Michigan is reaping the harvest from “globalization” once again. In addition to losing our Ash trees and automotive industry, we can now add to the list our pine trees.
On July 6th, an individual Sirex Woodwasp was collected from an insect trap in Macomb County. These pests were first found in New York back in 2004. Agricultural scientists have been monitoring their traps for this woodwasp ever since. They came into our country via wooden crates made with infested wood.
So it’s official, Michigan is now on the list of areas having this problem, joining New York, Pennsylvania and Ontario.
We have our own Woodwasps but they only attack weak and dying trees. The Sirex, on the other hand attacks all pine trees that have two or three needles per bud. These include Austrian, Jack, Red and Scotch Pines. Even the most vigorously growing trees are not immune to destruction.
Here is a photo of the culprit:
Photo: David R. Lance, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
The female uses its stinger to “sting” the tree and lay its eggs inside.
Sometimes the female dies after laying the eggs and can be found dead but still stuck to the bark:
Photo: Paula Klasmer, Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria, Bugwood.org
The eggs hatch and the larvae (worms) tunnel under the bark and kill the tree:
Photo: William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org
The oozing sap is a symptom of Sirex Woodwasp infestation…
Photo: Dennis Haugen, Bugwood.org
Let’s hope that our Agriculture officials are right and this pest will pose no threat to our forest industry.
Bob
What’s the cure? and/or prevention?
Comment by Mary — July 17, 2007 @ 8:04 am
Mary,
I don’t know if there is a solution to all of these imported problems we are getting. People’s greed and lack of respect for the common good of all of society is the basic cause. Someone, somewhere didn’t want to spend the little bit of extra money it would have taken to build those crates out of kiln-dried wood instead of green wood. So now, they saved hundreds of dollars and we lose billions.
Specifically though, the Christmas tree growers, tree nursery people, and homeowners will be able to spray chemicals for this pest. The trees in our forests however, will have to fend for themselves.
Since this is such a new pest, I’m not sure if spray recommendations have been released yet. The Monroe County Cooperative Extension Service will have the most up-to-date information regarding control or prevention of the Sirex Woodwasp.
Comment by Bob — July 17, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
It is so scary to see these trees dying. I have friends around Whitmore Lake and their trees (pine) are dead and have to be cut down.
There are some young trees (maple) along M-50 near Dundee that are whithering away, too. What’s wrong?
Joni Mitchell was right. We’ll be putting “tree[s] in a tree museum” before long.
Comment by victoria mcintyre — August 2, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
Most of the time there is an environmental problem at the root of the problem… not enough water, wrong tree for that site or something of that nature. Once in a while though, something like this comes along and really causes a lot of damage. I expect we will see more rather than less of these events because of “Globalization”.
Comment by Bob — August 2, 2007 @ 7:52 pm