Landscape Message: December 2, 2022

The following data was collected on or about November 30, 2022. Total accumulated growing degree days (GDD) represent the heating units above a 50º F baseline temperature collected via regional NEWA stations (http://newa.cornell.edu) for the 2022 calendar year. This information is intended for use as a guide for monitoring the developmental stages of pests in your location and planning management strategies accordingly.

MA Region/Location	GDD		Soil Temp (°F at 4" depth)		Precipitation (4-Week Gain)	Time/Date of Readings
	4-Week Gain	2022 Total	Sun	Shade
CAPE	98	2988	50	45	3.18	12:00 PM 11/30
SOUTHEAST	87	3057.5	48	46	1.76	3:00 PM 11/30
NORTH SHORE	83	2912	42	42	2.99	10:00 AM 11/30
EAST	90	3223	50	49	1.90	4:00 PM 11/30
METRO	80	2957	39	38	2.16	6:30 AM 11/30
CENTRAL	84	3012	40	42	2.82	7:00 AM 11/30
PIONEER VALLEY	71	2969.5	43	43	3.15	2:00 PM 11/29
BERKSHIRES	52	2391	40	40	3.42	8:30AM 11/30
AVERAGE	81	2939	44	43	2.67	12:00 PM 11/30
* = information not available

General Conditions: The period from November 2nd thru November 30th had an average temperature of 49˚F with a high of 75˚F on Nov. 12 and a low of 24˚F on Nov. 21. The period began unseasonably warm with four days from Nov. 4-Nov. 7 having daytime highs in the 70s and reaching the mid-70s on Nov. 12. Conditions did turn more seasonable after Nov. 13. The first widespread freeze was on November 15; numerous freezes have occurred since. There have been many precipitation events during the period with 3.18 inches of total precipitation during the period from Nov. 2-30. Soil moisture is adequate. There has been a good mix of sunny and cloudy days with a string of cloudy days to end the period. The unseasonably warm conditions resulted in more than normal growth in lawns and that has finally slowed. These conditions also resulted in some plants continuing to bloom well into November, including roses, Buddleia, some goldenrods, Aster spp. and many annuals. There is still a little fall color hanging around, primarily the invasive winged Euonymus.

Pests/Problems: There is not much to report from a pest standpoint. Winter moth adults have been seen for several weeks on mild nights. Winter annual weeds are abundant in turf damaged by drought conditions. The likelihood of winter injury on plants that suffered from root damage during the drought is high. Rabbit, deer and vole damage have already been reported. Keep yourself protected from ticks which can be active any mild day in the winter on the Cape.

General Conditions: The weather has remained very moderate making it easy to work outdoors. The first light frost on November 14 brought an end to the warm days. We had scattered showers on November 16. Thereafter it also rained on the 28th and 30th. Lawns, although still green, are paler and have stopped growing. Most tender perennials have died back and the majority of deciduous plants have dropped their leaves. The few exceptions garner new appreciation for their late fall interest. Metasequoia glyptostroboides (dawn redwood) has a translucent, light, rusty brilliance in the sun. Viburnum carlesii burns like it would have a voice. Winterberries and evergreens have come into their highly prized season as well. Crickets and katydids are noticeably quiet since the light frosts. Birds have flocked up for the winter. Large flotillas of buffle headed ducks can be seen feeding in the estuary shallows. I was lucky enough to witness a pair of bald eagles lock their talons and spin down from about 500 feet above the Taunton River.

Pests/Problems: We had a strong winter moth flight beginning on November 11 and gaining in numbers until peaking on November 25. Insect home invaders are gathering everywhere on the south-facing sides of buildings seeking shelter for the winter. They include Asian ladybugs, seed bugs, marmorated stink bugs, wasps, and hornets. (See Insect Section below for more information on winter moth and home invaders.) Biting yellow feces flies (Scathophaga stercoraria) are one of many fly species still active. Deer are a noticeable issue all over and a particular road hazard.

General Conditions: Temperatures for most of the month of November were unseasonably mild and variable. Day temperatures ranged from low 40s to low 70s and night temperatures ranged from low 20s to low 50s. The average daily temperature for the month was 42˚F, with the maximum temperature of 74˚F recorded on November 12, and the minimum temperature of 19˚F recorded on November 21, 2022. Long Hill received 2.99 inches of much needed rainfall in the month of November. The few plants observed in bloom include: American witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) and Daphne (Daphne sp.). Due to mild temperatures, fragrant Viburnum (Viburnum farreri) which normally blooms in early spring is starting to bloom. November was a busy month for many landscapers and homeowners raking leaves and doing other activities for fall cleanup. Some people are now busy doing the final fall cleanup and putting up deer fences around susceptible plants to protect them from deer browsing during the winter.

