The first Michigan detection of a tiny invasive insect, the balsam woolly adelgid, has been confirmed in Kent County by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Forest health specialists are investigating to determine the extent of the infestation and taking measures to control the problem. Homeowners are encouraged to check their fir trees for signs of invasive insects and report them to the the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network. Learn more about the balsam woolly adelgid in a recent press release from MDARD. 

The Arbor Day Foundation will partner with Alliance for Community Trees organizations to address climate and race-related inequities in forestry through strategic support of tree planting, tree care and community engagement initiatives in cities around the United States. Applications for grants of up to $100,000 to further these goals are available and will focus on principles including justice literacy, humility, listening and proportionality. Learn more and apply by Sept. 30. 

August is Tree Check Month, a great time to inspect your backyard trees for signs of disease or insect damage.

This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is asking people to look for and report signs of the Asian longhorned beetle, an invasive pest that is not native to Michigan and could cause harm to the state’s forests and orchards. August is the prime time to look for these beetles because they drill round holes in tree trunks in summer, leaving telltale wood shavings that can be spotted near the holes.

Learn more about the effort to catch this insect early if it arrives in Michigan, and check out other tree pest signs to look for this month from the Arbor Day Foundation.