TREE BUGS: When you’re out inspecting your trees this spring,
you might want to check for any of a variety of bugs which are
plaguing our forests.

The Bureau of Forestry, Elk State Forest, has a list:

– Gypsy moth. This non-native insect mainly feeds on oak
species, and was the dominant defoliator in Pennsylvania in 2008.
Gypsy moth defoliation increased in central and northeastern
Pennsylvania, but decreased in the southern portion of the
Commonwealth. A total of 766,507 acres of defoliation were reported
through aerial and ground surveys. The gypsy moth population is
increasing in southern Cameron County and heading northward.

– Emerald ash borer. Another non-native insect, this bug has
almost eliminated the ash tree population in Ohio. Emerald ash
borer was first detected in Pennsylvania 2007 when two adult
beetles were collected from infested ash trees in Butler County.
Additional infested sites were found in Allegheny County, Lawrence
County, Beaver and Mercer County.

Survey efforts are scheduled for 2009, and DCNR staff will again
be placing purple-panel traps in State Parks, State Forests, and
State Game Land sites in 22 counties in eastern Pennsylvania. So
please don’t transport firewood because that appears to be the
leading cause of the spread of these insects.

– Sirex wood wasp. Another non-native inspect, this wasp makes
it mark on pine trees. Currently seven counties are infested with
this exotic woodwasp: Bradford, Elk, Erie, McKean, Monroe, Potter
and Tioga.

– Hemlock woolly adelgid. This non-native insect affects hemlock
trees, often killing them after several years. Hemlock woolly
adelgid advanced into Potter County in 2008. A total of 10,936
acres of hemlock were defoliated in 2008. This was a 78 percent
increase over the previous year.

– Forest tent caterpillar. Defoliation from the forest tent
caterpillar increased significantly in eight counties including
McKean, Potter and Tioga in 2007. Forest tent caterpillars
defoliated 81,111 acres in 2008 compared to only 47,794 acres in
2007. This pest is a native species that is usually more a nuisance
on landscape trees.

We have one more bug to report on – the periodical cicada – but
we’ve run out of space today.