Pests/Problems: There is a lot of deer traffic but not much browsing damage yet. There is also a lot of vole activity. The voles are scurrying around looking for places to shelter for the winter. Make sure to protect young trees from vole damage during the winter by putting up bark guards around the base of the trees.

General Conditions: Early November was unusually warm and dry. We had four consecutive days reaching 70°F. November 4th through 7th, daytime temperatures averaged 75°F with overnight lows averaging 56°F. November 6th the overnight low was a high of 65°F. We received 0.06 inches of precipitation on November 1st, then we went eight consecutive days with no precipitation. Beginning on the 11th through the 29th, we received 1.84 inches with more predicted for the 30th, bringing the November soil moisture back to typical conditions. We received hard frosts on November 20 and 21, with an overnight low of 21°F and daytime highs not reaching 40°F. The 2022 growing season ended with a total of 3223 Growing Degree Days.

Pests/Problems: We observed significant numbers of winter moth from November 22nd through the 27th. An outbreak of poplar rust (Melampsora medusae) was observed on the foliage of hybrid and other poplars (Populus spp.) typically resistant to the infection. A significant amount of leaf gall (Aculops rhois) was observed on fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica) foliage; generally considered a cosmetic concern caused by the Eriophyidae mite.

General Conditions: Mild, if not warm weather continued into the month of November. A high of 78°F was recorded on the 5th and we are closing out the month with a temperature of 57°F recorded on the 27th and a forecast for a high in the 50s again for the 30th. There were a total of seven days in this month when temperatures were recorded in the 70s. Some days, it felt like the early summer season outside, rather than fall. But the cold mornings quickly reminded us that it was fall, with a low of 18°F recorded on the 21st and an additional 10 mornings with temperatures in the 20s. The average monthly precipitation for November is 3.61” and the total measured for the month so far was 2.16”, excluding the last day, with rain in the forecast which hopefully will add to this total to close the gap. The first snowfall, albeit a light dusting, was recorded on the morning of November 16th and did not stick around for very long. I’ve observed many snow marker stakes installed in preparation for any upcoming storms. Let’s hope for white holidays, but in moderation!

Pests/Problems: Thanksgiving holiday weather was ideal for a pre- or post-dinner walk. I personally enjoyed seeing the different conifer cones on and/or off the trees and the fruit on the hollies and crabapples. I did not enjoy seeing the colorful fruit of Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet) on the vines growing into the canopies of trees. Be on the lookout for this aggressive and invasive vine and do what you can to help eradicate it from our landscape!

General Conditions: November was fairly mild, especially at the start of the month. Temperatures climbed into the mid-70’s several days and overnight low temperatures have been warmer than average for late fall. We did experience the season’s first snowflakes on November 15, but the snowy precipitation quickly melted away. November rainfall was lower than average, with just shy of three inches of precipitation falling this month. Thankfully, a wet September and October lessen the concern about dry soils going into winter. Fall color was outstanding this past season. Thanks to warmer temperatures in November, many ornamentals hung onto their foliage late into the season.

Pests/Problems: Some winter moth were spotted this reporting period. Vole and deer activity are prevalent. Ticks are still active.

General Conditions: The landscape is stark and quiet in the Pioneer Valley as the dormant season takes hold. After a prolonged period of drought and heat this summer (especially the latter half), there was regular precipitation during the autumn months. This rainfall should have provided some relief to plants as they began acclimating for winter dormancy. During the month of November, 3.15” of precipitation was recorded at the Easthampton gauge from four rain events (11/02, 11/11-12, 11/15-16 and 11/27). The brunt of this precipitation came mid-month, as the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole dumped 1.4” and this was followed just days later with wet snow and rain totaling 1”. After some near record high temperatures to begin the month, conditions have become more seasonable with lows in the 20s and highs in the 40s. It seems that in recent years, it will take all of December before soils are frozen through. The NWS Climate Prediction Center’s seasonal outlook suggests above normal temperatures with average precipitation from December through February. Consistently cold temperatures with an insulating snowpack is preferred for overall plant health. Temperature swings that lead to soil thawing and refreezing along with a lack of snow cover can cause root freeze damage for some trees and shrubs. The dormant season is a good time to assess garden beds to determine if plants are outgrowing their space or require transplanting to make room for something else. While opinions vary, there is evidence to suggest pruning trees and shrubs for shape and size is better suited for late winter or early spring. Wounds may heal more quickly if made just prior to the spring growing season but the healing response can vary from tree to tree.

