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Invasive Japanese Stiltgrass Detected In Three More Counties

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Wide-angle photo of a mat of Japanese stiltgrass in Rock County, Wisconsin, in July 2025

A mat of Japanese stiltgrass in Rock County, Wisconsin, in July 2025. / Photo Credit: John Zaborsky, University of Wisconsin-Madison Renz Weed Science Lab

By Wisconsin DNR

Thanks to the help of eagle-eyed observers across southern Wisconsin, the harmful invasive plant Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) has now been detected in three additional counties. That brings the total number of Wisconsin counties to five.

The most recent detections of the non-native, annual grass came in Dane, Grant and Walworth counties. The Dane County find was in Middleton, northwest of Madison; in Grant County, it was found southeast of Wyalusing State Park; in Walworth County, it was found north of Geneva Lake.

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Autumn Is A Great Time To Treat Invasive Plants

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By Wisconsin DNR

Photo of rosettes on a garlic mustard plant. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

Rosettes on a garlic mustard plant. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

As temperatures begin to fall the leaves of many plants and trees have begun to change color. Some trees in the northern part of the state have already started to drop their leaves.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds the public that fall is more than a great time to enjoy the changing hues in the woods. It also presents a good opportunity to spot the invasive plants persisting among the native plants and trees.

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Imported Willow Leaf Beetle Spotted

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Closeup photo of an imported willow leaf beetle adult and larva.

An imported willow leaf beetle adult and larvae. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov, 920-360-0665

Imported willow leaf beetle (Plagiodera versicolor) is a small, shiny, blue-black beetle as an adult, and the larvae are small, solid black and spikey. Both feed on the foliage of willow and poplar species. Two generations per year are possible.

The invasive pest was first detected in the United States in 1915, likely coming from eastern Europe.

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Introduced Pine Sawfly Found On White Pine

Posted on by akabelowsky

By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov, 920-360-0665 

Photo of an introduced pine sawfly larva.

Introduced pine sawfly larva. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

The introduced pine sawfly was first found in the United States in 1914 and was first detected in Wisconsin in 1944.

Introduced pine sawfly larvae prefer feeding on white pine needles, although literature says they can also feed on jack pine, red pine and scotch pine. Larvae often feed singly, rather than in groups (like redheaded pine sawfly or European pine sawfly do). Larval sawflies can look like caterpillars, but these larvae develop into adult sawflies, which look like a fly or a chunky wasp.

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White Pine Weevil Damage Is Easy To Spot

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A photo showing that white pine weevil has attacked and killed the terminal leader on a young white pine.

White pine weevil attacked and killed the terminal leader on a young white pine. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov,  920-360-0665

 Symptoms of white pine weevil attack are easily detected at this time of year, as damaged leaders turn dark brown and branch tips can curl or droop.

White pine weevil (Pissodes strobi) is a native insect that can attack and kill the terminal leader of white pine, jack pine and spruce. Another common name for this insect is “tip weevil.”

These insects prefer to attack stout terminal leaders.

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‘White Pine Is A Junk Tree!’ Really?

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By Brian Cole, DNR Forest Products Specialist, Green Bay
Brian.Cole@wisconsin.gov

Coming from Maine, I found this hard to believe. Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) has been the “money tree” in Maine since colonial times, when the king’s broad arrow marked pine trees to be used as ship masts. White pine was once “king” here in Wisconsin, too. I do not see why it cannot be king again.

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Tech Ed Teachers Attend Wood Industry Course At New Training Sawmill

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Scott Lyon operates the optimized headsaw during a wood industry course at Northcentral Technical College in Antigo. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Brian Zweifel, DNR Forest Products Specialist, Dodgeville;
Brian.Zweifel@Wisconsin.gov

In case you missed the news, Wisconsin is now home to a one-of-a-kind training facility that offers courses utilizing a newly completed state-of-the-art sawmill.

The Northcentral Technical College (NTC)-Wood Technology Center of Excellence in Antigo designed and offered an exciting course aimed at reaching the future workforce of our industry. Technology Education teachers from high schools around Wisconsin received a two-day immersion into the world of sawmilling, kiln drying, and much more.

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Wisconsin’s Mass Timber Future: Building Strength From Forest To Facility

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Various panels of cross-laminated timber awaits a return trip to Madison, Wisconsin, for testing at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Ram Dahal, DNR Forest Economist, Madison;
Ram.Dahal@wisconsin.gov

A recent study conducted by Michigan State University and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources highlights Wisconsin’s strong potentiality to locate mass timber industry in the state, leveraging its abundant forest resources, existing forest products infrastructure and growing market demand.

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Survey Coming For Secondary Wood Manufacturers

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Icon of a survey under the DNR Forestry News banner

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources soon will launch a survey of secondary wood manufacturers.

By Wisconsin DNR

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry and University of Wisconsin-Madison Wood Products Extension will conduct a survey involving Wisconsin’s secondary wood products manufacturers. This survey will be used to update the Wisconsin Wood Users Industry Directory.  The directory, last updated in 2018, is currently available, and we plan to have the updated version online as part of the forestry products section of the DNR website.

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Symposium On Wood-based Construction Scheduled

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By Wisconsin DNR

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forest Products team is pleased to share an upcoming symposium focused on the latest advancements in wood design and construction. This event, scheduled for Sept. 23 at the Milwaukee Art Museum, is tailored for architects, engineers, designers, developers, general contractors and all professionals with an interest in innovative wood applications.

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