HRD Conks Found In Different Shapes And Sizes

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Photo from above showing Heterobasidion root disease growing from an infected tree stump.

Heterobasidion root disease grows from an infected tree stump. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Kyoko Scanlon, DNR Forest Pathologist, Fitchburg
Kyoko.Scanlon@wisconsin.gov

Fall is a great time to look for mushrooms, including conks from trees infested with Heterobasidion root disease (HRD).

Considered one of the most destructive diseases of conifers in the northern hemisphere, the fungus causing HRD is very difficult to eradicate once established. Infestation of a conifer stand may significantly impact stand management, making early detection of the disease extremely important.

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Fall Webworm Spins Its Way To Attention

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Photo of fall webworms form a tent on a tree at Kohler-Andrae State Park in September 2025.

Fall webworms form a tent on a tree at Kohler-Andrae State Park in September 2025. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health specialist, Oshkosh
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov, 920-360-0942

The native insect known as fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) has been generating calls and emails from curious property owners over the past few weeks.

The caterpillars don’t draw much attention on their own; instead, what catches the eye at this time of year are the large webs (or “tents”) that they create on the tips of tree branches.

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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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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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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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Introduced Pine Sawfly Found On White Pine

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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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Urban Forestry Award Nominations Due Oct. 31

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The Urban Forestry Council presents annual awards to outstanding individuals, organizations, communities and tribes that further urban forestry in Wisconsin. Awards are presented in the categories of Next Gen, Project Partnerships, Lifetime Achievement, Innovations in Urban Forestry, Leadership and Species Diversity. The awards are announced each year at the annual WAA/Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Annual Conference and presented to winners in their community.

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Upcoming Urban Forestry Grant Deadlines

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Reminder:  2026 DNR Urban Forestry Grant Applications Due Oct. 1, 2025

Cities, villages, towns, counties, tribes and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in or conducting their project in Wisconsin are encouraged to apply for a regular or startup 2026 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Urban Forestry Grant.

The grants range from $1,000 to $25,000, and grant recipients must match each grant dollar for dollar. A startup grant of up to $5,000 is available for communities that want to start or restart a community forestry program. Grants are awarded to projects that align with state and national goals for increasing the urban forest canopy and the benefits it provides. These grants do not subsidize routine forestry activities. In total, $559,680 is currently available in regular and startup grant funding for 2026.

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Community Spotlight: West Allis’ Tree Inventory System

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By Dan Buckler, DNR Urban Forest Assessment Specialist; Daniel.Buckler@wisconsin.gov or 608-445-4578

It was 2021 and the West Allis Forestry Division faced a crisis. For all intents and purposes, its tree inventory was no longer functional. The division had always been a program that kept and used a lot of data, but inefficiencies in the inventory process abounded, and now the software where the data was stored was essentially crashing. The status quo was clearly not working.

But as Winston Churchill apocryphally said, “Don’t let a crisis go to waste.”

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