Urban Tree/Plant Pests

Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby)
Adelges piceae (Ratzeburg)
Pineus coloradensis Gillette)

Current Status (2020 Update)

Spruce beetle (D. rufipennis) continues to be a top damage causing agent in urban and community trees in Southcentral Alaska and particularly in Anchorage. Requests for identification, general information, and information regarding removal and processing of spruce beetle infested material continue to be high. 

Balsam woolly adelgid (A. piceae) was found infesting ornamental true fir in Juneau, AK in 2019, most in Dimond Park. The City and Borough of Juneau moved quickly to remove all 36 true fir trees on city property and destroy the infested material in 2020. Several infested trees remain on private properties in Juneau. The Alaska Division of Forestry is developing a cost-share program to assist Juneau home and business owners with removal of infested trees.

In 2020, the University of Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service and the Alaska Division of Forestry investigated a report of suspected woolly adelgids on several long-established lodgepole pines in the Big Lake area. Since lodgepole pine are not native to the region, these adelgids are of particular interest. During a site visit, specimens were collected from infested trees and sent to a specialist for DNA-based identification. The species was confirmed as Pineus coloradensis. The adelgids were most prevalent on numerous potted lodgepole pine seedlings described by the landowner as being the natural regeneration of several long-established larger lodgepole pines. It is unclear whether this adelgid species occurs naturally in the state or if it may have been introduced. Further investigation is needed.

If you have an urban pest problem report your findings at the Cooperative Extension Service Pest Reporter, available here.

 

 

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