SAVE THE DATE!July 15 - CFPC 2014 Golf Tournament, Redding July 16 - 17 - CFPC Weed Tour, Redding July 29 - CFPC Insect, Disease, and Animal Damage Committees Field Tour, El CajonNovember 12 - 13 - 2014 CFPC Annual Meeting, McClellan (look for more information soon).
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Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer
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 Nearly 300 plant species are known hosts of the polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB), with 100 of those also known to be impacted by the fungus Fusarium euwallace, which serves as food for the beetle. The roles of two other fungi associated with PSHB (Graphium sp. and Sarocladium sp.) are being analyzed. PSHB is known to reproduce in 26 plant species, many of which are native to CA. It is a significant pest in Israel, where its rate of spread averages 12 miles per year. All avocado groves there are infested and box elder have been eliminated. As PSHB is currently only found in CA in urban settings, researchers believe this, along with the drought, are helping to slow its spread. There is concern that wetter years in areas with greater numbers of susceptible species will support more rapid beetle spread. PSHB was first found killing trees in Los Angeles County in 2010. Since then it has also been found in Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego Counties. For more information, go to http://eskalenlab.ucr.edu/avocado.html.
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CFPC Insect and Disease Training Session
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 The CFPC offered its first 2-day course in May on Forest Insects and Diseases. It was held at the Redding CalFire office and was attended by 30 public and private foresters, vegetation managers, and natural resource advisors. The training included indoor presentations and a field trip to Lassen National Forest. Attendees heard from US Forest Service and CalFire entomologists and plant pathologists about key insect and disease issues in California forests, including both native and invasive pests. Due to significant positive feedback and demand for the training, it will be offered again in 2015 or 2016.
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In June, a follow-up survey of Santa Cruz County pitch canker plots established in
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1987 (see Owen, D. and Adams, D. 2001. Journal of Arboriculture 27(6): 298-305) confirmed that many Monterey pine trees continue to grow disease free, despite having been exposed to California's first significant outbreak of pitch canker. Plot tree #13 is particularly notable because it is among the minority of Monterey pines (less than 10%) that endure a pitch canker outbreak without ever becoming infected. As trees around it died from pitch canker and bark beetle attacks, tree #13 also struggled, with over 100 fresh red turpentine beetle attacks recorded on its lower stem at one point; however, it fought off the attacks and is thriving today at over 3 feet in diameter. To find out more about pitch canker, visit the Pitch Canker Task Force website at http://ufei.calpoly.edu/pitch_canker/index.lasso.
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Newsletter feedback and ideas are welcome. Please submit comments to [email protected]. Sincerely,
Katie Palmieri
Communications Director
California Forest Pest Council
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