Emerald ash borer and its implications for Washington state

The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is a destructive invasive insect native to eastern Asia that was accidentally introduced to North America in the Detroit, Michigan, area in the 1990s. Since then, EAB has caused almost 100% ash mortality in the areas it has spread in North America. Despite quarantine and control measures, EAB continues to spread across the US and parts of Canada. In June 2022, EAB was found in northwest Oregon near the Washington border. Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia), the Pacific Northwest s (PNW) only native ash species, is highly susceptible to EAB and could experience significant mortality throughout the region. Susceptible ash species native to Europe and eastern North America are commonly used as ornamentals in Washington cities, so urban and community forests could also be significantly impacted. This publication is intended for Extension professionals, Master Gardeners, public agency personnel, tree care professionals, and those who are interested in an in-depth review of the current state of knowledge about EAB and the implications for potential damage and mitigation strategies in Washington State. A separate publication, Managing Emerald Ash Borer in Washington State (Zobrist et al. 2023), is available for readers looking for a summary of EAB identification, distribution, impacts, and management recommendations

Managing emerald ash borer in Washington state

The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is a destructive invasive insect pest that has caused almost 100% ash mortality where it has spread in North America. Native to Asia, EAB was accidentally introduced in Michigan in the 1990s and has since spread across North America, killing hundreds of millions of ash trees. In June 2022, EAB was found infesting ash in northwest Oregon, near the Washington border. This publication summarizes EAB identification and current management recommendations. A separate Washington State University Extension publication, titled Emerald Ash Borer and Its Implications for Wash ington State, is available for readers looking for detailed information (Zobrist et al. 2023)

Forest Health Diagnostics Facebook Page: Impact and Natural Resources Programming Implications

The Southern Forest and Tree Health Diagnostics Facebook page, managed by Extension and forestry professionals in the southeastern United States, is designed to deliver forest and tree heath information to the public via a web-based, crowdsourced diagnostic service. We conducted an online survey to quantify the page\u27s impact by identifying audience demographics, engagement levels, and perceptions of the page\u27s value. Results indicated that stakeholders consider the Southern Forest and Tree Health Diagnostics page to be an effective diagnostics service and a valuable educational tool. This model could be used in other natural resources program areas to increase the reach of Extension professionals

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: Biology and Management

Hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsuae) is an invasive insect pest that has caused widespread decline and mortality in eastern and Carolina hemlocks in eastern North America. This publication discusses the biology, life cycle, and identifiable characteristics of hemlock woolly adelgid, along with impact and management techniques for the control of this pest in both forested and landscape settings. Target audiences include forestry professionals and homeowners

Attracting and retaining women in forest entomology and forest pathology

Inclusion of women in the forest entomology and forest pathology workforce has been a difficult journey. While policies and resources exist for organizations and departments to increase diversity and retain women, there still exist large gaps in gender parity at forest research institutions globally. It is imperative that we better understand the barriers that exist for women in forest entomology and pathology so that more inclusive environments can be created that are welcoming towards women and other underrepresented groups. To assess these barriers and subsequent opportunities for improvement, we surveyed forest entomology and pathology professionals globally to ask about their experiences in the workforce. We also provide examples of trends in gender representation at relevant institutions. Barriers to success for women and men were very different; women experienced more barriers related to family caretaking while men experienced more barriers related to funding opportunities. These differences show where opportunities lie to better attract, support, and retain women in forest entomology and forest pathology. Although some trends in gender representation are promising, large gaps continue to exist which need to be addressed