Pests/Problems: With most deciduous trees devoid of foliage right now (save for some scattered oaks and beech), this is a good time to scout and prune dead stems and branches from landscape trees. On Japanese maples, these dead stems appear pale brown to gray in color and strongly contrast with healthy stems. Deer repellents, chemical and/or physical, should be applied if they haven’t already on preferred browse. Bark guards can help protect smaller and younger trees from vole damage. Ensure the guards are not fitted too tightly around the trunk to avoid lingering moisture that keeps the bark continuously wet.

General Conditions: It has been somewhat of a yo-yo month in terms of temperature. The month began with above normal temperatures with the high temperature for the month occurring on November 5th at each of the 3 NEWA sites: 74˚F in North Adams, 71˚F in Pittsfield, and 70˚F in Richmond. Over the rest of the month, there were alternating periods of mild and cold temperatures. The low temperature for the month at each site occurred on the 21st: 18˚F in North Adams, 14˚F in Pittsfield, and 15˚F in Richmond. Precipitation continued a trend for the year, that is, below normal. Total precipitation at the 3 sites was: 2.91 inches in North Adams, 2.99 inches in Pittsfield, and 3.07 inches in Richmond. Precipitation at this monitoring site in West Stockbridge was measured at 3.42 inches. According to AccuWeather data for Pittsfield, precipitation for the month (through November 29), was 0.41 inches below normal, and 4.43 inches below normal for the year. Those deficit figures will decrease as heavy rains are predicted for today, November 30. Fortunately, there has been enough rainfall this fall to keep soils moist enough to reduce the chances of winter-related desiccation of established and newly planted plants. There have been some spotty snows in November. The monthly total as measured at the Pittsfield airport was 1.8” or 1.3” below normal. However, the amounts of snow varied considerably from location to location due to the varied geography of Berkshire County. With the variations in temperature, soils have gone through cycles of freezing and thawing. Turfgrass has not yet gone fully dormant in many areas. Other than turfgrass, herbaceous and woody plants are in a dormant state. On this reporting day, November 30, very high winds are forecast with gusts reaching 50 mph or higher. As such, it can be expected that there will be damage to trees.

Pests/Problems: The biggest problem for the month will most likely occur today with the high winds which have moved, starting at 2PM. Damage in the form of downed trees and broken branches is forecast as the winds will persist through the night. Pest wise, deer ticks have been active for most of the month with pet dogs and cats that roamed outdoors serving as taxi service for the ticks, frequently carrying them indoors. The cycles of frost heaving of soils have lifted some recently planted materials out of the ground. All fall planted materials should be checked for such heaving. Mulching these plants once they have been reset will help prevent this problem. As for landscape pests, deer and rabbits are the key perpetrators, dining on roses, shrubbery, and low tree branches.

• CAPE COD REGION - Russell Norton, Horticulture and Agriculture Educator with Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, reporting from Barnstable.
• SOUTHEAST REGION - Brian McMahon, Arborist, reporting from the Dighton area.
• NORTH SHORE REGION - Geoffrey Njue, Green Industry Specialist, UMass Extension, reporting from the Long Hill Reservation, Beverly.
• EAST REGION - Kit Ganshaw & Sue Pfeiffer, Horticulturists reporting from the Boston area.
• METRO WEST REGION – Julie Coop, Forester, Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, reporting from Acton.
• CENTRAL REGION - Mark Richardson, Director of Horticulture reporting from New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Boylston.
• PIONEER VALLEY REGION - Nick Brazee, Plant Pathologist, UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab, reporting from Amherst.
• BERKSHIRE REGION - Ron Kujawski, Horticultural Consultant, reporting from Great Barrington.

