5-19-2005 |
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NEWS ADVISORY AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT SURVEYING STATE FORESTS AND STATE PARKS FOR TREE PESTS The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is focusing on dangerous tree pests in West Virginia's state forests and parks this summer and is looking for help from the public. "This summer, we want to gather as much data as possible on the extent of the emerald ash borer (EAB) and the gypsy moth within our state forests," said Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass." At the same time, we are hoping to educate visitors about how they may prevent spreading these pests." The WVDA with assistance from USDA, will conduct EAB surveys this summer, said Gary Gibson, Director of WVDA's Plant Industries Division (PID). "We welcome the public's input into this survey. Although EAB has not been found in West Virginia, EAB-infested tress exhibit distinctive damage and informational materials will indicate how to contact our division if hikers or campers find evidence of the pest." EAB, an exotic beetle, was discovered in the United States near Detroit, Mich., in the summer of 2002. It probably arrived in the United States in solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia. It has also been detected in Windsor, Ontario, Ohio, northern Indiana, Virginia and Maryland. Since its discovery in this country, EAB has killed 8-10 million trees, resulting in quarantines and substantial financial losses for affected landowners and industries. The EAB infestations in Virginia and Maryland are the result of quarantine violations. The adult EAB nibbles on ash foliage. Larvae (the immature stage) feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. Adults are metallic green and are about one-half inch long. They leave a D-shaped exit hole in the bark when they emerge in the spring. The gypsy moth is one of North America's most devastating forest pests. The species has been in Europe and Asia for thousands of years. It was introduced to this country in the late 1800s near Boston and has been spreading ever since. It feeds on the foliage of hundreds of species of plants, but it is partial to oaks, West Virginia's dominant tree species. Trailers, recreational vehicles and mobile homes pose a risk of moving gypsy moth. Gypsy moths lay their egg masses in sheltered areas, such as the underside of travel trailers. By building awareness, travelers can recognize and destroy gypsy moths and their egg masses if they are detected. According to WVDA Entomologist Terry Carrington, firewood is one of the prime culprits for introduction of foreign pests, such as gypsy moth and EAB, into West Virginia's forests. "Some people bring their own firewood when they come to West Virginia, rather than buying firewood at the campground," he said. "That incoming firewood can harbor invasive species. If people bring firewood with them, then they need to burn all of it before they leave." Exotic pests are often more destructive when newly introduced because they do not have natural population controls such as parasites, predators or diseases. Native host plants, deprived of previous contact with an exotic pest, cannot always adapt and develop effective defenses against them. Posters showing the various life stages of gypsy moths and the range of the gypsy moth in the United States will be posted at campgrounds throughout the state. Similar information about EAB and the problems associated with imported firewood will also be posted.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org. |
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