2. What is Thousand Cankers Disease?
A Juglans (sp.) tree disease caused by the combined
activities of the Walnut Twig Beetle, Pityophthorus
juglandis and the fungus Geosmithia morbida.
When you find, Walnut Twig Beetle (WTB) you find the
fungus.
The fungus grows and forms cankers each time the
WTB pierce the tree.
Cankers coalesce and girdle the tree.
Tree will begin to show signs of flagging and dieback.
Death may ensue within 8-10 years of introduction of
TCD.
6. Black Walnut
Higher
value than other hardwoods
Veneer, furniture, oils, gunstocks
Valuable for international markets
Prized by artisan woodworkers
Less than 1% PA hardwoods
Nebraska and Missouri plantation
plantings for retirement
Human/Wildlife food source
7. Cooperative Effort
Scott
Guiser, Bucks County, Extension
Educator visited the property owner,
recommended a sample
Sara May, NPDN – Penn State University
diagnosed Geosmithia morbida, Greg Hoover –
Penn State University identified Walnut Twig
Beetle
Sara May notified Coanne O’Hern, USDA and
Dana Rhodes, PDA of Thousand Cankers
Disease
PDA confirmed TCD and placed quarantine on
Bucks County
9. Property of TCD Find
Property Owner is an Artisan
Woodworker. Black Walnut is the
wood of choice. Including
shipments of Walnut from CA.
The Live Edge is very important to
Artisan Woodworkers.
10. Property of TCD Find
Property owner is an Arborist
and brings downed trees to
Bucks county property.
11. Property of TCD Find
Property owner is a Firewood Distributor.
Walnut was included in the mix.
13. Bucks County
Large Mulch producing facilities.
Many mulch facilities have suppliers sign statements saying “Walnut
Excluded”. This was a decision of the mulch producers.
Burn ban in many townships. Townships with bans arranged sites
for township property owners to have burnings for Walnut debris.
Much debris after Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee
Many Walnut and Ash trees throughout the county.
◦ Emerald Ash Borer identified April, 2012
Contacts for Compliance Agreements initiated by PDA.
Mulch Facilities Signed
Firewood Producers Signed
Sawmill Signed
14. Why a Quarantine
Slow the spread of TCD
Allows management of regulatory
articles to
move after mitigation complete
Surveys to determine how dispersal of pests
Assists in continuation of trade
16. Compliance Requirements
Mulch
temperature requirements 160
degrees at 18 inches instead of 140
degrees required for EAB
All Firewood is considered Regulated
Article unless heat treated and certified.
No “Green” Walnut may move out of
quarantine area.
22. Sampling
WTB
are active at 40 degrees or higher and can chew
through plastic baggies.
Freezing samples for 24-48 hours not adequate
WTB samples should be placed in alcohol.
Samples to ID Geosmithia should be in a hard container
with ice packs in a sealed cooler
Identify the tree sampled.
PDA must have an official sample to implement
quarantine.
PDA requires a positive identification of both WTB and
Geosmithia to implement quarantine.
If not sure, contact Sven or Dana at PDA
25. Conclusions
Cooperation
allowed for quick response
to threat of TCD
Survey efforts have maintained trade with
most states
Good working relationship with property
owner, extension, university, state and
federal partners
Better understanding of industry and
regulatory relationships
26. Additional Sources for Information
http://pda.state.pa.us/ThousandCankersDisease
Website includes Quarantine Order, explanation of quarantine, compliance
agreement stipulations, color photos, fact sheets.
PA INVASIVE SPECIES HOTLINE: 1-866-253-7189
WTB on a 40 degree day began coming out of the wood pieces. The only heat source was the 40 watt bulb in the unheated shed at the removal location.
A quarantine affects many. Critical to keep specific identification information safe guarded. Trade implications for both international and interstate trade partners.
Industry has a better understanding of why quarantines are necessary. Sometimes industry may need to find a safer way to produce and move a product to meet quarantine requirements.
Regulatory officials have a better understanding of how industry works. Best to know how the businesses operate in order to regulate.
