Georgia's forest health notes [2010]

Georgia's Forest Health Notes - 2010
October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010
Chip Bates, Forest Health Coordinator Mark Raines, Mark McClure, Scott Griffin (Regional FH Specialists)
Summary: The Georgia Forestry Commission's (GFC) Forest Health Specialists provide statewide leadership and guidance to consulting, industry, and 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 1,375 management plans involving 93,287 acres for the year. Statewide, forest health training was provided to Foresters, resource managers, loggers, public works departments (state and county), nurserymen, regulatory agencies, landowners and at field days on 128 occasions (4376 attendees). These sessions involved most of the program areas listed in this report.
Special Notes of Interest:
Rhizoctonia Longleaf Seedling Blight: Significant mortality was observed from Rhizoctonia blight which is typically thought of as a fungal pathogen causing blight or mortality in seedling stock of pine nursery beds. Symptoms appear in grass stage seedlings to seedlings producing growth candles up to three feet high. Seedlings show symptoms of loss of turgor pressure in the needles resulting in a wilted appearance with a fine or soft feel to the touch. Many of the terminal buds showed signs of dieback with a distinct line of necrosis present. Some samples were found with large hollow piths down the terminal bud. There appears to be a progression of symptoms from wilting needles, to dieback of the terminal bud, to complete mortality of seedlings.
Rhizoctonia has been confirmed in three year old Longleaf pine stands in Bulloch, Wheeler, and Jones Counties in Georgia with two additional counties reporting symptomatic stands. In each stand localized areas of partridge pea re-seeding so prolific it became a dense mat competing for water and nutrients and overtopping the longleaf seedlings; shading of the forest floor restricted available sunlight possibly creating a microclimate conducive to the success of the unwanted fungus.
A forest health pest alert, Rhizoctonia Blight in Longleaf Pine, was issued for the occurrence of Rhizoctonia blight in longleaf pine. This alert is available on the Georgia Forestry Commission's website: http://www.gatrees.org/ForestManagement/documents/LongleafPineMortalityRhizoctoniablightAug2010.pdf
Pine Beetle Aerial Survey: In 2010, GFC Forest Health Specialists flew a 20% statewide survey to detect the presence of Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) activity. Minimal pine bark beetle activity was detected. Only one SPB spot was detected in McDuffie County. Ips Engraver Beetle and Black Turpentine Beetle damage continued to sporadically occur across the state but even their occurrence was fairly low. This damage was normally associated with lightning strikes.
GFC Foresters conducted the SPB pheromone-trapping program 20 counties were trapped in 2010. All but one predicted low SPB levels and these predictions proved accurate with the low SPB activity revealed during the aerial survey.

GFC Foresters have located and provided access to numerous researchers studying active pine beetle areas.
Annosum Root Disease Update: Widespread damage in recently thinned pine plantations (Slash and Loblolly) was first detected in 2005, and the disease continues to cause ongoing damage with new sites being reported in 2010. The incidence of occurrence of Annosum Root Disease appears to be less numerous than in the past two years, but areas of infection were still noted during aerial surveys in 2010. The primary region with the highest incidence and most severe mortality is a zone from Augusta to Columbus and south for about 75 miles (correlating to our Sandhills and Upper Coastal Plain regions). Ongoing educational outreach programs and many one-on-one field visits with professional land managers have resulted in most Foresters being able to diagnose this condition.
Although GFC Foresters perform the majority of field inspections, the Forest Health staff responded to 230 forest industry/consultant/GFC Forester requests requiring field visits throughout the state. Annosum Root Disease, and pine bark beetles were the primary concern in many of these inspections.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid A survey for the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) was conducted for a seventh year. One temporary employee worked on this survey, concentrating on the western front of the spread. HWA occurance continues to expand at a rapid pace. The counties with HWA include Rabun, Towns, Union, White, Habersham, Stephens, Lumpkin, Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens and Murray. This year's survey added two new counties, Pickens and Murray.
The GFC supported predator beetle rearing labs with foliage collection and beetle release locations. With the area of suitable foliage and release sites advancing rapidly west, coordination of these activities was critical. GFC scouted for suitable collection sites and 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 the Georgia and Clemson University labs.
The GFC continued to work with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 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 GFC was involved in starting a volunteer program using Friends of the Parks Chapters to help fight HWA on state park 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, Gilmer, Fannin, Murray, and Pickens Counties has increased. One injector was also placed in Rabun County at the UGA Cooperative Extension Office. Most counties reported frequent use of the tool with some counties having a waiting list. At least 15 presentations were made to the public on HWA, including workshops targeting counties on the leading edge of the HWA infestation. GFC continued to work with UGA researchers and others to gather the most up to date information on HWA. GFC website postings were added and updated in an effort to relay this information: http://www.gatrees.org/ForestManagement/HemlockWoollyAdelgid.cfm
Invasive Weeds and Cogongrass Although many invasive plants cause problems within Georgia, most of our efforts have focused on Cogongrass and Chinese Privet. Our "Cogongrass Task Force" continues its mission in Georgia to address the threat this plant has toward our environment. Training has been given to resource professionals throughout the state, and the educational campaign continues to help landowners identify the plant. Once
An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider
2

