. Insect defoliation and drought are additional stressors on sugar maple trees.
White pine decline
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Maine, New Hampshire, New York,
Vermont
Host(s): White pine
In
Maine, the condition of pines affected by white pine decline stabilized in
2001, and remained stable in 2002.
Following the drought of 1995 and up until last year, white pines with
symptoms of this disease declined and died on sites where rooting depth was
restricted. Studies of tree crown
condition in 2001 and 2002 noted no significant differences in crown transparency
between previously symptomatic trees that have survived and previously
non-symptomatic trees. There was also
very little additional mortality.
Expanded rooting depth studies have supported previous findings that
effective rooting depth was less than twelve inches in all declining stands and
deeper than in all asymptomatic stands. Declining trees were still evident in
New Hampshire in areas where it was previously observed, in some cases in
association with the fungus Caliciopsis pinea. Decline of mature white pines was evident near roadsides in the
Adirondacks in New York and may have been linked to road salt, drought, and
possibly other factors. In Albany
County, declining health and a possible canker disease of white pine is under
investigation and has yet to be linked conclusively to a specific
damage-causing agent. About 10 percent
of white pine was affected with Caliciopsis canker in Vermont.
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Delaware, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Missouri
Host(s): Black oak, red oak, white oak, hardwoods and softwoods
In Delaware, an extended drought took its toll on many forest trees, particularly white oak trees throughout the areas of the State that were significantly affected by the combined stresses of the 1994 ice storm, 1995 severe drought, and repeated gypsy moth defoliation in 1995/1996. Many of these trees were showing signs of severe decline. In New Jersey, the combination of drought and two consecutive years of gypsy moth defoliation have resulted in extensive oak losses in parts of western Bergen and eastern Passaic Counties. Oak mortality in some unsprayed areas in New Jersey defoliated by gypsy moth, were estimated to be about 40 percent, representing the largest area of oak loss since 1972. In Ohio, excessive rainfall in April and May that was followed by 4 hot, dry summer months and trees showed much drought stress in the fall. In Pennsylvania, drought and drought stress continues to be the dominant stressors throughout many areas of the Commonwealth. In West Virginia, the summer of 2002 was largely dry one similar to all of the surrounding states.
The
declining health of Maine’s coastal spruce stands intensified in 2002, due to another
extremely dry season following record drought conditions in 2001. Maine experienced drought conditions during
4 of the last 7 years. About 9,300 acres of damage from drought was detected by
aerial survey. In Massachusetts,
effects were noticeable statewide.
Beech, birch and older trees that were subjected to other stress factors
were showing signs of decline and mortality.
The presence of increased woodborer activity was noted in the stands,
which were most severely impacted by drought.
The aerial survey identified 1,506 acres of drought related
decline. New Hampshire reported drought
conditions to be prevalent throughout the State for the second consecutive year
with 5,747 acres of trees that were stressed or killed. In New York, precipitation deficits during
the spring and summer ranged from 2-6 inches across most of the State, although
parts of the west had a surplus during the early spring. The Catskills region seemed to have borne
the worst of it. Drought stress was
very evident at many locations and probably was a contributing factor to many
of the forest health problems observed in 2002. Rhode Island experienced
drought conditions during the growing season.
July and August were very dry with extended heat waves. Leaf drop was reported on ash, butternut and
maple mostly in landscape settings. In Vermont, which has experienced 3 to 4
years of low precipitation, widespread foliage browning occurred, especially on
ledge sites, along with mortality of previously stressed trees.
The
lingering effects of long-term droughts in Missouri continued with increased
attacks from wood-boring insects resulting in widespread decline of oaks
throughout the southern part of the State.
Above normal precipitation during the first half of the year did little
to ameliorate the situation especially when precipitation returned to below
normal levels the second half of the year.
Flooding
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: Massachusetts
Host(s): Hardwoods and softwoods
One
hundred and nineteen acres of flooding and high water was recorded in
Massachusetts in 2002. There has been
an increase in small stream flooding caused by an increasing population of
beavers.
Region 9/Northeastern Area: New Jersey
Host(s): Pitch pine
In New Jersey, a major wildfire on June 2 occurred on 1,300 acres in Ocean and Burlington Counties. Mortality was concentrated on 591 acres in the burned area. The cause of the fire was started by teens that were cooking at an illegal campfire on a busy weekend stranding many thousands of beach commuters.
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont
Host(s): Hardwoods and softwoods
In Maryland, frost damage was reported on 3,667 acres in Allegany County. New Jersey reported a small area of about 150 acres of frost damage in Burlington County. Ohio trees in Fayette, Highland, Pike and Ross Counties experienced late May freeze/frost damage, especially black locust, black walnut, redbud, sycamore, sassafras, tulip tree and Norway spruce. Symptoms vary from scorched leaf margins, leaf browning, and/or leaf wilting. In Pennsylvania, over 35,000 acres were defoliated due to extensive frost/freeze in Bedford, Union, Somerset, Snyder, Mifflin, Centre and Clinton Counties. Most of West Virginia experienced an unusually late period of frost/freezing temperatures on May 19-22. Damage to trees ranged from simple leaf burn to total leaf drop. Trees hardest hit included yellow poplar, redbud, sycamore, walnut and oak. The total area defoliated by frost in West Virginia was about 14,000 acres. Christmas tree growers reported severe damage to their fir and spruce trees as a result of the spring freeze.
Frost in May affected many oaks in Central New Hampshire. In New York, about 1,550 acres in Delaware and Schoharie Counties were damaged by an early April ice storm. Damage was light to severe and patchy in nature. About 250 acres of frost damage was detected by aerial survey on Fire Island National Seashore in Suffolk County. Damage was scattered in southern Vermont, with heavy damage to Christmas trees.
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Pennsylvania, Missouri
Host(s): Hardwoods
Aerial surveys detected approximately 2,700 acres of oak and hickory defoliation by a hailstorm in Fulton and Franklin Counties, Pennsylvania.
About 67,000 acres were damaged in Iron, Madison, and Bollinger Counties, Missouri, by a severe hailstorm that spanned an area 41 miles long by 3 miles wide. Hail up to one inch in diameter was reported.
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Pennsylvania
Host(s): Hardwoods
A mid-November ice storm caused extensive damage to over 108,000 acres of hardwoods still in full leaf in Centre, Huntingdon, and Perry Counties, Pennsylvania. Major damage also occurred in Somerset County, around Mt. Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania, at 3,213 feet. One-half to one inch of ice accumulated on branches and leaves, breaking tops, especially on oaks.
Region 9/Northeastern Area: Pennsylvania, Missouri
Host(s): Hardwoods and softwoods
Aerial surveys detected approximately 184 acres of oak/hickory trees damaged by high winds in Schuylkill, Dauphin, and Lebanon Counties, Pennsylvania.
Two separate tornados damaged nearly 21,000 acres Madison, and Carter and Butler Counties, Missouri, on April 24.
INVASIVE PLANTS
Region 9/Northeastern
Area: New Hampshire, Vermont
Host(s): Various forest and landscape trees
In
New Hampshire, invasive plant species are increasing along the Connecticut
River where native, and some rare, plant populations are in danger. Invasive plant pests include black
swallowort, Japanese knotweed, and honeysuckle species. Vermont reported occurrence of several
invasive plant species: buckthorn, barberry, honeysuckle, Norway maple, and
oriental bittersweet. Buckthorn was
widespread in Windham County and honeysuckle species widespread in Bennington
County. Invasive plants out-compete native
or desired species.