For more information:

ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE

EMERALD ASH BORER COULD WIPE OUT THE ASH

GYPSY MOTH THREAT TO MISSOURI OAK FORESTS

THOUSAND CANKERS DISEASE INFESTATION OF THE EASTERN BLACK WALNUT

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND THESE PESTS

• Missouri Forest Health Update - April 17, 2009
• Central States Forest Health Watch - July 17, 2009
  

ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE

A new exotic and potentially serious threat to North America’s most beautiful and popular trees is the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) (Anoplophora glabripennis), a native of Asia that likely arrived in North America in the wood packing material of a shipment from China, Japan or Korea. First discovered in Brooklyn, New York in 1996, ALB have been discovered in Long Island, Queens, Manhattan, Amityville, New York as well as New Jersey, Massachusetts. Separate cases of infestation have been found in Chicago, Illinois and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 

Authorities have reacted quickly to stop the infestation from spreading where Asian Longhorned Beetles have been found.  Trees favored by the beetles are predominantly maples, but infestations have also been discovered in horsechestnuts, poplars, willows, elms, mulberries and black locusts. 

Tthere is no known chemical or biological defense against the ALB and they have few natural predators here In North America. Affected trees are cut down and the wood destroyed. Early detection in Missouri is critical to our forests.

For more information about ALB:
* Assign Earth - Asian Longhorned Beetle - YouTube, New York, 2007
* MDC Online: Asian Longhorned Beetle
* USDA Forest Service: Forest Health Protection - Asian Longhorned Beetle
* University of Vermont, Entomology Research: Asian Longhorned Beetle

Back

EMERALD ASH BORER

Ash trees might have the same fate as the American chestnut trees in North America that were wiped out by the end of the 20th century by a fungal disease brought in from Asia. Again, another import from Asia, the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis, or EAB), is this century's newest plague discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult is not threatening but the larvae tunnels under ash trees' bark and destroys their circulatory systems.

The emerald ash borer have been found in Maryland, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. Some of these infestations are well-established and are spreading slowly.

For more information about EAB:
* Emerald Ash Borer Symptoms - MDC YouTube Video
* Emerald Ash Borer.info - free Webinars
* MDC Online: Emerald Ash Borer Kills Ash Trees
* USDA Forest Services- Northeastern Area - PDF publication

Back

GYPSY MOTH

The gypsy moth was introduced to Boston, Massachusetts from Europe around 1869 and has been spreading slowly westward. When it arrives in in Missouri, the gypsy moth will be especially devastating to our forests because one of its favorite foods is oak leaves and most of our forests have a high percentage of oak species. Each year, several moths are found that have been accidentally brought into Missouri from infested states.

Gypsy moth populations are present in North America in an area east of a line extending from Wisconsin through northern Illinois and on to North Carolina.  This infestation front continues to expand westward toward Missouri. Gypsy moths have not yet become established in Missouri but have been found in Camden, Clay, Crawford, Dent, Franklin, Greene, Jackson, Pettis and Ste. Genevieve counties. 

For more information about Gypsy moths:
* Gypsy Moth - MDC YouTube video
* Gypsy Moth Decimate Forests - CBS YouTube Video
* Gyspy Moth Slow the Spread Foundation, Inc.
* MDC Online: Gypsy Moths
* USDA Forest Service: Gyspy Moths in North America/

Back

THOUSAND CANKERS DISEASE

Thousand cankers disease is presently having devastating effects on black walnut in many western states. Black walnuts no longer exist in Idaho, New Mexico and Utah. This serious situation could become catastrophic if infective walnut twig beetles were allowed to colonize areas, such as Missouri, where black walnut grows as a native tree.

The walnut twig beetles, native to Arizona, California, New Mexico and Mexico, is smaller than a grain of rice and is not a threat by itself. But those tiny twig beetles that are infected by the deadly fungus, Geosmithia, are referred to as the "thousand cankers disease".

For more information about Thousand Cankers Disease:
* MDC, Forest Health, Thousand Cankers Disease FAQs PDF publication new!
* MSC Online: Thousand Cankers Disease new!
* USDA Forest Service, Pest Alert, TDC new!
* Notes for Forest Managers: Thousand Cankers Disease of Black Walnut: How Much Will It Hurt Missouri’s Pocketbook?
* Colorado State University Pest Alert: Walnut Twig Beetle and Thousand Cankers Disease for Black Walnut - PDF publication
* University of California Dept. of Entomology: Beetle and Fungus One-Two Punch Threatens Black Walnut Trees
* West Virginia Dept. of Agriculture: Walnut Twig Beetle and Thousand Cankers Disease of Walnut - PDF publication

Back

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND ONE OF THESE PESTS

Early detection is useful only when the problem is contained and eradicated. Should you find a suspect insect in Missouri:

1. Collect the insect in a plastic jar and place it in a freezer to kill it.
2. Note the date and location where the insect was found.
3. Mail the sample in a sturdy container (35mm film canisters work well) to one of the addresses below. Be sure to include your contact information and the date and location where you captured the sample.
4. Immediately contact one of the following:.

Pictures taken from Missouri Department of Conservation, Forestry Division