landowners find suspect plants, they then notify the GFC to verify identification, and if confirmed, treatment is provided by the GFC at no charge to landowners. All known Cogongrass infested sites are being 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 under this umbrella to detect Cogongrass. 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 in May 2008. These partners were contacted last winter (February) to remind them of the flowering and seeding period that makes it recognizable. Literature was mass printed and given to all partners who expressed interest. The combined effort of this group should have far reaching impacts to help educate the public about Cogongrass as well as help locate all infested sites. All information regarding this non-native invasive weed has been assembled at the web site: http://www.cogongrass.org/
During this fiscal year 142 new Cogongrass infestation sites were reported and treated by the GFC. The GFC treats all new sites with herbicide at no cost to landowners through an ongoing grant provided by the U.S. Forest Service. This non-native invasive weed is found in 44 Georgia counties, involving over 465 sites. In Georgia, 140 acres of Cogongrass has been treated with all known sites being sprayed at least once. During the post treatment inspection process, approximately 44% of all known sites are being shown as negative for Cogongrass. Three consecutive years of negative evaluation is required for a Cogongrass site to be deemed as eradicated, and ninety sites in Georgia have shown two years of negative post inspection and ten sites have been declared eradicated. Herbicide results have been positive with the majority of all sites now being controlled within two growing seasons. These mixes and rates are published in a paper, Cogongrass Eradication Strategies, produced by the Forest Health staff and John Taylor with the U.S. Forest Service. These recommendations are posted on the GFC website:
http://www.gatrees.org/ForestManagement/documents/GFCCogongrassEradicationStrategiesrevMarch2010.pdf
Mark McClure, Forest Health Specialist, Southwest Georgia, developed an information newsletter that is published quarterly on the GFC website, GaTrees.org, and is e-mailed to landowners and partners across the Southeast. Reminders for landowners to be vigilant for new infestations of Cogongrass, pictures for identification purposes, and an update on the current status of Cogongrass infestations in Georgia is provided in the Cogongrass in Georgia: Spring 2010 Update newsletter. A County Congongrass Densities Map was also produced to better depict local infestations and more accurately show the spread of Cogongrass in Georgia. This map is available at: http://www.gatrees.org/ForestManagement/documents/CogongrassCountyDensitiesMapAug052010.pdf
The Forest Health staff continues widespread efforts to test various herbicides, timing of application and rates to control Chinese Privet, Japanese Climbing Fern, Chinese Tallowtree, and any other non-native invasive that presents a hazard to the health of our forests in Georgia. Chinese Privet is the most widespread and harmful non-native invasive plant to Georgia's forests (FIA data indicates 377,000+ forested acres in Georgia have privet). A major test of aerially treating Chinese Privet in a hardwood understory during the dormant season was executed in the winter of 2008-09. Results of this field trial was documented in the report, Aerial Glyphosate Application to Control Privet in Mature Hardwood Stands, showing the effectiveness of privet control as well as any collateral damage to the overstory hardwoods. An additional nine sites were aerially treated during the winter of 2009-10, and these field sites were checked and an addendum was added to this report. The results indicate that for the Piedmont of Georgia, this is a viable option for land managers where overstory species are similar to the treatment areas. The GFC will attempt a similar trial in the Coastal Plain where species composition is different and results could vary accordingly. Both report and addendum are located on the GFC website at:
http://www.gatrees.org/ForestManagement/documents/AerialGlyphosateApplicationtoControlPrivetrAug2010.pdf
An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider
3

