By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Outreach and Communications
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov or 608-335-0167
It’s time for River Mathieu and Tim Shively to put all their education and research to work.
Mathieu and Shively are the newest additions to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Health team. Both started on June 30, filling Forest Health Specialist vacancies.
Continue reading “New Forest Health Specialists Take To The Woods”
Veiled polypore fungi show as yellow, leathery fruiting bodies on the bark of dead red pine trees. / Photo Credit: Linda Williams, Wisconsin DNR
By Linda Williams, Forest Health Specialist
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665
You may have seen these leathery, yellow fungi growing on recently dead red pine trees and wondered if they were what killed the tree. The short answer: No, they did not kill the tree.
The veiled polypore (Cryptoporus volvatus) is a decay fungus that grows on the bark of red pine in the year after they die. They can be found anywhere on the trunk of the tree.
Continue reading “Veiled Polypore Fungi Growing On Red Pine Bark”
Maple trees producing large seed crops may have off-color leaves that are smaller than normal into early summer. / Photo Credit: Linda Williams, Wisconsin DNR
By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665
Scattered maple trees across parts of the Northwoods have produced heavy seed crops this year.
When trees produce so many seeds, it reduces the amount of energy available for producing leaves. As a result, those leaves can appear smaller and off-color into the summer. With fewer leaves produced, these trees will continue to look very thin throughout this year’s growing season.
Euonymus caterpillars web branches as they feed on the leaves of Euonymus species. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Michael Hillstrom, DNR Forest Health Specialist
Michael.Hillstrom@wisconsin.gov
Euonymus caterpillars (Yponomeuta cagnagella) made a dramatic appearance in June, webbing and defoliating Euonymus shrubs in several counties.
Multiple species of Euonymus may be attacked, including spindle tree, winged (e.g., burning bush), eastern wahoo, winter creeper and others. Winged euonymus is listed as Restricted in Wisconsin’s invasive species rule NR40.
Continue reading “Non-Native Caterpillars Attacking Non-Native Euonymus”
Ash leaves infected with anthracnose. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Michael Hillstrom, DNR Forest Health Specialist
Michael.Hillstrom@wisconsin.gov
and Abby Krause, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator
Abigail.Krause@wisconsin.gov
Anthracnose is a common disease of hardwood trees during cool, wet spring seasons. Some parts of Wisconsin have been cooler and wetter than others this spring, so anthracnose damage may be patchy.
Ash, maple, white oak, sycamore and walnut are the most impacted tree species. Each species has its own species of anthracnose that infects it, but if weather conditions are right, then we tend to see damage on multiple species.
Winsome fly eggs are found on three Japanese beetles, including a mating pair (with a female Japanese beetle shown below the male). One or more eggs are laid on each beetle; eggs are nearly always laid just behind the head. The Winsome fly prefers to lay eggs on female Japanese beetles. / Photo Credit: Jacques Lasnier, Quebec, Bugwood.org
By Bill Hutchison, Department of Entomology
University of Minnesota
Hutch002@umn.edu
The Winsome fly (Istocheta aldrichi (Mesnil)), part of the Tachinidae family, is a parasitoid of the invasive pest Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica).
A parasitoid is an insect whose larvae develop in or within a host insect of a different species, eventually killing it.
The Winsome fly was introduced in 1923 in New Jersey as a biological control agent of the Japanese beetle, six years after the Japanese beetle was accidentally introduced in the United States. Since then, the Winsome fly has become established in the Northeastern states and Quebec and Ontario in Canada.
Continue reading “Winsome Fly Biocontrol Slows Japanese Beetle”
By Dan Buckler, DNR Urban Forest Assessment Specialist; Daniel.Buckler@wisconsin.gov or 608-445-4578
When your newly planted trees are getting comfortable in their new homes, you’ve pulled the splinters from your hands and you find yourself at a desk asking yourself, “What now?”, we have an answer for you.
Please take a moment and record your trees in the Wisconsin Tree Planting Survey. Those submissions will then appear on the Tree Planting Map and be tallied toward the state’s pledge to the Trillion Trees Initiative. Governor Tony Evers signed the pledge to protect and restore Wisconsin’s rural and urban forests by planting 100 million trees in Wisconsin by 2030. Continue reading “Please Submit Trees Planted This Spring!”
By Michael Hillstrom, DNR Forest Health Specialist; Michael.Hillstrom@wisconsin.gov
and Abby Krause, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator; Abigail.Krause@wisconsin.gov
Oak leaves infected with anthracnose.
Anthracnose is a common disease of hardwood trees during cool, wet spring seasons. Some parts of Wisconsin have been cooler and wetter than others this spring, so anthracnose damage may be patchy.
Ash, maple, white oak, sycamore and walnut are the most commonly impacted tree species. Each species has its own species of anthracnose that infects it, but if weather conditions are right, then we tend to see damage on multiple species. Continue reading “Anthracnose Infecting Hardwood Leaves”
By Olivia Witthun, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator; Olivia.Witthun@wisconsin.gov or 414-750-8744
With recent storms passing through Wisconsin, communities may still be working on clean-up. Depending on the intensity of the storms and the condition of the trees, damage from high winds, heavy rainfall, hail and lightning can be quite severe. Cracked or broken branches, trunk damage and root failure are some of the main concerns, but also the risk and liability of damage to people and property. Continue reading “Resources For Storm-Damaged Trees”
By Elton Rogers, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator; Elton.Rogers@wisconsin.gov or 414 294-8675
Photo credit: Mike Wendt
Spring is my absolute favorite time of the year. The reemergence of life is all around us, and the smell of fresh rain accompanies the sights and sounds of spring. The birds are scouring the soil for fresh insects to eat, the frogs are croaking away in the swamps and the bees buzz freely from plant to plant. Along with these sights and sounds of spring, another incredible transformation is occurring on our largest and longest-lived organisms in the landscape, trees. Continue reading “Why Don’t All Trees Leaf Out At The Same Time?”
