Pests & Diseases
Thursday, October 27th, 2011
This past spring and summer, two mature white pines (Pinus strobus) at the rear of Bond Lodges along Chester Road, suddenly turned brown and died. The first one went off color during Commencement week at the end of May. A visual inspection of the trunk and top with binoculars gave no indication of cause. Not long after that, the second tree started to go off-color and inspections found small mounds of sawdust mixed with sap on the trunk.
Southern Pine Beetle infestation. photo credit: W. Costello
This was an immediate indication of some type of bark beetle, but which one? Having never…
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Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
In mid fall, from early to mid October, large white fruiting bodies of the fungus, Calvatia gigantiea can be found popping up from the ground. Giant puffballs are in the class of fungi known as Gasteromycetes or “stomach fungi” as all the spores are contained internally. When immature they are pure white inside and out and are edible (see disclaimer below).
As they mature, they will darken and the skin will thicken. The spores will turn dark brown to black and will be dispersed by wind, rain or human/animal activity. Typically puffs of dark spores disperse when kicked , hence the…
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Monday, August 2nd, 2010
If you have been on campus the last two weeks, you may have noticed a Bartlett Tree Co. spray truck parked around. They have been injecting our American elms, Ulmus americana, with Arbortet fungicide to protect them from Dutch Elm Disease, Ophiostoma ulmi.
Bartlett Tree Co. treating the American elm along railroad tracks by Sharples Drive for Dutch Elm Disease. photo credit: W. Costello
This treatment is done every two years in even numbered years. Small holes are drilled into the root flare of the tree and small nozzles connected to plastic tubing are inserted. The diluted fungicide is then injected under pressure…
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