• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Pennsylvania Agriculture Department Announces First Discovery of Woodboring Wasp

Posted on: Wednesday, 9 August 2006, 15:00 CDT

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff today announced that the invasive woodboring wasp, Sirex noctilio, has been found for the first time in Pennsylvania. A single adult female wasp was found in a trap in Hills Creek State Park, Tioga County, late last month.

Sirex tunnel into weakened or stressed pine trees and introduce a fungus that can kill their hosts. Both the state Departments of Agriculture and Conservation and Natural Resources are working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to survey for the insect. To date, no trees have been found to be infested.

"Tracking the spread of invasive species is vital to protecting agricultural industries," said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. "This is the first finding of Sirex in Pennsylvania, and we will survey aggressively for it. The department will also work with the forest industry to help them protect their businesses."

It is not known what, if any, effect Sirex may have on industry in affected states, because it is not a serious pest of healthy pines. Sirex wasps do not sting humans or animals and are not a threat to anything except pine trees. Although Sirex cannot be controlled with insecticides, federal officials may introduce an effective biological control agent.

A native of Europe, Sirex was found for the first time in North America near Oswego, N.Y., in 2004. In follow-up surveys during 2005, New York officials found a heavy infestation killing "hard" pines (two- and three-needle pines) in the immediate area. Additional detections were made as far as 60 miles away from the initial discovery site, and in several locations in Ontario, Canada.

Agriculture and forestry officials are conducting a trapping survey reaching 150 miles from the original site in an effort to define the range of the wasp. The trapping area extends into northern Pennsylvania, and includes all or parts of McKean, Potter, Tioga, Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne, Lycoming, Sullivan, Wyoming, Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.

Since many species of woodboring insects -- including Sirex noctilio -- can be spread through transport of infested firewood and logs, campers and homeowners are encouraged to use only locally harvested firewood, burn all of it on-site, and not to carry it to new locations.

Many other insects and diseases affect Pennsylvania pines, and several species of native wood wasps are currently found in the state. If Sirex is spotted in Pennsylvania, it should be reported to the Bureau of Plant Industry at 717-772-5205. For more information, visit http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/fpm_invasives_woodwasp.aspx.

CONTACT: Chris L. Ryder, Agriculture (717) 787-5085 Terry Brady, DCNR (717) 772-9101

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; Pennsylvania Department of

CONTACT: Chris L. Ryder, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture,+1-717-787-5085; Terry Brady, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation andNatural Resources, +1-717-772-9101

Web site: http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/fpm_invasives_woodwasp.aspx

Source: PRNewswire

More News in this Category