Japanese Climbing Fern was relatively unknown in Georgia until four years ago. Once this plant was perceived as a potential threat to the health of Georgia's forests, a consolidated effort was made to include this new information as part of our landowner education programs. Increased awareness of this plant has lead to a dramatic increase in sightings and identification of this pest. To date Japanese Climbing Fern has been found as far north as Richmond County in Georgia. New locations are discovered weekly.
Historically, Chinese Tallowtree has been controlled using labor intensive injection methods or basil stem application of herbicide. In the spring of 2010 a new chemical, "Clearcast", was presented by BASF as an aerial or ground herbicide for application directly over hardwoods with the claim that Tallowtree and only Tallowtree would be killed. In an effort to increase our outreach and education efforts, a partnership was formed with BASF and SePRO to promote this new technology as a cost-effective eradication option. Two programs were scheduled in Southeast Georgia to educate landowners, industry Foresters, Georgia Forestry Commission personnel, and our Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) partners about this new chemical. The goal of these two programs was to inform the general public about the harm that the top twelve invasive plants in Georgia (The Dirty Dozen) can do and to educate on control of Chinese Tallowtree. The first program was conducted in Baxley, Georgia, on March 11, 2010 and a second program in Statesboro, Georgia, on May 26, 2010. Both meetings were well attended by approximately two hundred participants.
As a result of the two programs a field trial test is being developed for the summer of 2011. Approximately forty acres of Slash Pine will be aerially treated using two rates of "Clearcast" to determine if the chemical can be applied over Slash Pine. Our goal is to use thirty-two and seventy-two ounces per rates per acre of "Clearcast" applied aerially, and evaluate the percent kill on Chinese Tallowtree and any collateral damage to the hardwood and pine. This field trial will be conducted in Hahira, Georgia, and the landowner has agreed to use the results in a field day demonstration to educate other landowners in the region. Our goal is to show different application techniques from aerial application, hack and squirt, and ground foliar application using backpack sprayers and mechanical mounted equipment.
Addressing invasive species occurrence and control is a growing issue. The Forest Health staff is partnering with The U.S. Forest Service, the Resource Conservation and Development Councils, National Wild Turkey Federation, and other state and federal agencies to inform the public of the harm non-native invasive plants can cause in Georgia. Regional and local programs have been conducted during the past year and are being planned to bring relevant and current topics to the landowners of Georgia and our federal and state partners.
In the winter of 2010 and the spring of 2011, field trials are planned to test application methods, and herbicide rates for control of Trifoliate Orange (Poncirus trifoliata) in central Georgia. The Forest Health staff will establish these field trials to determine optimal application timing and rates for best control using proven application techniques and commercially available herbicides.
An invasive plant incentive program was developed through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to create new jobs and assist landowners with controlling Cogongrass, Chinese Privet, Chinese Tallowtree, Japanese Climbing Fern, Multiflora Rose, and Autumn Olive. There were 387 applications for invasive species control and over 90% of these were for privet control. This represented 7,134 acres and $2,853,448 in requests. After a random selection, 101 applications were funded that represented 1,908 acres and $763,396 in funding. The program also provided funding to hire 6 Foresters and one Grant Manager. The six Foresters hired under the invasive species grant have helped survey, develop prescriptions, procure contractors and oversee treatments on private landowner applications. The University of
An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider
4

