Sirex Woodwasp Identified in Vermont
Routine survey efforts discover invasive insect in Lamoille County
The Vermont agencies of Agriculture and Natural Resources, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in early September confirmed the discovery of Sirex Woodwasp in red pine planting in Lamoille County. A single specimen was collected from a trap on August 31, 2007 by Bronwyn Williams with the Agency of Agriculture and verified by Dr. Richard Hoebeke of Cornell University.
Sirex Woodwasp is a wood-boring insect native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa and is potentially serious pest of commercial pine trees. First detected in North America in New York State in 2004, it has since been found in northern Pennsylvania, Michigan and southern Ontario. It is believed that the pest entered the United States inside infected wooden crates, pallets and other forms of wood packaging.
“This is the first state record of the Sirex Woodwasp in Vermont and at this time we do not believe the Sirex Woodwasp has become established here,” said Jon Turmel, state entomologist with the Agency of Agriculture. “It’s been on our watch-list since it was discovered in New York.” Turmel went on to say that there would be more intensive trapping efforts and visual surveys through the end of October.
The Sirex Woodwasp larvae sever the trees’ conductive tissues, interrupting the transport of water and nutrients. Adult females lay their eggs in two and three needled pine trees including Austrian, jack, red and Scotch pines.
“If the Sirex Woodwasp was to become established in Vermont there are several management options available,” said Dr. Scott Pfister, Chief of Forest Resource Protection with the Agency of Natural Resources. “These include site specific silvicultural guidelines, regional management strategies, and the use of a biological control agent.” The key agent is a parasitic nematode, Deladenus siricidicola, which infects Sirex Woodwasp larvae and sterilizes adult females. This nematode can easily be made in large quantities and introduced by inoculating it into infested trees.
The Agency of Agriculture does not expect the discovery of the Sirex Woodwasp to have a major economic impact on the state’s nursery, landscape or Christmas tree industries. Sirex Woodwasp is the second exotic pest found in Vermont. Previously, the Swede Midge, which attacks cruciferous vegetable crops such as broccoli and kale, was discovered.
For more information, please contact Jon Turmel with the Agency of Agriculture at 802-241-3545 or jon.turmel@state.vt.us or Scott Pfister with the Agency of Natural Resources at scott.pfister@state.vt.us.
Kelly Loftus
Public Information Officer
Vermont Agency of Agriculture
(802) 828-3829
