Insect poses threat to trees
July 7, 2010 — It's prime time for the emergence of an extremely invasive insect that could be deadly to the Commonwealth's wood industry. State officials are hoping a lure, in the form of a purple box, will help to eradicate the imported beetle before it destroys the species of tree that is most popular in regional manufacturing. Read more…
Tree-killing beetle plagues Northern Virginia
April 26, 2010 — Tens of thousands of Northern Virginia ash trees are at risk of dying in coming years, according to area forestry officials. The culprit? A menacing, half-inch beetle. The infamous tree killer, emerald ash borer, is wreaking havoc on the region, feeding on the inner bark of ash trees and squashing their ability to transport water and minerals. Read more…
Pine beetle epidemic to affect lumber supply continent-wide
March 25, 2010 — A new report on the mountain pine beetle epidemic describes it as one of North America's largest natural environmental disasters that will put an estimated 16 major sawmills out of business in B.C. and lead to long-term lumber shortages in the United States. Read more…
Bark beetles rocked by sound
February 8, 2010 — A phenomenon being dubbed Beetlemania is playing out in northern Arizona. As can be expected, it involves rock music. But instead of screaming fans, there are cheering scientists who have found a way to drive bark beetles crazy with sound. Read more…
Tree-Killing Fungus Officially Named by Scientists
July 1, 2008 — The USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station (SRS) today announced that an SRS scientist and other researchers have officially named the fungus responsible for killing redbay and other trees in the coastal plains of northeastern Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Read more…
Research to preserve hemlock ongoing
June 12, 2008 — Professors and researchers at Camcore, a non-profit international conservation program within North Carolina State University’s Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, are working on a project to preserve the Carolina and eastern varieties of hemlock. An exotic insect, Adelges tsugae, also known as the hemlock wooly adelgid, has become a serious threat to the survival of the Carolina and eastern hemlock populations, according to Robert Jetton, a research associate at Camcore. Read more…
State ag experts fight gypsy moths
April 22, 2008 — State agricultural officials are fighting gypsy moths in Warren County. This week the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will treat a gypsy moth infestation near the Virginia border. State agricultural officials said the moth, originally from Europe, is wreaking havoc on trees in the United States. Read more…
Dept. of Agriculture to treat gypsy moth infestation here
April 18, 2008 — The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) will treat a gypsy moth infestation in Warren County on April 21, depending on weather conditions and insect development. The treatment will be conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread Foundation Inc. Read more…
State Fights Creepy, Crawly Invaders From North
April 17, 2008 — North Carolina appears to be poised to become the next state to fight an infestation of Gypsy moths, which have been migrating slowly from Massachusetts since the 1800s. The moths have recently been spotted in counties bordering Virginia. “Right now, it’s knocking on our doorsteps,” said Matt Andresen, manager of the state Department of Agriculture’s Gypsy moth program. Read more…
Laurel Wilt Of Redbay And Sassafras: Will Avocados Be Next?
April 15, 2008 — Scientists with the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station (SRS), Iowa State University, and the Florida Division of Forestry have provided the first description of a fungus responsible for the wilt of redbay trees along the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Read more…
Charlotte ready for cankerworm war
April 4, 2008 — Charlotte is ready to wage war against the cankerworm, as the city plans to begin an aerial attack on Monday morning. Weather permitting, it will be the largest ever aerial spray in an attempt to kill the worm that is damaging trees around the city. Last minute preparations were made on Friday to plan the spray and let the public know about what’s going on. Read more…