Insect

Emerald ash borer new locations in Wisconsin

Posted on by colleenrobinson
EAB quarantine map. Counties shaded in tan are quarantined for EAB, and include much of the southern half of Wisconsin, as well as other counties. Areas shaded in green are the townships and municipalities where EAB has actually been identified, and shows that not all counties that are quarantined are fully infested.

EAB quarantine map. Counties shaded in tan are quarantined for EAB, green areas are townships and municipalities where EAB has actually been identified.

Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) continues to be found in new areas. Wisconsin continues to track EAB at the municipality or township level; quarantine counties are shown in tan and infested areas are shown in green on the map.

If you know you have EAB, please contact us with that information so we can verify the infestation and update the maps. If your area:

  • is not shaded in green on the map please contact DNR or
  • is not shaded at all on the map please contact DATCP.

You can reach both agencies from the menu options when you call 1-800-462-2803.

New county quarantines

  • none

New finds in counties already quarantined

  • Brown County — village of Bellevue
  • Door County — village of Egg Harbor
  • Fond du Lac County — village of Rosendale and town of Springvale
  • Vernon County — town of Franklin

Written by: Linda Williams, forest health specialist, Green Bay, (Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov), 920-662-5172.

Forest tent caterpillar update

Posted on by colleenrobinson
Forest tent caterpillars do not make web nests but may congregate and rest in groups on the bark.

Forest tent caterpillars do not make web nests but may congregate and rest in groups on the bark.

Caterpillars hatch from the eggs of a forest tent caterpillar egg mass.

Caterpillars hatch from the eggs of a forest tent caterpillar egg mass.

Forest tent caterpillars are hatching. Egg mass surveys were conducted in Iron, Ashland, Bayfield, Sawyer, Polk, Washburn, Douglas and Burnett counties, and no egg masses were observed. Surveys in Vilas, Oneida and Forest counties found very few egg masses.

Based on this information we expect low numbers and minimal defoliation again this year, but please let us know if you see forested areas with more significant defoliation.

Written by: Linda Williams, forest health specialist, Green Bay, (Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov), 920-662-5172.

 

DNR will conduct aerial spraying for gypsy moth in Madison, Monona and at Devils Lake State Park

Posted on by colleenrobinson
Aerial spraying for gypsy moth is done by a loud, low flying airplane beginning early in the morning.

Spray aircraft used in gypsy moth control.

Residents in the Madison and Baraboo areas can expect a morning or two of loud, low-flying planes this May. The DNR Gypsy Moth Suppression Program will be spraying to control high populations of gypsy moth, an invasive and destructive pest whose caterpillars feed on the leaves of many tree and shrub species. Aerial spraying will occur in the following locations:

  • Cities of Madison and Monona: Three sites in and around Orton Park, Quaker Park, and Acewood/Elvehjem Parks
  • Devils Lake State Park: Day-use area at the south end of the lake, and the day-use area and several campgrounds at the north end of the lake.

Maps of the treatment areas can also be seen at the Wisconsin Cooperative Gypsy Moth Program website. Spraying is currently predicted to occur in mid-May, but actual dates will depend on weather conditions and caterpillar development.

Continue reading “DNR will conduct aerial spraying for gypsy moth in Madison, Monona and at Devils Lake State Park” →

Forest tent caterpillar egg mass surveys indicate low populations again

Posted on by colleenrobinson
Newly hatched forest tent caterpillars with the egg mass they emerged from. Egg masses are laid in mid-summer and remain on the tree through the winter.

Newly hatched forest tent caterpillars with the egg mass they emerged from. Egg masses are laid in mid-summer and remain on the tree through the winter.

Low numbers of forest tent caterpillar egg masses were found recently during surveys in Vilas and Oneida Counties. Forest tent caterpillar is a native insect that has periodic outbreaks. Our last outbreak was from 1999-2002, and they typically have outbreaks every 10-15 years. Last year I noticed a few more caterpillars than the previous year, but there was no noticeable defoliation. So far egg mass surveys indicate another year of low populations, although there may be areas with locally higher populations. Forest tent caterpillar eggs will start hatching soon, timed to closely match the emergence of aspen leaves.

Eastern tent caterpillars hatch from eggs and immediately start to create a web nest. Young caterpillars are shown on a small web nest.

Eastern tent caterpillars hatch from eggs and immediately start to create a web nest. Young caterpillars are shown on a small nest.

Eastern tent caterpillars do not follow a typical outbreak pattern and tend to be present at some low level every year. They create web nests early in the spring, preferring black cherry trees, crabapple trees, or other stone fruits. When webs are small the caterpillars can be easily crushed or sprayed. As webs get bigger you may have to use a rake to pull them out of the tree. It is not necessary to prune the branch out of the tree. Doing so will actually cause more damage to the tree than the defoliation caused by the caterpillars, because trees can more easily send out additional leaves than grow a branch to replace one you prune out. Please do not burn nests out of the trees as this could start a wildfire. 

 

Written by: Linda Williams, forest health specialist, Green Bay, (Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov), 920-662-5172.

 

Emerald ash borer new locations in Wisconsin

Posted on by colleenrobinson
EAB quarantine map. Counties shaded in tan are quarantined for EAB, and includes much of the southern half of Wisconsin, as well as other counties. Areas shaded in green are the townships and municipalities where EAB has actually been identified, and shows that not all counties that are quarantined are fully infested.

EAB quarantine and detections map. Counties shaded in tan are quarantined for EAB, green areas are townships and municipalities where EAB has actually been identified.

Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) continues to be found in new areas. Wisconsin continues to track EAB at the municipality or township level; quarantined counties are shown in tan and known infested areas are shown in green on the map.

