Exotic Insects of Southeastern Forests

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Exotic Insects of Southeastern Forests

• Steve Clarke
• Forest Health Protection

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GYPSY MOTH

• Introduced near Boston in 1869 by a French
  scientist to be used for silk production (his
  scheme never worked)
• Now is found in 17 states and DC
• Annual defoliation is in millions of acres
  damages and control costs are tens of millions
• Moving south and west at about 10 mi/yr

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Asian Gypsy Moth - Female
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Asian Gypsy Moth - Male
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Asian Gypsy Moth - larva
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Asian Gypsy Moth                            
During a routine pest detection survey program,
the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) trapped
a single male Asian gypsy moth in Travis County
near US Highway 290, approximately three miles
west of the intersection of US 290 and State
Highway 71 (known locally as the "Y"). The survey
program is conducted in cooperation with the
United State Department of Agriculture (USDA)
using traps baited with the moth pheromone. This
is the first time ever, an Asian gypsy moth has
been detected in Texas.    The larval stages of
the Asian gypsy moth are known to feed upon over
500 species of trees and shrubs, including
evergreens and hardwoods such as live oaks and
post oaks and are capable of causing considerable
damage. USDA and TDA are exploring the
possibility of aerially treating 1-square mile
area around the positive moth find either with a
naturally occurring organic compound containing
Bacillus thuringiensis kurtsaki (commonly known
as Bt) or by using a gypsy moth pheromone which
causes mating disruption.   
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Formosan Termites
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ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE

• Recent invader from China
• Arrived in solid-wood packing material associated
  with cargo of heavy machinery
• Discovered in New York in 1996 and Chicago in
  1998 12 distinct areas
• Has infested 5,500 trees in NYC and 1,600 in
  Chicago millions of dollars in damage
• Has been found in warehouses nationwide
  (potential for new infestations)

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ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE

• Infested trees must be cut down and destroyed to
  eradicate the beetle
• Surveying for the beetle is very difficult and
  time-consuming
• Using systemic insecticide imidacloprid as a
  protective measure
• Lots of research on detection and control
• Hosts MAPLES, elm, birch, willow, ash,
  horsechestnut, poplar, black locust

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EMERALD ASH BORER

• Recent invader from Asia on SWPM
• Found in Detroit area in July 2002, but evidence
  suggests it has been there for at least 5 years
• Currently in 7 counties in MI, 1 in OH, and 1 in
  Canada (that we know of)
• Has killed literally hundreds of thousands of ash
  trees by girdling action of larvae
• Risk-mapping effort and advance surveys are
  underway

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Websites

• http//fhpr8.srs.fs.fed.us/index.html
• http//www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/
• http//www.exoticforestpests.org/
• http//www.forestryimages.org/

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