An Ohio Woodland Stewards Program PublicationThe Ohio Woodlands, Water, and Wildlife Newsletter is published in part with funding from the Renewable Resource Extension Act (RREA).

Spring Summer2013

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The Viburnum Leaf Beetle

The Viburnum Leaf Beetle (VLB), Pyrrhalta viburni(Paykull), is an invasive species that wasintroduced into North America from Europe. VLBwas first discovered and identified in North Americain 1947 in the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario,Canada. However, damaging populations infestingviburnum plants were not observed until 1978 in theOttawa/Hull region of Canada. In 1994, VLB wasdetected in the United States in Maine, then in 1996in New York. VLB continued to spread south andwest through New York into Pennsylvania, and in2002 was found in Ashtabula County, Ohio, where itappeared to have been established for at least twoyears based on egg pit scars from two differentgrowing seasons. As of 2013, VLB has spread intothe Canadian Maritime Provinces (New Brunswick)and portions of Connecticut, Illinois, Maine,Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, NewJersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont,Washington, and Wisconsin. VLB is wellestablished in northeastern Ohioand is expected to eventuallyspread throughout the state.

VLB larvae and adults consume thefoliage of plants in the Genus

Viburnum to support growth and development.Larvae are present and feed in the spring, andadults are present and feed in the summer. Mostadult activity occurs from mid to late summer, but a

few adults may be found on host plants until thefirst heavy frost in the fall. Some VLB hosts aremore preferred and susceptible to VLB feeding andwill be the first to be attacked in new areas ofinfestation. At the top of the list of preferred VLBhosts are arrowwood , American(V. dentatum)cranberrybush (V. opulus var. americanum = V.trilobum) (V. opulus)and European cranberrybushviburnums. These plants will be attacked in bothnative populations and ornamental plantings. Thesusceptibility of other Viburnum spp., cultivars andhybrids to VLB feeding ranges from highlysusceptible to highly resistant. For a list ofsusceptibility ratings of numerous Viburnum plantsto VLB feeding, seehttp://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb/suscept.html.

In areas where large VLB populations havedeveloped, viburnum shrubs can be totallydefoliated by the cumulative feeding activity of thelarvae and adults. If left unchecked, VLB activitycan kill ornamental viburnums in nurseries and

landscapes as well as viburnums innatural areas.

VLB is a complete metamorphic insect with fourdistinct stages in its life cycle - Egg, Larva (3 larvalinstars), Pupa and Adult. VLB overwinters in theegg stage. Eggs are ball-shaped (about 1/16" indiameter) and yellow-brown to brown in color with asculptured surface. Eggs are not laid in plain view,

Adult VLB feeding on Viburnum dentatum

Viburnum Leaf Beetle "Capped" Egg Pits.

A Pair of Adult Viburnum Leaf Beetle (VLB).Photographs: Curtis E. Young, Ohio State University Extension

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they are laid in pits (3 - 8 eggs/pit) chewed into thenew shoots (current year's and sometimes the one-year old growth as well). Once the pits are filledwith eggs, the pits and eggs are covered with a"cap" of chewed bark and wood mixed with saliva(Figure 1). Capped pits, singular or in rows can beobserved from July through the following spring.

By early to mid-May, the eggs hatch and the larvae(grubs) disperse to the tender, newly expandingviburnum foliage (coincident with the full bloom ofKoreanspice viburnum). Newly hatched larvae aretiny and dark in color, but lighten as they grow andelongate. Larvae are worm-like, grow to a length ofabout 1/2" and are yellow-green in color with apattern of black spots, and black head and legs.

The larvae feed on the underside of the leavesbetween the veins of the leaf. Feeding initiallyappears as a skeletonization (lower leaf surfaceand middle layer of leaf is consumed and upperleaf surface is left intact). As the larvae grow, theirfeeding becomes more aggressive and holes areproduced through the entire leaf. Heavy feeding bythe larvae can result in leaf drop to total defoliation.Larvae may also move to the new, green-stemgrowth and chew on the green bark girdling theyoung stems resulting in stem dieback. Larvalfeeding continues through late spring to earlysummer. Once larval feeding is complete, larvaeabandon the host plant, transverse down the plantto the soil, where they enter the soil to pupate.

Pupae are approximately 1/4" - 5/16" in length, andstart out bright yellow in color, but are not oftenseen because they are hidden in the soil. Thepupal stage lasts 10 - 14 days.

