Showing 11 – 20 of 21 resources

Is there Another Invasive Pest in your Sugarbush?

We found significant populations of snake worms devouring the organic matter, causing soil conditions that discouraged growth of understory native plant species. We are looking at their distribution in maple stands throughout the region relative to forest management practices, and assessing their impact on understory diversity, maple regeneration and various soil characteristics.

Asian Longhorned Beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an Introduced Pest of Maple and Other Hardwood Trees in North America and Europe

The Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky), threatens urban and forest hardwood trees both where introduced and in parts of its native range. Native to Asia, this beetle has hitchhiked several times in infested wood packaging used in international trade, and has established breeding populations in five U.S. states, Canada, and at least 11 countries in Europe. It has a broad host range for a cerambycid that attacks living trees, but in the introduced ranges it prefers maples. Identification, classification, and life history of this insect are reviewed here. Eradication is the goal where it has been introduced, which requires detection of infested trees using several approaches, including ground and tree-climbing surveys. Several agencies and researchers in the United States and Europe are evaluating the use of pheromone- and kairomone-baited traps. Control options beyond cutting down infested trees are limited.

Asian Longhorned Beetle and its Host Trees

This pictorial guide provides basic information for identifying the Asian longhorned beetle, its injury characteristics, and its common host trees. The guide will help users detect the beetle in both urban and forested settings.

More invasive plants of the sugarbush

Identifying and removing invasive plants when they are few and small is the only way to keep from having a permanent infestation, one that will be a constant annoyance and expense.

Invaders in the sugarbush

Invasive exotic plants are becoming more prevalent and can have a negative impact on sugarbushes. Maple producers need to know how to identify and eradicate invasives.

Sugar Maple and the Pear Thrips

This tiny insect can cause major leaf “tatter” and flower damage on sugar maples and orchard trees, by feeding and laying eggs on the young leaves and flowers as the buds open in spring.

Some Background on the Asian Longhorned Beetle

The beetles were first discovered in Brooklyn, New York in 1996 and spread to neighboring Queens, infesting areas in Sunnyside, Woodside, Astoria, Long Island City, Maspeth, Ridgewood and later in Bayside and Flushing. Small infestations were also found in Flushing Meadows Park, Forest Park in Woodhaven and Kew Gardens Hills. New York city has lost over 4,000 trees because infested ones have to be cut down, chipped and burned.

Sugarmaker’s Guide to Pear Thrips Monitoring

Pear thrips surfaced as a new pest of sugar maple, Acer saccharum Marsh., in 1979. Damage from this insect occurs intermittently, and threatens the long-term health of maple trees throughout the northeastern United States and parts of Canada. A method for sampling forest soil to determine pear thrips populations is described that is suitable for sugarmakers. This method requires a minimum of equipment and time, and provides sugarmakers with a reliable estimate of the number of thrips in their sugar_bushes. By sampling and assessing damage annually, sugarmakers will gain an understanding of the relationship between thrips population levels and damage in their stands. Based on this information, potential damage in the spring can be estimated. Sample results are obtained before tapping so sugarmakers can adjust their management practices, such as the number of taps per tree, to minimize stress on trees when damage is likely.