Georgia's (UGA) Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources has conducted an invasive species survey, and UGA Foresters will develop prescriptions, procure contractors and oversee treatments. The Georgia State Parks will use the existing invasive species survey to prioritize parks, develop prescriptions, obtain contractors and oversee treatments on their lands.
Furthermore, UGA will develop and plan for public outreach tools to be used in conjunction with this effort to educate the public and stimulate learning about the harm non-native invasive plants pose to our native ecosystems.
The timeline for this project will allow for at least two treatments on each area to ensure adequate coverage and eradication is successful.
Work Accomplishments:
364 acres have been treated on Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites as of September 30, 2010
1,831 acres of private land has been treated for invasive species as of September 30, 2010
Over 2,100 acres of University of Georgia owned forest land has been surveyed for invasive species
In addition to the acres treated on public and private lands, UGA has created fact sheets and an information poster featuring the top six Georgia invasive species targeted under the ARRA Program. These resources are located at http://www.gainvasives.org/arra/ under the title "Georgia Invasive Plants Outreach Program". These materials have been distributed to the State Parks, County Forestry units, and Extension offices.
Information on invasive species has been published on: http://www.invasive.org/ and http://www.gainvasives.org/. A new narrated presentation highlighting Georgia invasive plants has been developed on the gainvasives.org page.
UGA is developing information brochures on invasive species and is developing a marketing plan for new programs for invasive species awareness.
More information on this opportunity can be found at: http://www.gatrees.org/Recovery/Index.cfm
Sudden Oak Death The Sudden Oak Death (SOD) monitoring program continues and 10 sites were chosen in northeast Georgia to detect the presence of the pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum, blamed for west coast tree mortality. Stream baiting sites targeted watersheds near the positive nursery sites in the metro Atlanta area with the belief that many of these plants were sold and planted locally. None of these sites detected Phytophthora ramorum.
In addition, stream-baiting continued around a nursery that had positive plants and soil in 2008. Multiple positive stream baits were found at this location in 2010. A cooperative agreement was formed between the Georgia Forestry Commission, U.S. Forest Service, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Clemson University to conduct a vegetation survey along the streams in this area. No Phytophthora ramorum was discovered on any of the samples. Stream baiting will continue at this site.
A forest health brochure, Sudden Oak Death, is posted on the GFC web site at: http://www.gatrees.org/ForestManagement/documents/SuddenOakDeath0607.pdf
An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider
5

Exotic Wood Boring and Bark Beetle Survey Companies accepting international cargo with solid wood packing material (SWPM) were surveyed for new introductions of Exotic Wood Boring and Bark Beetles. Thirty-five (35) new facilities were identified through the Georgia Ports Authority web site and a total of three hundred thirty nine (339) site visits to these facilities were performed between April 1 and September 30, 2010. One hundred six (106) warehouse facilities participated in this survey in the Atlanta and Savannah area.
A Facility Risk Assessment Scale System (FRASS) was developed to rate potential risk of exotic pest introductions. Ratings are based on the type material, moisture content, and continent of origin of the SWPM. Thirteen different types of SWPM were identified and the percent moisture content of the SWPM was evaluated. The higher moisture content of the SWPM the more likely insects would survive in transit thus increasing the FRASS scale. Sixty-one foreign countries were identified during the survey and the continent of origin was identified as a risk as well. SWPM originating from Asia and Africa was consistently deemed more high risk than SWPM from Europe, South America and Australia.
Based on the FRASS scale, a facility handling wooden crates or pallets with moisture contents above 20% would be rated higher than a facility handling laminate wooden crates or wooden crates with very low moisture contents, and the continent of origin also became a determining factor in the FRASS scale.
Facilities scoring 0-5 points are rated as low risk or "cold" for pests; 6-9 points indicate a moderate or "warm" risk; and a score above 9 points indicates a high or "hot" risk for pests. A facility with a cold rating would not require as many visits as those rated warm to hot. This scale established a priority system for determining the potential risk of exotic pests and a ranking of priority for frequency of survey. (Please see the Facility Risk Assessment Scale System (FRASS) Criteria below)
Two notable pests were intercepted at two warehouses in the Atlanta Area. The bostrichid beetle, Sinoxylon anale, was collected from a wooden crate from India on June 22, 2010. This beetle was intercepted in Georgia prior to 2010 but it is not known to be established in Georgia. It infests over seventy deciduous woody plant species and a wide variety of products such as lumber, logs, stored wood and plant seeds.
The Lyctid powderpost beetle, Lyctus africanus, was collected in 2010 on July 6, August 10, and September 23, from wooden crates from India. It infests various hardwood products and has established itself in Georgia. Both pests should be considered very injurious and economically important to Georgia given what is known about them in their countries of origin.
Eighteen Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) and Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) traps were deployed at three locations in the Savannah Area. No exotic pests were collected from these traps. Eleven Sirex Woodwasp traps and twenty Emerald Ash Borer traps were placed in the Atlanta, Elberton and Savannah areas. These traps yielded no pests as well.
An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider
6