Recent pests and pathogens of interest seen in the UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab, a select few:

• Red oak (Quercus rubra) canopy dieback caused by the fungal pathogen Coryneum. The tree is approximately 80-years-old and resides in a residential landscape with full sun and well-drained soils. A shade garden was established under the tree and is irrigated with overhead sprinklers, providing some supplemental water to the tree. During the summer, one side of the tree exhibited dieback with the development of numerous dead branches. Both small and larger diameter branch segments were thoroughly colonized by Coryneum. This understudied cankering pathogen can be regularly encountered on declining oaks in the region and the symptoms and field signs are similar to those produced by better-known pathogens (e.g. Diplodia). While only microscopic evaluation can distinguish Coryneum from Diplodia, ecologically they behave very similarly to one another and the same management approach can be employed.
• Infestation of the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) and subsequent transpiration burn on pear (Pyrus communis). The exact cultivar is unknown, but this edible pear tree is approximately 15-years-old. The tree is part of a small orchard on a historical property with partial shade, good soils and no supplemental water. In late summer, leaves throughout the canopy became wilted and brown to black in color. While the leaves were symptomatic, the base of the petioles remained green and there was no evidence of any vascular staining in the stems. Microscopic analysis and testing for fire blight were negative. When fire blight is the cause, blackened leaves, petioles and stem cankers are present. There was evidence of infestation by the two-spotted spider mite, a pest with a broad host range among fruit trees, vegetable crops and landscape ornamentals. On pear, especially the d’Anjou cultivar, even moderate levels of feeding can create large necrotic patches that are known as transpiration burn. The tree did not produce any fruit this season but should recover next year if the mite population can be controlled.
• Death of an eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) due, in part, to Phomopsis stem and branch cankering and an infestation of the chestnut brown bark beetle (Pityogenes hopkinsi). This 10-year-old tree was pruned as a topiary and was planted at the base of a slope along with other white pines. The tree experienced a mix of sun and shade in good soils but was surrounded by turf grass. It was treated multiple times earlier this season for needle cast diseases, which may have been a predisposing stress. Symptoms of canopy dieback developed in late June to early July and by autumn the tree was dead. The chestnut brown bark beetle is restricted to eastern white pine and is known to produce an aggregation pheromone. This creates a mass beetle attack on a single tree, which is generally weakened and predisposed prior to infestation. Infestation creates infection sites for cankering fungi and Phomopsis most likely took advantage and established. The specific predisposing stresses are not entirely clear, but drought stress also likely played some role.
• Arborvitae needle blight on Green Giant arborvitae (Thuja plicata × standishii), caused by Phyllosticta thujae. Hedgerow of mature trees that have never been pruned and are located beneath large overstory trees. The site is described as shaded with sandy-loam soils. In late summer of this year, interior needles started browning and shedding prematurely. Once the symptoms developed, the homeowner began supplying supplemental water to the trees. Phyllosticta was abundant on the submitted shoots and needles and the trees were likely suffering from some form of drought stress. Many healthy arborvitae are harboring low-level infections from Phyllosticta and when stressed, the fungus can spread quickly and contribute to canopy thinning and dieback.
• Rhizosphaera needle cast of blue spruce (Picea pungens), caused by Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii. This low-growing tree is approximately 10-years-old and the exact cultivar is unknown (there are >175 unique cultivars of blue spruce) but may represent ‘Globosa’. Some dwarf and intermediate cultivars of blue spruce, specifically ‘Montgomery’, demonstrate very good resistance to Rhizosphaera needle cast. However, in July older needles started to turn brown and drop from the interior canopy. The tree was planted many years ago and the site is described as part shade on a slope with good loam-based soils. No supplemental water is provided. The submitted shoots had older needles that were badly diseased and after a brief incubation, huge numbers of spores (conidia) were produced. The tree received two fungicide applications this season, consisting of thiophanate-methyl + mancozeb (5/24/22) and mancozeb + copper hydroxide (6/11/22). Hopefully, these fungicide applications provided some protection for the current season’s (2022) needles and limited new infections. If successful, it will help to break the annual cycle of needle infection. But given the high inoculum present in the canopy, some disease should be expected and fungicide application should take place again in 2023.

Report by Nick Brazee, Plant Pathologist, UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab, UMass Amherst.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season!

