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What's New

EFETAC research ecologist Bill Hargrove has co-organized a special symposium on Land-Surface Phenology. See Upcoming Events for details.

A paper by EFETAC researchers and collaborators receives top honors from the Society for Risk Analysis. Read the news release here.

EFETAC researcher Steve McNulty recently briefed the Chief of the USDA Forest Service on climate change and water issues in the East. Download the briefing paper here.

EFETAC made progress in a variety of research, science delivery, and partnership efforts during 2009. Read highlights here.

The Forest Health Monitoring Program’s annual national technical report presents results of forest health analyses from a national perspective using data from a variety of sources. Download the recently published report for 2006 here.

Featured Forest Threat

Sirex Woodwasp (Sirex noctilio)

Sirex woodwasp is native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. It has been the most common species of exotic woodwasp detected at U.S. ports-of-entry associated with solid wood packing materials.

What is Sirex woodwasp? Woodwasps are large, robust insects, usually 1-1 ½ in. long. More than a dozen native species occur in North America. Adult Sirex woodwasps have features distinguishing them from native species, including a dark metallic blue or black body, reddish-yellow legs, black feet (tarsi), and entirely black antennae. The abdomen in males is black at the base and tail end with orange middle segments.

How does it spread? At low populations, Sirex woodwasp selects suppressed, stressed, and injured trees for egg laying. Females drill their ovipositors into the outer sapwood to inject a symbiotic fungus (Amylostereum areolatum), toxic mucus, and eggs. Together, the fungus and mucus kill the tree and create a suitable environment for larval development. As adults emerge, they chew round exit holes that vary from 1/8-3/8 in. in diameter.

Why is Sirex woodwasp a concern? While native woodwasps attack only dead and dying trees, Sirex woodwasp can attack living pines. Infested trees may have resin beads or dribbles at the egg laying sites, which are more common at the mid-bole level. Foliage of infested trees initially wilts, and then changes from dark green to light green, to yellow, and finally to red, during the 3-6 months following attack. Recent detections outside of port areas have raised concerns because this insect has the potential to cause significant mortality of pines.

 

Source: USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry Pest Alert

Photo by David R. Lance, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org

Visit the Forest Threat Summary Viewer for more information about this and other forest threats.