What is killing the beech trees in Michigan?
Why we care: Beech bark disease (BBD) is caused by both a sap-feeding scale insect and a fungus. American beech trees are first infested with beech scale. Scale feeding allows infection by the Neonectria fungus. The fungus kills the wood, blocking the flow of sap.
What does beech bark disease look like?
It can be observed on the trunk and limbs of the tree as woolly, white tufts that will later develop into broad strips. The woolly, white tufts and broad strips are the colonies of the beech scale insect that are formed in tiny crevices along the bark.
What trees are affected by beech bark disease?
This disease is found on American beech (Fagus grandifolia) and European beech ( F. sylvatica L. ), and is most often found in mixed forests with sugar maple and hemlock present.
Where is beech bark disease?
Beech bark disease can be found throughout all of the maritime provinces and has moved through the beech bark range into Quebec and Ontario. Beech bark disease attacks beech trees in North America and is caused by the combined effects of the non-native scale insect, Cryptococcus fagisuga, and Neonectria fungi.
Why are beech trees dying?
Infection with the fungus usually happens about three to six years after infestation with beech scales. The fungus kills areas of woody tissue. If enough is killed, the tree may be girdled and die. Some trees linger for several years, then eventually succumb to the fungus or another disease.
What kills a beech tree?
Plantation grown trees can suffer from beech bark disease, resulting from the combination of a sap-sucking scale insect (Cryptococcus fagisuga) and canker fungus (Nectria coccinea). Severe infestations can kill affected trees. It is also very vulnerable to bark stripping by grey squirrels.
Can you treat beech bark disease?
Management. Insecticide treatments that target the scale insects, which predispose the trees to infection by Neonectria, can be one approach to managing the disease in the early stages. Systemic insecticides can be used to target the scale while they feed or horticultural oil can also be used to smother the scale.
Is beech bark disease treatable?
Are beech trees dying?
In the United States, however, healthy beech trees have been observed dying in a period of six years from the onset of symptoms. As BLD progressively worsens, the tree’s overall health weakens exposing it to secondary insect pests and diseases.
What causes beech bark disease?
Beech bark disease disease is caused by a pathogen that does not attack trees until they have been extensively infested with a non-native scale insect. The scale has mouthparts that pierce and suck, causing wounds through which the fungus can enter the tree.
How do you stop beech bark?
How Do I Prevent It? As with many fungal-related diseases, there is no known control for beech bark disease once a tree has contracted it. The best way to prevent an outbreak is to control the pest population that spreads it.
What causes beech bark disease ( BBD ) in Michigan?
Michigan DNR Forest Health Program photo archive – Beech trees weakened by BBD often “snap” Why we care: Beech bark disease (BBD) is caused by both a sap-feeding scale insect and a fungus. American beech trees are first infested with beech scale. Scale feeding allows infection by the Neonectria fungus.
How many beech trees are there in Michigan?
There are 32 million American beech trees in Michigan. About 2.5 million beech have been killed by BBD to date. Much of this loss has been in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Newly infested beech forests are reported in the Lower Peninsula every year.
What kind of disease does a beech tree have?
Beech Bark Disease. The fungus kills the wood, blocking the flow of sap. Affected trees decline in health and eventually die. Some infected trees break off in heavy winds before dying – a condition called “beech snap” (see photo). The scales are covered with white wool, turning infested portions of the tree white.
How to contact Michigan Department of Natural Resources?
Department of Natural Resources Forest Health Division: [email protected] or by phone at 517-930-4294. If possible, please take one or more photos of the invasive species you are reporting.