Forest health notes [2008]

Forest Health Notes - 2008
Forest Health Staff jjohnson@gfc.state.ga.us
Outreach to Landowners and Resource Professionals The Forest Health Unit provided statewide leadership and guidance to consulting, industry, GFC foresters and other natural resource managers on a wide range of forest health related issues. GFC foresters incorporated insect and/or disease advice on 1,785 management plans involving 118,601 acres during the year. Statewide, forest health training covering the majority of program areas listed in this report was provided on 116 occasions to almost 8,000 people. They included foresters, resource managers, loggers, public works departments (state and county), nurserymen, regulatory groups, field day participants and landowners.
Note: All work described in this report was partially subsidized by the US Forest Service and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (Plant Protection & Quarantine).
Annosum Root Disease - Widespread damage in recently thinned pine plantations (Slash and Loblolly) was first detected in 2005, and with new sites reported in 2008, the disease continued to cause damage. The region with the highest incidence rate and most severe mortality was a zone from Columbus east to Augusta, and south for about 75 miles (correlating to our sandhills and upper coastal plain regions).
It is our opinion that the principal reason for this disease outbreak (in our opinion) was the extremely high number of acres that were thinned during the past five to seven years in this region (initial CRP plantations along with ongoing forest regeneration), coupled with the wet summers of 2004-05, which created ideal conditions for Annosum infections. Several counties with the highest number of Annosum infections had in excess of 25,000 acres planted during the 1986-89 CRP period.
Red Oak Decline continued to cause problems throughout most of the state by late summer (2008). The ongoing drought is to blame for most of this decline.
Pine Beetle Aerial Survey - Minimal pine beetle activity was detected with ground and aerial surveys for 2008. Ips and black turpentine bark beetles caused many smaller spots in these drought stressed stands, and though a few southern pine beetles were detected by late summer, 2008 will be classified as a minimal year for damage. All counties with historical SPB outbreaks were aerial-surveyed (about two-thirds of Georgia).
GFC foresters conducted the 2008 southern pine beetle pheromone-trapping program in 20 counties. Baldwin County had projected moderate southern pine beetle problems for the year but this was not revealed during the survey.
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Hemlock Woolly Adelgid A survey for the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) was conducted for a sixth consecutive year. One temporary employee worked on this survey, concentrating on the western front of the spread. HWA continued to spread at a rapid pace and is now confirmed well into Gilmer and Fannin Counties. The counties with HWA include Rabun, Towns, Union, White, Habersham, Stephens, Lumpkin, Fannin and Gilmer.
The GFC continued to assist the UGA predator beetle rearing lab by supplying infested branch material. GFC survey employees were used to scout for suitable collection sites. Loads of infested branches were delivered as needed from December through early June. GFC also served as a site locator for the release of predator beetles raised by Georgia labs and the Clemson University lab.
The GFC continued to work with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to help survey and protect hemlocks on state lands. This partnership continued regarding the treatment of hemlocks using pesticides, and a supply of pesticide was given to DNR to help continue treating the many affected trees. The result of this effort was 1070 treated trees (total DBH of 12,707 inches) in 2008. The GFC was directly involved in the selection of predator beetle release sites and the actual releases on DNR lands.
The GFC assisted numerous cities, communities, homeowner associations and individuals regarding HWA. Public awareness of the kioritz injectors available at GFC offices in Habersham, Union, Lumpkin and Fannin Counties has increased. Most counties reported frequent usage of the tool with some counties establishing waiting lists. At least 13 presentations were made to the public on HWA. GFC's public website posting were added and updated in an effort to relay current information.
Invasive Weeds & Cogongrass Although many invasive plants cause problems within Georgia, most of our efforts have focused on Cogongrass and Chinese Privet. Our "Cogongrass Task Force" continued their mission in Georgia to address the threat this plant has toward our environment. Training was given to resource professionals throughout the state, and an education campaign was launched to help landowners identify the plant. Once landowners find suspect plants, they notify GFC to verify the identification. If it is confirmed, it is treated by the GFC. All known cogongrass-infested sites are treated by either the GFC, APHIS, or in a few cases, the landowners.
The GFC spearheaded an effort to bring all concerned groups and agencies into this cogongrass detection program. A total of 23 state, federal and private partners signed an agreement to establish the entire state of Georgia as a Cooperative Weed Management Area for cogongrass. This combined effort is expected to have far reaching impacts in helping educate the public about cogongrass and locating infested sites. All information regarding this noxious weed is available at www.cogongrass.org.
The GFC continued to treat the majority of sites with herbicide at no cost to landowners, through the assistance of an ongoing grant with the US Forest Service. Cogongrass has now been found in 28 Georgia Counties, involving over 215 sites.
