Alaska Forest Health Observations's Journal

Journal archives for July 2021

July 21, 2021

Western Blackheaded Budworm Outbreak in Southeast AK

There is a western blackhead budworm outbreak happening in parts of SE Alaska. The caterpillars feed on new hemlock growth causing reddish tips and an abundance of caterpillar Pile of poo raining down from above, littering the plants below. #AlaskaForestHealth https://bit.ly/2Ucg87W

Posted on July 21, 2021 04:22 PM by awenninger awenninger | 0 comments | Leave a comment

July 27, 2021

Needle Rust Fungi

Orange-tipped trees? Rust fungi are coming out in full force this July, bolstered by the wet June weather. Many rusts have multiple host plants & 5 annual spore stages! Trees can tolerate needle rust damage. Learn more at https://bit.ly/2TpnzrI #ForestHealth #AlaskaForestHealth

Posted on July 27, 2021 04:15 PM by awenninger awenninger | 0 comments | Leave a comment

July 28, 2021

Yellow-horned horntail (Urocerus flavicornis)

It's that time of year when the yellow-horned horntails are emerging but don't let their looks deceive you, they are gentle giants! Horntails are related to wasps but cannot sting. Instead, that long projection on the back of the females is called an ovipositor, which they use to lay their eggs beneath the bark of dying or freshly cut trees. Some key features to help you identify a yellow-horned horntail are 1 - long, bright yellow antennae, 2- bright yellow eyes, and 3 - a tube-like body shape. Check out the photo below to see the features of our local yellow-horned horntail.

The yellow-horned horntail is a natural part of our forest ecosystem here in Alaska but is frequently mistaken for the Asian giant hornet (AGH) due to its size and bright striping. AGH has not been found in Alaska, but we do appreciate that folks are keeping an eye out for exotic organisms.

Posted on July 28, 2021 08:54 PM by awenninger awenninger | 3 comments | Leave a comment