Insects and Diseases
Growing Hardwoods
Insects and Diseases
Thousand Canker Disease
Within the past decade an unusual decline of black walnut has been observed in several western states. Initial symptoms involve a yellowing and thinning of the upper crown, which progresses to include death of progressively larger branches. During the final stages large areas of foliage may rapidly wilt. Trees often are killed within three years after initial symptoms are noted. Tree mortality is the result of attack by the walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis) and subsequent canker development around beetle galleries caused by a fungal associate (Geosmithia sp.) of the beetle. This disease complex has been named Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD).
USDA Forest Service Pest Alert
Thousand Cankers disease: Curtis Utley, CSUE, Bugwood.org
Other walnut specific diseases
There are a number of insects and diseases that attack hardwood trees. Some are very specific to black walnut trees. A good source for problems specific to black walnut is the publication "How to Diagnose Black Walnut Damage," USDA Forest Service General Technical Report NC-57.
"How to Identify and Control Leaf Spot Diseases of Black Walnut" has information on anthracnose, bull's-eye leaf spot, and white mold.
Other hardwood insects and diseases
The website www.forestpests.org tracks the latest information and has numerous publications.
The US Forest Service publishes pest alerts on a variety of pests.
Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald Ash borer: www.emeraldashborer.info
A beetle from Asia, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), was identified in July 2002 as the cause of widespread ash (Fraxinus spp.) tree decline and mortality in southeastern Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Larval feeding in the tissue between the bark and sapwood disrupts transport of nutrients and water in a tree, eventually causing branches and the entire tree to die. Tens of millions of ash trees in forest, rural, and urban areas have already been killed or are heavily infested by this pest.
National Emerald Ash borer website
Sudden Oak Death
A phenomenon known as Sudden Oak Death was first reported in 1995 in central coastal California. Since then, tens of thousands of tanoaks, coast live oaks, and California black oaks have been killed by a newly identified fungus, Phytophthora ramorum. On these hosts, the fungus causes a bleeding canker on the stem. The pathogen also causes leaf spot and twig dieback on a variety of species of less importance than the oaks.
As of January 2002, the disease was known to occur only in California and southwestern Oregon; however, transporting infected hosts may spread the disease. The pathogen has the potential to infect oaks and other trees and shrubs elsewhere in the United States. Limited tests show that many oaks are susceptible to the fungus, including northern red oak and pin oak, which are highly susceptible.
Gypsy Moth
The gypsy moth has been an important pest of hardwoods in the Northeastern United States since its introduction in 1869. Established populations exist in all or parts of 19 states from Maine to Wisconsin and south to Illinois and generally in a southeasterly line from Illinois to northeastern North Carolina. Oaks are the preferred host species for feeding caterpillars, but apple, sweetgum, basswood, gray and white birch, poplar, willow and many others serve as hosts.
Asian Longhorned Beetle
Asian Longhorned Beetle: Kenneth R. Law, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) has been discovered attacking trees in the United States. Tunneling by beetle larvae girdles tree stems and branches. Repeated attacks lead to dieback of the tree crown and, eventually, death of the tree. The beetle prefers maple species (Acer spp.), including boxelder, Norway, red, silver, and sugar maples. Other preferred hosts are birches, Ohio buckeye, elms, horsechestnut, and willows.
Butternut Canker
Butternut Canker
Butternut canker is caused by a fungus known as Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum which is killing butternut (Juglans cinerea) throughout its range in North America. Butternut is closely related to black walnut (Juglans nigra), which is not naturally susceptible to the disease.
Dutch Elm disease
DED is one of the most destructive shade tree diseases that affect elm trees. The disease kills individual branches and eventually the entire tree within one to several years. A fungus and an insect are responsible for DED development. The fungus was introduced to the United States on diseased logs from Europe in the 1930's.