If you know you have EAB, please contact us with that information so we can verify the infestation and update the maps. If your area:

  • is not shaded in green on the map please contact DNR or
  • is not shaded at all on the map please contact DATCP.

You can reach both agencies from the menu options when you call 1-800-462-2803.

New county quarantines

  • none

New finds in counties already quarantined

  • Adams/Columbia/Juneau/Sauk counties — city of Wisconsin Dells
  • Brown County — village of Allouez
  • Crawford County – town of Bridgeport
  • Columbia County – town of Lowville
  • Columbia/Dodge counties – village of Randolph
  • Dane County – village of DeForest
  • Green County – town of Monroe
  • Jackson County — towns of Melrose and North Bend
  • Jefferson County – towns of Aztalan, Farmington, Hebron, and Sumner
  • La Crosse County – town of Shelby
  • Monroe County – city of Sparta
  • Rock County – towns of Clinton, Harmony, Johnstown, and Lima
  • Sheboygan County – village of Kohler
  • Trempealeau County — towns of Ettrick, Gale and Preston

 Written by: Linda Williams, forest health specialist, Green Bay, (Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov), 920-662-5172.

 

Emerald ash borer trapping in 2017

Posted on by colleenrobinson

The Wisconsin DNR forest health team is planning to trap for emerald ash borer (EAB) at 20 locations in 2017.

Emerald ash borer traps will be placed at 12 locations in northwest Wisconsin in 2017: Big Bay State Park, Amnicon Falls State Park, Pattison State Park, Brule River State Forest, Governor Knowles State Forest, Interstate State Park, Willow River State Park, Eau Claire, Smith Lake County Park, Flambeau River State Forest, Big Falls County Park, and Pershing State Wildlife Area.

EAB trap locations in northwest Wisconsin in 2017.

Emerald ash borer traps will be placed at 8 locations in northwest Wisconsin in 2017: Northern Highlands American Legion State Forest, Governor Thompson State Park, Hartman Creek State Park, Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area, River Side Park, Princeton, Dodge Memorial Park, and Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area.

EAB trap locations in northeast Wisconsin in 2017.

Traps will mostly be placed on state properties. A couple traps will be placed on county land where state properties are not in the local area. Traps are deployed close to 400 growing degree days so they are ready when EAB adults start emerging at approximately 450 degree days. In 2016, southern Wisconsin hit 450 degrees days (modified base 50°F) in late May.

Written by: Mike Hillstrom, forest health specialist, Wisconsin Dells (Michael.Hillstrom@Wisconsin.gov), 715-459-1371.

Emerald ash borer trapping by a few northern county forestry departments

Posted on by colleenrobinson

Douglas, Oneida, and Sawyer County Forestry Departments will be trapping emerald ash borer on select sites across their properties this year. As needed, the DNR Forest Health Program and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will provide guidance to county forest departments that are responsible for purchasing, installing and monitoring their EAB purple prism traps.

Any new EAB detections will be tracked at the state level and may be used by forest managers to prioritize stand management based on EAB proximity, and by communities to inform the timing of ash management in community forests.

The abundance of ash forest resources and limited known distribution of EAB in the state’s north spurred interest by these counties to continue trapping.

Written by Paul Cigan, forest health specialist, Hayward (Paul.Cigan@Wisconsin.gov), 715-416-4920.

Oil or remove gypsy moth egg masses now

Posted on by colleenrobinson
Gypsy moth egg masses are tan colored lumps about the size of a nickel or a quarter. They are usually found on trees but may also be found on outdoor articles such as firewood piles, bird houses and picnic tables.

Gypsy moth egg masses.

Homeowners who are interested in reducing gypsy moth caterpillar numbers this summer should consider oiling or removing reachable egg masses well before the eggs begin hatching in the second half of April. Gypsy moth egg masses are tan-colored lumps about the size of a nickel or quarter, and usually contain 500 to 1,000 eggs. The egg masses can be found on any rough or protected surface including trees, houses, firewood piles, bird houses and other outdoor objects. Do NOT scrape the egg masses onto the ground or step on them or break them apart. Many of the eggs will survive and still hatch.

Continue reading “Oil or remove gypsy moth egg masses now” →

Treat your ornamental ash trees for emerald ash borer this spring

Posted on by colleenrobinson
A yellow ornamental ash tree at peak fall color. This tree is worth treating to protect it from being killed by emerald ash borer.

High-value ash tree at peak fall color.

March is a good month to consider insecticide treatments for high-value ornamental ash trees this spring. Emerald ash borer (EAB) has been found in 42 Wisconsin counties and is expected to be more than 99% fatal to ash trees that are not protected with insecticide every 1-2 years. Many insecticides used in EAB treatments are applied between mid-April and mid-May, and now is a good time to contact a tree service or other pesticide application business if arranging for professional insecticide treatments.

Property owners with susceptible ash trees should consider a number of factors when deciding to treat their ash trees, including financial cost, tree condition and location, the shade a tree provides, its contribution to property values, and aesthetic view. Homeowners should also consider the financial cost of removing a tree that is killed by EAB, and the benefits that a dead tree no longer provides.

Continue reading “Treat your ornamental ash trees for emerald ash borer this spring” →

Emerald ash borer new locations in Wisconsin

Posted on by colleenrobinson

Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) continues to be found in new areas. Regional Forest Health Updates were not sent during the 2016/2017 winter, so the list below includes new EAB finds from the last few months. Wisconsin continues to track EAB at the municipality or township level; infested areas are shown in green on the map below. If you know you have EAB please contact us with that information so we can verify the infestation and update the maps. If your area:

  • is not shaded in green on the map please contact DNR or
  • is not shaded at all on the map please contact DATCP.

You can reach both agencies from the menu options when you call 1-800-462-2803. Continue reading “Emerald ash borer new locations in Wisconsin” →