[NatureNS] Jack Pine Die-back ???

From: Christopher Majka <c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:39:09 -0300
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Hi Paul & Dusan,

There are many different insects and diseases (as well as other =20
abiotic factors) which can affect jack pines. One would have to =20
carefully examine the branches, needles, trunk, etc. to even form a =20
theory of what might have been responsible for their demise. Jack =20
Pines can be affected by Scleroderris canker (Gremmeniella abietina), =20=

Sphaeropsis blight (Sphaeropsis sapinea), eastern gall rust =20
(Cronartium quercuum), stalactiform blister rust (Cronartium =20
coleosporoides), sweet fern blister rust (Cronartium comptonia), pine =20=

weevils (Pissodes spp.), root collar weevils (Hylobius spp.), jack =20
pine sawfly (Neodiprion swainei), jack pine budworm (Choristoneura =20
pinus), and many other insects and diseases.

Larvae of the northeastern sawyer (Monochamus notatus) do feed on pine =20=

(and other conifers), however, like the vast majority of longhorn =20
beetles, they feed on dead and dying trees, not healthy living ones. =20
Thus, they are not responsible for the demise of trees. If the trees =20
were dying from other causes one might well find some M. notatus (and =20=

other longhorn beetles) to be present, but they are not the factor =20
that is responsible for the demise of the trees.

Cheers!

Chris

On 20-Aug-09, at 9:53 AM, Paul S. Boyer wrote:

> Could this critter be a suspect?  It is Monochamus notatus, who =20
> attacks pines and some other conifers.  I saw him yesterday in =20
> Seabright, which is also on the coast of St. Margaret's Bay, Halifax =20=

> RM.
>
> http://idisk.mac.com/docbnj/Public/Monochamus_notatus.jpg
> http://idisk.mac.com/docbnj/Public/Monochamus_notatus_close.jpg
>
> =97 Paul Boyer
>
> On 18 Aug 2009, at 9:11 AM, David&Jane Schlosberg wrote:
>
>> We were out for a walk in the Peggy's Cove area (the hills on the =20
>> opposite side of the road, up from the parking lot where the =20
>> skating rink is to be built).  A large stand of pines there are =20
>> dead, but there is some appparently healthy new growth.
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca =
[mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca=20
>> ]On Behalf Of Dusan Soudek
>> Sent: Monday, August 17, 2009 3:41 PM
>> To: NatureNS
>> Cc: Richmond Campbell; Beth McGee
>> Subject: [NatureNS] Jack Pine Die-back ???
>>
>>    Two days ago, while traversing the proposed Five Bridge Lakes =20
>> Wilderness Area of the Chebucto Peninsula (HRM) by canoe, I noticed =20=

>> a large number of dead Jack Pines in the barrens and semi-barrens =20
>> near Upper Five Bridge Lake. The dead trees show no signs of =20
>> porcupine or any other damage, remain upright, and may have died a =20=

>> few years ago. All other tree species in the area (Tamarack, two =20
>> spruce species, Paper Birch) appear to be healthy.
>>    The dead Jack Pines are too high above the lake to have been =20
>> negatively effected by a slight rise in the lake's level due to a =20
>> new beaver dam at its outlet. They are solitary trees or in small =20
>> clusters, and not part of a canopy, so it doesn't seem likely that =20=

>> they are being outcompeted by other tree species as part of a =20
>> natural ecological succession.
>>    Any other sightings of clusters of dead Jack Pines in the area? =20=

>> In the province? Any speculation on what may be happening here?
>> Dusan Soudek
>



Christopher Majka  <c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca> | Halifax, Nova Scotia, =20
Canada

* Research Associate: Nova Scotia Museum | =
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/research-asfr.htm
* Review Editor: The Coleopterists Bulletin | http://www.coleopsoc.org/
* Subject Editor: ZooKeys | =
http://pensoftonline.net/zookeys/index.php/journal/index
* Associate Editor: Journal of the Acadian Entomological Society | =
http://www.acadianes.org/journal.html
* Editor: Atlantic Canada Coleoptera | =
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/atlantic_coleoptera.html

"Whenever I hear of the capture of rare beetles, I feel like an old =20
war-horse at the sound of a trumpet." - Charles Darwin


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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi Paul &amp; =
Dusan,<div><br></div><div>There are many different insects and diseases =
(as well as other abiotic factors) which can affect jack pines. One =
would have to carefully examine the branches, needles, trunk, etc. to =
even form a theory of what might have been responsible for their demise. =
Jack Pines can be affected by&nbsp;Scleroderris =
canker&nbsp;(<i>Gremmeniella abietina</i>), Sphaeropsis blight =
(<i>Sphaeropsis sapinea</i>), eastern gall rust (<i>Cronartium =
quercuum</i>), stalactiform blister rust (<i>Cronartium =
coleosporoides</i>), sweet fern blister rust (<i>Cronartium =
comptonia</i>),&nbsp;pine weevils (<i>Pissodes</i> spp.), root collar =
weevils (<i>Hylobius</i> spp.), jack pine sawfly (<i>Neodiprion =
swainei</i>), jack pine budworm (<i>Choristoneura pinus</i>), and many =
other insects and diseases.</div><div><br></div><div>Larvae of the =
northeastern sawyer (<i>Monochamus notatus</i>) do feed on pine (and =
other conifers), however, like the vast majority of longhorn beetles, =
they feed on dead and dying trees, not healthy living ones. Thus, they =
are not responsible for the demise of trees. If the trees were dying =
from other causes one might well find some <i>M. notatus</i> (and other =
longhorn beetles) to be present, but they are not the factor that is =
responsible for the demise of the =
trees.</div><div><br></div><div>Cheers!</div><div><br></div><div>Chris</di=
v><div><br><div><div>On 20-Aug-09, at 9:53 AM, Paul S. Boyer =
wrote:</div><br class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote =
type=3D"cite"><div style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: =
space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Could this critter be a =
suspect? &nbsp;It is <i>Monochamus notatus</i>, who attacks pines and =
some other conifers. &nbsp;I saw him yesterday in Seabright, which is =
also on the coast of St. Margaret's Bay, Halifax =
RM.<div><div><br></div><d