Our mission: To provide the basic biological and ecological knowledge and innovative management strategies required for management and control of native and non-native insect pests, disease pathogens and invasive plants in changing forest ecosystems.
Welcome to the Southern Research Station’s Insects, Diseases, and Invasive Plants Research Work Unit website. Our mission is to provide the basic biological and ecological knowledge and innovative management strategies required for management and control of native and non-native insect pests, disease pathogens and invasive plants in changing forest ecosystems. Learn more about us →
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Latest issue of Southern Forest Health Newsletter: Fall 2018
In this issue: SRS 4552 Update from the Project Leader, Coarse woody debris in longleaf pine stands, Role of Agrilus macer in sugarberry decline, Odor discrimination among bark beetles, Tracking laurel wilt disease in sassafras, Jim Meeker awarded Regional Forester Honor, Camcore partnerships highlighted in Columbia, Field tour highlights hemlock silviculture, Thomas Whitney wins graduate student award, Technology Transfer.
News & Events
Hemlock Seedlings Released from Shade
“Eastern hemlock is a shade-tolerant species,” says USDA Forest Service research entomologist Bud Mayfield. “But extra sunlight may help it survive HWA infestation.” Extra sunlight equals fewer HWA, at least on potted hemlock seedlings grown under shade cloth.
Definitive New Book on Saproxylic Insects
“About a third of all forest insect species are saproxylic,” says USDA Forest Service research entomologist Michael Ulyshen.
Ulyshen recently edited a definitive new book called Saproxylic Insects: Diversity, Ecology and Conservation and wrote four chapters.
Presentation: The Diversity, Conservation and Ecological Importance of Saproxylic Insects
Approximately one third of all forest insect species worldwide depend directly or indirectly on dying or dead wood (i.e., saproxylic) and these organisms are known to be sensitive to forest management decisions. The loss of saproxylic insect diversity in Europe due to reductions in the amount of dead wood and old trees across the landscape serves as a cautionary tale for researchers and land managers working in other parts of the world. This presentation will provide a broad overview of these insects, their conservation and the ecosystem services they provide, with a focus on the southeastern United States.
Latest Publications
- First report of laurel wilt disease caused by Raffaelea lauricola on sassafras in North Carolina
Mayfield, Albert E.; Villari, Caterina ; Hamilton, Jeffrey L.; Slye, James ; Langston, Wayne ; Oten, Kelly ; Fraedrich, Stephen - Vertical and horizontal distribution of bark and woodboring beetles by feeding guild: is there an optimal trap location for detection?
Sheehan, Thomas N.; Ulyshen, Michael D.; Horn, Scott ; Hoebeke, E. Richard. - Necrobiome framework for bridging decomposition ecology of autotrophically and heterotrophically derived organic matter
Benbow, Eric M.; Barton, Philip S.; Ulyshen, Michael D.; Beasley, James C.; DeVault, Travis L.; Strickland, Michael S.; Tomberlin, Jeffery K.; Jordan, Heather R.; Pechal, Jennifer L. - Multiple-lure surveillance trapping for ips bark beetles, monochamus longhorn beetles, and halyomorpha halys (hemiptera: pentatomidae)
Chase, Kevin ; Stringer, Lloyd ; Butler, Ruth ; Liebhold, Andrew ; Miller, Daniel ; Shearer, Peter ; Brockerhoff, Eckehard G. - Response of twelve florida cogongrass (imperata cylindrica ) populations to herbicide treatment
Enloe, Stephen F.; Lucardi, Rima D.; Loewenstein, Nancy J.; Lauer, Dwight K.