Adults appear in mid-summer (late June-early July)and may be found on the host plant until the firstheavy (killing) frost. Adult beetles have a typicalleaf beetle appearance, are between 1/4" - 3/8" inlength (females tend to be larger than males) andmostly golden-brown in color (Figure 2). Beetlesmay have a metallic sheen appearance whenobserved in the direct sunlight. The sheen isproduced by a thick, golden-grey pubescence. Thehead, thorax, and elytra (wing covers) are generallygolden-brownish, but the shoulders of the elytraand front edge of the front wings are darker brown.

Adults also feed on the leaves of host plants(Figure 3). Adult feeding damage consists ofirregular circular holes. Additional damage to hostplants is produce by the egg laying process. Whena female lays eggs, she will typically chew pit afterpit in the young stems. The stems are weakenedby the pit-chewing process. The pits are easy

break points on the stem and points wheremoisture loss occurs. Death of the young stemsmay occur through the winter. Completedevelopment from egg hatch to adult emergencegenerally takes 8 - 10 weeks.

Management Recommendations

Mechanical Control: The most effective means ofmechanical control of VLB on small plants andsmall scale plantings is to prune and destroy (bury,burn or place into an active composting pile)infested twigs after egg laying has ceased in thefall, anytime from October to April. The capped eggpits are easy to see on the stems after leaf-drop.When pruning is not practical, a number ofpesticides may be effective in controlling VLB.

Cultural Control: Planting species or cultivars ofViburnum that are resistant or less susceptible toVLB may reduce the severity of an infestationpreventing defoliation.

Chemical Control: Standard Insecticides:Pyrethroid and other contact insecticides are usefulfor control of the larvae once they are activelyfeeding. These same insecticides may also have tobe used later in the season in order to eliminateany adult beetles that have flown in from untreatedplants. Watch the plants carefully as the adults canmove into an area from July through September.Spraying against adults alone is not an effectivecontrol strategy.

Neonicotinoid insecticides and other systemics canbe used for larval or adult control, but theseproducts should be avoided if plants to be treatedare expected to flower within 4 - 6 weeks ofapplication. There is concern that the residues ofthese insecticides will end up in the nectar andharm pollinators. In this case, use a contactinsecticide for control of the larvae and then use asystemic after flowering to control the adult beetles.

Chemical Control: Low-Impact Insecticides:Horticultural oils (generally 2 - 3%) and/orinsecticidal soaps are useful for control of VLBlarvae. Thorough coverage of plant foliage isneeded as these pesticides only kill by contactingthe insects. There is some evidence that oils andsoaps can also kill the adults, but since there is noresidual activity of these products, numerousreapplications will be needed in order to preventadults from laying eggs.

plants in the AOWCP.� Seeking grants and other funding sources to

support our goals and assist local landowners.� Developing a strategic plan to guide us into the

future by establishing long-term direction andpriorities.he AOWCP accomplishes its goalsthrough a variety of efforts including:

� Educating the public about invasive plants byhosting workshops, field tours and publicmeetings; and developing and distributinginformational materials.

If you are interested in joining, volunteering, orlearning more about the AOWCP, or would liketo know more about invasive plants, visit ourwebsite at www.appalachianohioweeds.org,orcontact Eric Boyda atappalachianohioweeds@gmail.comor 740-534-6578.

Busy Breeding Birthing BunniesMarne Titchenell, OSU Wildlife Program Specialist

Try to say that 3 times fast! Everyone has beennoticing the cottontails out and about in themornings and evenings, slowly hopping about toand fro, looking for some tasty clover to munch on.

This is a busy time of year for the eastern cottontailrabbit, as it is the peak of the bunny birthing seasonwhen litter sizes are the largest. Cottontails breedfrom roughly February through September in Ohio,and with gestations of only 28 days, the does(female rabbits) are birthing young kits consistentlythroughout the spring and summer. Femalecottontails ovulate upon copulation, meaning theycan conceive at any time as long as they are notalready pregnant. Often, does conceive againalmost immediately after giving birth! Following a“face-off” in which the male and female cottontailundergo an intense staring contest, and then

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Dealing with Invasive Plants AcrossOwnership Boundaries: TheAppalachian Ohio Weed ControlPartnershipEric Boyda, Coordinator, Appalachian Ohio Weed ControlPartnership