This is the last woody ornamental insects report for the Landscape Message for 2022! Thank you to those of you who read these messages, and we hope that this information has been useful to you again this year. The winter is a great time to reflect on the insect pest problems you encountered during the last growing season, monitor and detect and mechanically remove overwintering pest insect life stages on high value host plants, and plan for reduced risk management options starting in the spring of 2023 as necessary. It is also a great time to plan for pollinator gardens or think about plants that you might install in 2023 to support native insect diversity and natural enemies (naturally occurring insects which help regulate pest insect populations).

We hope you have a restful winter season enjoyed with family and friends!

Upcoming Invasive Insect Educational Opportunities!

UMass Extension’s FREE Invasive Insect Webinar Series has returned for 2023! Join us in January and February for some excellent presentations about invasive insects and a non-insect (nematode). Pesticide contact hours (for all New England states for equivalent categories) and association credits will be available for participants who watch the LIVE webinars on:

January 25, 2023:

• Forest Pest Risk is Heating Up with Climate Change
  Audrey Barker-Plotkin, Senior Scientist and Site & Research Manager, Harvard Forest

• Spotted Lanternfly Updates for Massachusetts from MA Department of Agricultural Resources
  Elizabeth Barnes, Forest Pest Outreach Coordinator, MA Department of Agricultural Resources

February 8, 2023:

• Spotted Lanternfly Management in the Landscape
  Brian Walsh, Extension Educator, Ornamentals, PennState Extension

• Entomopathogens of Spotted Lanternfly, Biopesticides, & Scouting Egg Masses in Vineyards
  Dr. Eric Clifton, Research Scientist, BioWorks

February 22, 2023:

• Beech Leaf Disease: and the Newly Described Nematode That Causes It
  Dr. Robert Marra, Associate Agricultural Scientist, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

• Invasive Forest Insects in Massachusetts
  Nicole Keleher, Director, MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, Forest Health Program

For more information and to register, visit: https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/education-events/invasive-insect-webinars

These webinars are part of a FREE series supported by the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture through grant 21SCBPMA1011. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the presenters and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.

Insects and Other Arthropods

• Mosquitoes: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has reported (as of 11/29/2022) eight human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) in Massachusetts in 2022. As of 11/29/2022 there have been no human eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) cases. The MA Department of Public Health tests for WNV and EEE from June to October. Testing summaries for 2022 can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-arbovirus-update . With the onset of frost, mosquito encounters have greatly diminished.

• Deer Tick/Blacklegged Tick:  Just because the leaves have fallen, doesn’t mean tick exposure risk has. Deer tick adults and nymphs continue to be encountered in the fall, and adults may be encountered throughout the winter any time temperatures are above freezing. Continue to monitor yourself with regular tick-checks if working or playing in tick habitat.

Ixodes scapularis adults are active all winter and spring, as they typically are from October through May, and “quest” or search for hosts at any point when daytime temperatures are above freezing. Engorged females survive the winter and will lay 1,500+ eggs in the forest leaf litter beginning around Memorial Day (late May). Larvae are encountered in New England from roughly May through November, with peak risk reported in August. Nymphs are encountered from April through July with a peak risk reported in June in New England. Nymphs may also be encountered again in October and November. For images of all deer tick life stages, along with an outline of the diseases they carry, visit: https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/species/blacklegged-tick/ .

Anyone working in the yard and garden should be aware that there is the potential to encounter deer ticks. The deer tick or blacklegged tick can transmit Lyme disease, human babesiosis, human anaplasmosis, and other diseases. Preventative activities, such as daily tick checks, wearing appropriate clothing, and permethrin treatments for clothing (according to label instructions) can aid in reducing the risk that a tick will become attached to your body. If a tick cannot attach and feed, it will not transmit disease. For more information about personal protective measures, visit: https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/prevention/protect-yourself/

The Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment provides a list of potential tick identification and testing resources here: https://ag.umass.edu/resources/tick-testing-resources .

Woody ornamental insect and non-insect arthropod pests to consider, a selected few:

Invasive Insects & Other Organisms Update:

• Spotted Lanternfly: (Lycorma delicatula, SLF) is a non-native, invasive insect that feeds on over 103 species of plants, including many trees and shrubs that are important in our landscapes.

As of 11/29/2022, the only established populations of spotted lanternfly in Massachusetts are in Fitchburg, Shrewsbury, and Worcester, MA (Worcester County) and Springfield, MA (Hampden County). Therefore, there is no reason to be preemptively treating for this insect in other areas of Massachusetts. If you suspect you have found spotted lanternfly in additional locations, please report it immediately to MDAR here: https://massnrc.org/pests/slfreport.aspx . If you are living and working in the Fitchburg, Shrewsbury, Worcester, and Springfield areas, please be vigilant and continue to report anything suspicious.