FACILITY RISK ASSESSMENT SCALE SYSTEM (FRASS) CRITERIA

Pallet/SWPM Type Scale Points

Pallet/SWPM Type Metal (M) Plastic (P) Foreign Composite (FC) Domestic (D) Composite/Laminate Crate (CC) Cardboard (CB) Laminate Runners (LR) Wooden Racks (WR) Wooden Granite Slab Frames (WGSF) Lumber (Lmbr) Foreign Non-Composite (FNC) Crate (C) Solid Crates (SC) Runners (R) Coil Pallet (CP

Points 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 4

Moisture Content of Pallet/SWPM Wood Scale Points

Moisture Content 0-9% 10-20% 21-30% 31-40%

Points 0 1 2 3

Continent of Origin

Continent Asia Africa Australia Europe South America

Points 3 3 1 1 1

0-5 Cold Low Risk

FRASS SCALE 6-9 Warm Moderate Risk

>9 Hot High Risk

An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider
7

Emerald Ash Borer The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has devastated ash trees in the Northeast and Midwest and could have the same impact in Georgia. EAB was introduced in Detroit, Michigan, in 2002 and has since spread as far south as Knox and Louden Counties, Tennessee, placing Emerald Ash Borer within one hundred miles of Georgia. Many infestations are started by human assisted spread through the movement of ash logs and firewood from infested areas. Early detection of this new invasive insect is critical to the protection of the forests of Georgia.
Annually, EAB traps are deployed across Georgia in an attempt to detect new introductions present in Georgia. Between April and September triangular, purple, stick traps (baited with a manuka oil lures) were established across Georgia and inspected monthly for suspect EAB. No EAB has been detected in Georgia.

Forest/Wood lot/Camp/Park Urban/Commercial Nursery Other Residential

56 Traps 38 Trap 22 Traps 10 Traps 2 Traps

Total

128 Traps State Wide*

*this includes 20 traps deployed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and 8 traps deployed by the University of Georgia

Sirex Woodwasp Huge losses of both Loblolly and Slash pine have occurred on other continents due to this insect, and it remains as a high concern pest that hasn't yet arrived in Georgia (or the southeastern U.S). The Sirex Woodwasp poses a threat to all of Georgia's southern yellow pines and warrants monitoring through our early detection rapid response protocols.
A series of Lindgren Funnel insect traps (baited with alpha-pinene lures for Sirex Woodwasp) were deployed at high risk warehouses receiving solid wood packing materials through the Savannah Port Authority terminals near Garden City, Georgia. Eleven traps were located in possible ports of entry to detect any Sirex noctilio inadvertently moved into these locations in cargo. These traps are checked every two weeks and any suspect non-native insects are initially screened for identification by the forest health staff. No Sirex noctilio have been caught in our traps to date.

Laurel Wilt Disease Laurel Wilt Disease (LWD), caused by the fungus Raffaelea lauricola, is a disease of plants in the Lauraceae family in the United States, vectored by an introduced Asian ambrosia beetle (Redbay Ambrosia Beetle), Xyleborus glabratus. This disease spread rapidly through the abundant Redbay and Sassafras in the Maritime and Coastal Plain forests of Georgia, north into South Carolina, and south into Florida. The disease is now present in Mississippi in Jackson County, along the Interstate 10 corridor and in the Pascagoula River drainage, killing most of the large Redbay trees in its path. Across Georgia approximately seven million acres of forests have been infested with this disease. Other plants in the Laurel family known to be susceptible to varying degrees include: Camphor Tree (Cinnamomum camphora), Avocado (Persea americana), Pondspice (Litsea aestivalis), and Pondberry (Lindera melissifolia).
LWD continues moving rapidly across Southeast Georgia. The active front and outlying disease centers in Georgia at the end of September 2010, has progressed approximately ninety-five miles inland from the original point of origin at Port Wentworth, Georgia, in May of 2002. Four new counties - Lowndes, Lanier, Bacon, and Jeff Davis - were confirmed as new positive Redbay infestations in 2010 and to date there are 29 counties confirmed with Laurel Wilt Disease.