The Appalachian Ohio Weed Control Partnership(AOWCP) is cooperative weed management area(CWMA) that was formed on June 26th, 2012. TheAOWCP is located in 16 counties of southeasternOhio: Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence,Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry,Pike, Ross, Scioto, Vinton, and Washingtoncounties. It consists of private landowners as wellas local, state, federal, and private agencies andorganizations working together to increase theawareness and control of invasive plants at alandscape level. Invasive plants are an issue thatcross landholder boundaries, and are often noteffectively addressed when dealt with on a singleproperty within a landscape. By coordinating theefforts of various landowners and managers, theAOWCP attempts to deal with the issue of invasiveplants at a broader scale.

Our goals are accomplished by working withpartners to promote land stewardship, conductresearch, and exchange information about invasiveplants. We work locally, yet are able to poolresources from a variety of sources to combatinvasive plant problems throughout the AOWCPboundaries.

� Providing coordination and leadership for a localvolunteer monitoring program which collectsinformation about locations and spread ofinvasive plants to be used in early detection ofnew infestations.

� Strategically controlling populations of invasive

Critter Corner

Eastern cottontail(photo: Pennsylvania Game Commission)

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Wood You Know- Beech (Fagusgrandifolia)Eric McConnellForest Products Specialist, OSU Extension

Approximately ten species of beech arefound throughout the world, and all residein the northern hemisphere. Americanbeech is our native beech species. It is amember of the Fagaceae family, which includesoak. The exact origin of the name Beech isunknown, but the name is significant as itimplies “book.” Historians believe the earlywritings of Germanic peoples were inscribed ontablets of beech wood. Also, the first Bibleprinted using movable type was produced fromcarved beech wood. Today, beech may be bestknown for being used in the brewing process forthe beer Budweiser. However, the wood is notused to impart any taste in the brew.

Beech is one of the more recognizable speciesin our woodlands. The smooth, bluish gray barkis a key identifying characteristic, making thistree easily distinguishable even in winter. Beechgrows best in the Ohio Valley and WesternAppalachians in alluvial soils, however, growthoverall is slow. While trees in forested conditions

limiting factor. This often restricts beech's localmarkets to railroad ties and pallet lumber. Ohiobeech stumpage has averaged $110-135 perthousand board feet (MBF) while sawlogs haverecently sold for an average of about $230/MBF(both prices based on Doyle). One inch thick 4/4kiln-dried lumber prices per MBF have ranged from$960 for FAS down to $480 for #2 common.

The wood of beech varies from white to pinkish,being reddish brown at its darkest. The sapwood islargely whitish. Beech is a diffuse-porous hardwoodand is one of Ohio's densest diffuse-porous woodspecies, with a density comparable to red oak. Thetransition from earlywood to latewood is gradual, asthe number of pores and their size tend to decreasefrom the earlier portion of the annual ring to thelatter portion. Each annual ring is distinct from oneanother due to a dark band of latewood found atthe end of each growing season.

The wood rays are key identifiers in distinguishingbeech lumber from other hardwoods. Broad rays,like those found in oak, are present and areseparated by bands of smaller narrow rays. The

Beech bark

Beech leaves and seed(photo: Kathy Smith, OSU Extension)

several charges on the female's part causing themale to jump straight up into the air while thefemale runs underneath him, the female will allowthe male to mate with her. On average, a femalecottontail will have 3 litters per year, with thepotential for 5, and an average of 5 kits per litter,with the potential for 7. That means a single doecan potentially have 35 young every year! In Mayand June litter sizes are at their largest, but as Julyapproaches the need to breed and birth slowsdown and litter sizes are typically smaller, allowingthe females a long-deserved rest from a very, verybusy breeding birthing bunny season.

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broad rays are noticeable tothe naked eye while thenarrow ones may require theuse of a hand lens to seeclearly. This “banded”appearance is similar to thatseen on the results screen ofyour computer followingdefragmenting.

On-farm use is a viable optionfor this species. Logs shouldbe processed soon afterharvest and properly stackeddue to a high rate of decay.Beech has excellent heatingqualities as firewood. Thebeech nut is sweet and high inprotein. Historically the nutwas roasted and ground as acoffee substitute, while thedried inner bark was groundfor use as a thickener insoups.