For individuals living and working in areas of MA with established spotted lanternfly populations, UMass Extension and the MA Department of Agricultural Resources have created a *NEW* spotted lanternfly management fact sheet that is now available here: https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/spotted-lanternfly-management . This resource may be helpful for anyone monitoring and potentially managing SLF in these areas next season.

For More Information:

From UMass Extension:

Check out the InsectXaminer Episode about spotted lanternfly adults and egg masses! Available here: https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/education-events/insectxaminer

Fact Sheet: https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/spotted-lanternfly

Management Fact Sheet: https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/spotted-lanternfly-management

Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment: https://ag.umass.edu/news-events/highlights/spotting-spotted-lanternfly

From the MA Department of Agricultural Resources:

Fact Sheet and Map of Locations in MA: https://massnrc.org/pests/pestFAQsheets/spottedlanternfly.html

• Asian Longhorned Beetle: (Anoplophora glabripennis, ALB) Look for signs of an ALB infestation which include perfectly round exit holes (about the size of a dime), shallow oval or round scars in the bark where a female has chewed an egg site, or sawdust-like frass (excrement) on the ground nearby host trees or caught in between branches. Be advised that other, native insects may create perfectly round exit holes or sawdust-like frass, which can be confused with signs of ALB activity. Egg sites and exit holes can be viewed on maple trees or other ALB hosts, even in the winter.

The regulated area for Asian longhorned beetle is 110 square miles encompassing Worcester, Shrewsbury, Boylston, West Boylston, and parts of Holden and Auburn. If you believe you have seen damage caused by this insect, such as exit holes or egg sites, on susceptible host trees like maple, please call the Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program office in Worcester, MA at 508-852-8090 or toll free at 1-866-702-9938.

To report an Asian longhorned beetle find online or compare it to common insect look-alikes, visit: http://massnrc.org/pests/albreport.aspx or https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pests-diseases/alb/report .

• Browntail Moth: Euproctis chrysorrhoea is an invasive insect originating from Europe and first detected in the US in Somerville, MA in 1897. Currently, browntail moth is limited to a small portion of eastern Massachusetts, particularly areas near the coast.  Report suspected browntail moth life stages here: https://massnrc.org/pests/pestreports.htm . Due to a persistent outbreak of this insect in Maine since approximately 2016, it is a good idea for us to again familiarize ourselves with this pest. 

Now is the time of year where professionals and homeowners can be on the lookout for browntail moth “winter webs”. These are the webs within which the caterpillars which hatched from eggs laid in 2022 will spend the winter, often at the very tips of host plant branches (ex. red oak or apple). For an excellent video of browntail moth winter webs and what to look for from the Maine Forest Service, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6VmwsXE3lg . Anyone who sees browntail moth winter webs in Massachusetts should report them to the link above.

Caution: hairs found on the caterpillar and pupal life stages of this insect can cause a rash similar to poison ivy. Some individuals are very sensitive to browntail moth hairs and may also experience allergic reaction. The chance of interacting with browntail moth hairs increases between May and July, although they could be a problem at any time of year.

• Emerald Ash Borer: (Agrilus planipennis, EAB) has been detected in at least 11 out of the 14 counties in Massachusetts. A map of these locations across the state may be found here: https://ag.umass.edu/fact-sheets/emerald-ash-borer . Additional information about this insect is provided by the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, here:https://arcg.is/j8TiD .

This wood-boring beetle readily attacks ash (Fraxinus spp.) including white, green, and black ash and has also been found developing in white fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) and has been reported in cultivated olive (Olea europaea). Signs of an EAB infested tree may include D-shaped exit holes in the bark (from adult emergence), “blonding” or lighter coloration of the ash bark from woodpecker feeding (chipping away of the bark as they search for larvae beneath), and serpentine galleries visible through splits in the bark, from larval feeding beneath. It is interesting to note that woodpeckers are capable of eating 30-95% of the emerald ash borer larvae found in a single tree (Murphy et al. 2018). Unfortunately, despite high predation rates, EAB populations continue to grow. However, there is hope that biological control efforts will eventually catch up with the emerald ash borer population and preserve some of our native ash tree species for the future. For an update about the progress of the biological control of emerald ash borer, visit Dr. Joseph Elkinton’s archived 2022 webinar available here: https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/education-events/invasive-insect-webinars .