An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider
8

LWD continues to spread northward in Georgia and is moving from a traditional Redbay range to areas dominated by Sassafras. Researchers are working to determine if the Redbay Ambrosia Beetle can successfully produce brood and continue to spread solely supported by Sassafras.
The isolated disease center, located near Dublin, continues to spread and is killing both Redbay and Sassafras providing an opportunity to conduct control method research in 2010. Research has still provided no large scale protection from LWD, but research conducted by Dr. Bud Mayfield (2008) shows that Propiconazole (fungicide) injected in advance of inoculation with the Laurel Wilt pathogen, can inhibit the spread of this pathogen in xylem tissue and prevent Laurel Wilt. In October 2009, field trials were conducted on Jekyll and St. Simons Islands to find new delivery methods for application of Propiconazole. To remove the need for a tree injection system, the use of a bark penetrating adjuvant was combined with Propiconazole and applied directly to the lower ten feet of redbay trees. The purpose of the study is to determine if Propiconazole can be applied directly to the tree, absorbed through the bark, and provide protection from LWD for an extended period of time with an easier and cheaper method. Two trial areas where chosen and forty-two trees were treated using a basal stem application of Pentra-Bark and Propiconazole.
These field trials have been evaluated three times during 2010 and the results are far from conclusive. Initial evaluation indicates that symptomatic trees (dying branches or discolored leaves), during initial treatment, died quickly. Preventing or reversing fungal spread of the disease does not appear to be possible. Many of the smaller trees that were healthy and free of symptoms during the initial treatment are still alive and are showing no sign of decline. The remaining samples trees will be evaluated for a period of three years. Additional field trials will be established, in the spring of 2011, at the leading edge and in advance of the infection area using proven fungicides and application techniques. The Georgia Forestry Commission has, and will maintain, a working relationship with the U.S. Forest Service, Georgia Southern University, the University of Georgia, and many other partners to document the spread, study the biology, and possibly find a cost-effective suppression method to this non-native invasive insect. More info on LWD can be found at: http://www.gatrees.org/ForestManagement/LaurelWilt.cfm . This includes our comprehensive two-year report for our evaluation monitoring grant for our survey and field work.
Light Brown Apple Moth The GFC is cooperating with the statewide Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) survey being conducted by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, by placing traps in pine stands near locations that could introduce infested cargo from California.
LBAM was confirmed in California in March 2007. The infestation is concentrated in the "Bay Area" with seventeen counties under state interior quarantine as of April 2010. LBAM has a complete host list containing well over 1000 plants and trees with many of its preferred host trees being native to Georgia. Twenty-eight traps were set up throughout the state, trapping from April-September in an effort to detect any LBAM that
An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider
9

might be present in Georgia. The traps are checked every two weeks and no Light Brown Apple Moth have been caught at this point.

Forest/Wood lot/Camp/Park Other Total

27 Traps 1 Trap 28 Traps State Wide

Gypsy Moth Trapping GFC personnel deployed traps across the state in 20+ counties in 2010.
The following counties were trapped: Dade (100%), Floyd (50%), Whitfield (50%), Clarke (80%), Union (85%), White (90%), Elbert (70%), Columbia (70%), Monroe (70%), Troup (80%), Houston (60%), Putnam (65%), Laurens (40%), Macon (55%), Talbot (55%), Wayne(30%), Brantley (35%), Seminole (95%), Effingham (45%) and Liberty (45%).
A total of 4500 traps were placed in these counties by GFC Rangers and Foresters. GFC Forest Health personnel placed an additional 50 traps around high risk areas in their work areas. No positive catches were made.
Delimit trapping was conducted around past positive catches in Morgan, Chatham, and Glynn Counties. A total of 175 traps were placed. No positive catches were made in Morgan and Chatham Counties. One confirmed Gypsy moth was captured in Glynn County. Molecular analysis was inconclusive as to the strain ( i.e. European or Asian) because of a lack of amplifiable DNA in the sample. Delimit trapping will continue in these 3 counties in 2011.
A grand total of 4725 traps were deployed in Georgia in 2010.
A forest health brochure, Gypsy Moth, is available on the GFC web site at: http://www.gatrees.org/ForestManagement/documents/GypsyMothFactsheet.pdf

An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider
10

An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider
11