The forest health staff began a widespread effort to test various herbicides, timing and rates to eradicate Chinese privet. This is likely the most widespread, harmful non-native invasive plant to Georgia's forests. Field trials will continue for at least one more year before results and recommendations are published. A major test of aerially treating Chinese privet in a hardwood
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understory during the dormant season is being planned and will be executed in the winter of 2008-09. Results of this field trial will also be documented for effectiveness of privet control as well as any collateral damage to the overstory hardwoods.
Sudden Oak Death - The sudden oak death monitoring program continued with the selection of ten northeast Georgia sites to detect the pathogen blamed for west coast tree mortality (P. ramorum). Stream-baiting sites were established at watersheds near the positive metro Atlanta nursery sites in the belief that many of these plants were sold and planted locally and could be causing undetected P. ramorum infections in the landscape. All stream-baiting samples were negative.
Sirex Woodwasp - The sirex woodwasp poses a threat to all of Georgia's southern yellow pines. Fifty insect traps were deployed throughout the state from May through November to detect any Sirex noctillio that might be present. These traps were checked twice each month and any suspect siricids were screened for ID by the forest health staff. No Sirex noctillio were trapped.
The GFC forest health staff partnered with UGA and Cornell researchers seeking additional biology on the native woodwasps and suppression techniques in case this non-native insect invades Georgia. Huge losses of both loblolly and slash pine have occurred on other continents due to this insect.
Redbay Ambrosia Beetle/Laurel Wilt Disease Laurel wilt disease (LWD), caused by the fungus Raffaelea lauricola, is a new disease of plants in the Lauraceae family in the United States. Vectored by an introduced Asian ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, this disease has spread rapidly through the abundant redbay in the maritime and coastal plain forests of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, killing most of the large redbay trees in its path. Other plants in the laurel family known to be susceptible to varying degrees include: camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), avocado (Persea americana), pondspice (Litsea aestivalis), and pondberry (Lindera melissifolia).
Laurel wilt disease continued moving rapidly across Southeast Georgia. To date 21 counties have confirmed cases of Laurel wilt disease, and three new counties (Toombs, Ware, and Clinch) were added as positive counties during the 2008 Laurel Wilt Survey. The majority of the reports of LWD came from redbay (Persia borbonia), but sassafras infestations are being more frequently reported in the northern counties (Bulloch and Screven) on the leading edge of the laurel wilt infestation. To date, LWD have been documented on Sassafras in six counties in Georgia - Liberty, McIntosh, Effingham, Screven, Bulloch and Evans.
Research has still produced no viable, large scale, protection from LWD and there is no mechanical or chemical treatment that can be used to slow, or stop, the spread of the Redbay ambrosia beetle or the associated fungus Raffaelea lauricola. The Georgia Forestry Commission has and will maintain a working relationship with the US Forest Service, Georgia Southern University, the University of Georgia, and many other partners to document the spread, study the biology, and possibly find a solution to this non-native invasive insect.
For more info on LWD visit: www.gatrees.org/ForestManagement/LaurelWilt.cfm. This includes a comprehensive two-year report for our evaluation monitoring grant for our survey and field work.
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Exotic Wood Borer/Bark Beetle Survey - The GFC surveys approximately 100+ warehouse locations that import cargo using Solid Wood Packing Material (SWPM) from foreign countries. Each location is checked monthly (May through September) bringing the number of inspections to approximately 500 for the season. Insects found within these sites are identified and appropriate action is taken by USDA if warranted.
Emerald Ash Borer - The emerald ash borer has devastated ash trees in the northeast U.S. and could have significant impacts in Georgia if it is introduced and becomes established. Seventy-five traps to detect any emerald ash borer (EAB) activity in Georgia were deployed from June through October. The traps are checked once a month, but no EAB's have been caught in Georgia. Numerous native buprestids have been caught, however.
Light Brown Apple Moth - The light brown apple moth (LBAM) was confirmed in California in March 2007, and it has a host range of 120+ plants and trees. Many of the favored host trees are native to Georgia. Thirty traps were deployed throughout the state in stands with preferred host trees. This is a partnership with a larger trapping program led by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Trapping occurred from July-November and were checked every two weeks. No LBAM was found in the traps this year.
Gypsy Moth Trapping Five contract workers and GFC personnel deployed traps in 16+ counties in 2008.
The following counties were trapped: Morgan, Madison, Franklin (1/2), Dawson, Hall, Forsyth, Coweta, Towns, Rabun, Pickens, Gilmer, Dade, Haralson (1/2), Walker, Catoosa, and Stephens. A total of 3055 traps were placed in these counties. One positive catch was made in south Morgan County and the area will be delimited in 2009.
Delimiting surveys were done in Gwinnett, Clarke and Jackson Counties. A total of 60 traps were placed. No positive catches were made. This was the last year for the Gwinnett site, but Clarke and Jackson will be delimited in 2009.
GFC forest health personnel placed a total of 40 additional traps around high risk zones in their work areas. No positive catches were made.
APHIS placed traps near Macon along the interstate and one moth was caught (Bibb County). A total of 3,155 traps were deployed, yielding one positive catch.
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