• Jumping Worms: Amynthas spp. earthworms, collectively referred to as “jumping or crazy or snake” worms, overwinter as eggs in tiny, mustard-seed sized cocoons found in the soil or other substrate (ex. compost) that are impossible to remove. Adult and juvenile jumping worms are killed with the frost and do not overwinter in New England.

For More Information:

UMass Extension Fact Sheets:

*NEW* Resource with Over 70 Questions and their Answers: Invasive Jumping Worm Frequently Asked Questions:

https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/invasive-jumping-worm-frequently-asked-questions

Earthworms in Massachusetts – History, Concerns, and Benefits: https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/earthworms-in-massachusetts-history-concerns-benefits

Jumping/Crazy/Snake Worms – Amynthas spp.:

https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/jumpingcrazysnake-worms-amynthas-spp

A Summary of the Information Shared at UMass Extension’s Jumping Worm Conference in January 2022:

https://ag.umass.edu/news-events/highlights/jumping-worms-conference

 

Tree & Shrub Insect Pests, Continued:

• Fall Home-Invading Insects: Various insects, such as ladybugs, boxelder bugs, seedbugs, and stink bugs (including the invasive brown marmorated stink bug) will seek overwintering shelters in warm places, such as homes. While such invaders do not cause any structural damage, they can become a nuisance especially when they are present in large numbers. A vacuum with a bag that can be emptied is a handy way to dispose of any such unwanted invaders.
• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: Adelges tsugae is present on eastern and Carolina hemlock. The overwintering hemlock woolly adelgid generation (sistens) is present through mid-spring and produces the spring generation (progrediens) which will be present from early spring through mid-summer. HWA, unlike many other insects, does most of its feeding over the winter. Eggs may be found in wooly masses at the base of hemlock needles beginning in mid-March. Each wooly mass is created by a female who may then lay 50-300 eggs. Eggs hatch and crawlers may be found from mid-March through mid-July. Infested trees may be treated with foliar sprays in late April to early May, using Japanese quince as a phenological indicator. Systemic applications may be made in the spring and fall, or when soil conditions are favorable for translocation to foliage. Nitrogen fertilizer applications may make hemlock woolly adelgid infestations worse.

• Winter Moth: Operophtera brumata is a non-native insect that was identified in Massachusetts for the first time in 2003 following persistent reports of defoliation in eastern areas of the state such as Cape Anne and on the North Shore near Cohasset, Hingham, and Rockland on the South Shore in the late 1990’s. For more information about the life cycle and management of winter moth, please visit this fact sheet: Winter Moth Identification and Management . For more detailed information about the history of this insect pest in North America and Massachusetts, please visit this fact sheet: Winter Moth in Massachusetts: History and Biological Control .

Similar to both Bruce spanworm and fall cankerworm, winter moth adult males tend to emerge and are seen flying in mid to late November, typically right around Thanksgiving. Winter moth male flights may continue into January any time temperatures are above freezing. As with the other two native inchworm species, winter moth females are nearly wingless and do not fly. Males mate with females, who lay eggs on host tree bark, which overwinter and give rise to caterpillar populations in the early spring, just as host plant buds are beginning to open. The life cycle of winter moth is described in the identification and management fact sheet above and is similar to those of Bruce spanworm and fall cankerworm. A report of potential winter moth male flights has been seen in Taunton, MA in 2022. The Elkinton Lab also reports catching winter moth males in traps deployed along Rt. 2 as well as in Acton, MA and Lincoln, MA. They report capturing significant numbers of winter moth males, and expect caterpillars to be at pest levels on apple and blueberry in these areas in the spring of 2023. However, we hope that the biological control (Cyzenis albicans) will keep winter moth caterpillar populations below noticeable levels on ornamental trees and shrubs in 2023.

It is a good idea to plan to monitor for these springtime defoliating inchworm caterpillars next season, particularly in apple orchards and blueberry fields!

Concerned that you may have found an invasive insect or suspicious damage caused by one? Need to report a pest sighting? If so, please visit the Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project: http://massnrc.org/pests/pestreports.htm .

Reported by Tawny Simisky, Extension Entomologist, UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery, & Urban Forestry Program