The preferred season forprocessing beech is fall/winterif planning to mill trees intolumber because of its severewarping characteristics.Lumber piles should beproperly stickered and coveredfor protection from directsunlight. The wood of kiln-

dried beech is hard and difficult to nail; considerputting it into service green or following air drying. Amild kiln schedule must be used to preventaggravating internal checking and warping in thedry kiln. Beech's machinability overall is good, but itis prone to splitting when nailed or screwed.Thoroughly treat your beech wood product with adesignated preservative should your desiredapplication be performed in ground contact.

Structural Characteristics� Pore distribution: Diffuse porous� Grain: Straight to interlocked grain� Heartwood: Whitish with a reddish tinge to

reddish brown. Little to no resistance to decay.� Sapwood: Whitish

Physical Properties� Density: 39.9 lbs/ft3 at 12% moisture content� Flat grain shrinkage: 11.9%� Vertical grain shrinkage: 5.5%� Estimated air-drying time for 4/4 lumber to 20%

moisture content: 60-165 days

Mechanical Properties at 12% Moisture Content� Bending Strength: 14,900 psi� Compression strength parallel to the grain:

7,300 psi� Shear strength parallel to the grain: 2,010 psi

Machining and Finishing Properties� Planing: Very Good� Turning: Very good� Mortising: Excellent� Shaping: Poor� Boring: Excellent� Sanding: Poor� Avoids Nail Splitting: Poor� Avoids Screw Splitting: Fair� Steam bending: Good� Holds paints: Poorly� Bondability: Satisfactory, but requires controlled

conditions and high-quality adhesives

New Hemlock Wooly AdelgidInfestation Found

A relatively small infestation of Hemlock WoolyAdelgid (HWA) was recently discovered at CantwellCliffs in Hocking Hills State Park as part of a jointODNR and ODA forest health survey program. Anextensive survey of the immediate surroundingarea has been conducted, and no additional treeshave been found.Plans for dealing with this pest are currently beingformulated, but multiple chemical and non-chemicaltreatment options are being explored. Theseinclude treatments such as foliar sprays ofhorticultural oils or insecticidal soaps, systemicinsecticides and biological control. After furthersurvey of the areas surrounding the site ofinfestation, state and federal officials will determinean appropriate course of action.

ODA will expand its hemlock quarantine to includeHocking County. Ohio regulations that cover thetransportation of hemlock materials restrict anyhemlock plant material from counties known to beinfested from entering non-infested counties inOhio. The ODA Plant Pest Control Program urgescitizens to use caution when transporting woodmaterials to help protect against the artificial spreadof insect pests.

HWA was first reported in the eastern United Statesin 1951 near Richmond, Va. By 2005 it wasestablished in portions of 16 states from Maine toGeorgia, where infestations covered about half ofthe range of hemlock. It was first reported in naturalstands of hemlock in Ohio in January 2012 inMeigs County.

OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clienteleon a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or veteran status.Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, OSU ExtensionTDD No. 800-589-8292 ( Ohio only) or 614-292-1868

Check Us Out On The Web!Look for newsletter articles, links to fact sheets and otherpublications by browsing our site. Registration for upcomingWoodland Stewards classes may also be done electronically.Go to:http://woodlandstewards.osu.eduKathy L. SmithProgram Director - ForestryOhio Woodland Stewards Program Coordinator

Contact Us!For program information contact Mary Slyby at 614-688-3421by email:ohiowoods@osu.eduor by mail at:Ohio Woodland Stewards ProgramSchool of Environment & Natural Resources210 Kottman Hall2021 Coffey RoadColumbus, OH 43210

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Calendar of Events

June Seminar Invasive Species Series @ OSU Mansfield

Focus on emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetleJune 4th –

Focus on gypsy moth, thousand canker disease on walnut,June 11th –

viburnum leaf beetle and hemlock wooly adelgid

Focus on non-native invasive impacts on forest products and wildlifeJune 18th –

Focus on non-native invasive plants including bush honeysuckle, autumn olive,June 25th –

callery pear and others

Name That Tree – OSU MansfieldJune 7th –

The Good, the Bad and the Hungry – Dealing with Wildlife Conflict in Your Landscape,June 28th –

Geauga County

Bats: Not Just for Caves Anymore, OSU MansfieldJuly 18th –

Grasslands for Wildlife, Medina CountyAugust 9th –

Farm Science Review, Madison CountySeptember 17-19 –

Wood ID, Butler CountyOctober 18th –