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Dear Wisconsin nurseries, Christmas tree growers, and gardeners:
Take a moment to read through a few updates from the DATCP nursery program and send any feedback, questions, or ideas for future e-news updates to datcpnursery@wisconsin.gov.
If you haven't already taken the WGO feedback survey, we'd still love to hear from you.
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
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It’s that time of year again! National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) is coming your way February 24-28, 2025.
DATCP’s Plant Industry Bureau works to prevent, survey for, regulate, and eradicate harmful invasive pests and diseases. Many of these invasives are introduced into Wisconsin from other states and go on to negatively impact our natural resources, communities, and businesses. Two key principles of preventing the establishment of new pests and diseases are early detection and rapid response. After all, you never know when movement of plant material will bring the next invasive pest to your neighborhood, which is why it’s important for Wisconsinites to watch for and report these pests as soon as they are observed.
This year, watch your fir trees (Abies spp.) for the invasive balsam woolly adelgid (BWA). BWA is a tiny sap-sucking insect closely related to the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), which also negatively impacts hemlock trees. BWA is native to Europe and not yet known to be in Wisconsin. However, this pest has been found as close as Michigan.
BWA feeds in bark cracks in trees, injecting toxins that cause branch deformities and tree mortality. BWA can build up large populations through asexual reproduction and by completing three generations each year. This pest has destroyed over 95% of the Fraser fir in Great Smoky Mountains National Park along with other major forest and Christmas tree impacts in western and eastern states. BWA would most likely arrive to Wisconsin on infested nursery stock, Christmas trees, firewood, or other tree products.
Small, white waxy or woolly tufts from balsam woolly adelgid on the trunks and branches of infested fir trees | Left: Jerald E. Dewey, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org, Right: Michigan State University
What to look for:
- White, waxy, or woolly tufts on the trunk of fir trees. Note that early infestations may be harder to notice, so look closely!
- Branch deformities such as gouting, wilting, curling, or drooping
- Flagging (a branch, or branches, that turn brick-red or otherwise start to lose needles and die)
- Tree crowns that become narrow and misshapen with few needles
Branch gouting on Fraser fir caused by balsam woolly adelgid | William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org
Help protect balsam and other firs that are important species in Wisconsin forests and our Christmas tree industry. Report it if you find it!
To report a pest or disease that is not known to be present in Wisconsin, or to report one that has spread to a new area within the state, call the Pest Hotline at (866) 440-7523 or email a photo and your location to datcppesthotline@wi.gov.
To learn more about pests and diseases we regulate for in Wisconsin, visit plantpests.wi.gov. Visit https://www.nisaw.org to learn more about invasive species nationally and how you can advocate for their management.
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Nursery and Christmas tree licenses for last growing season (LY2025) will expire on February 20, 2025. Expiration notices to renew your license for this next growing season (LY2026) were emailed and mailed out in November. Please contact us if your email or address has changed since your last renewal.
License renewals can be completed online by using the MyDATCP portal. If you have never used the online license portal, a PIN will be located on your expiration notice so you can register for a MyDATCP account. If you need assistance getting into your account, contact datcpnursery@wisconsin.gov or (608) 224-4574.
If you are no longer in business, or if you do not plan to sell perennials this season, please let us know so we can close or suspend your license. This avoids any compliance actions, which may occur for entities who fail to renew by the February 20, 2025 deadline.
Tips and Reminders:
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Our lockbox mailing address has changed! If mailing in your application, update the zip code extension to: Box 93598, Milwaukee, WI 53293-3598
- Allow pop-ups from MyDATCP
- Only one tab of MyDATCP can be open at a time
- If you have multiple license types, they each need to be renewed individually; however, you can pay for them all at once by accessing your invoices from the "My Invoices" tab of MyDATCP
- Watch the video tutorial to walk you through the online renewal process
- Renew your nursery license before Feb. 20 to avoid the 20% late fee, and to check this off your busy to-do list!
For more information, email DATCPnursery@wisconsin.gov, call (608) 224-4574, or visit the Nursery and Christmas tree licensing webpage.
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Female T. polymitusa (large numbers are tenths of an inch) | DATCP T. Boyle
During a period of uncommonly warm weather in southwestern Wisconsin last October, an uncommon insect species was made itself known at our home just north of La Crosse. It turned out that this insect’s presence had never been confirmed in Wisconsin before - and may not have been formally reported in the United States as “no authoritatively identified specimens are available.”
Near dusk on October 19, 2024, I noticed what I first thought to be a lot of gnats on our kitchen window screen. After turning on the light near the window, I was surprised to watch the insects climb through the mesh of the window screen and hop over to the shade of a hanging lamp near the window. Very quickly, dozens of them were inside, congregating around our lamp over the kitchen sink. After closing the window glass, I found that they were difficult to catch, springing off of surfaces a bit like fleas, then taking short flights and landing to hang out in the same general area, seemingly drawn by the light.
Being an inspector for DATCP, I had some sticky cards handy and managed to get a few of the tiny insects stuck to the cards. Upon viewing them under my lighted magnifier, they didn’t look like the gnats that are common to our area. Instead, they looked more like leafhoppers, but a fraction of the size of those with which I am familiar. They also sported a distinctive spotty camo pattern of orange, brown, and white.
I took some photos using a macro lens and did a quick online image search. The images most closely resembled leafhoppers of the family Eupteryx, sometimes called micro leafhoppers. I copied in DATCP entomologist Krista Hamilton; and PJ Liesch, entomologist from the Insect Diagnostic Lab at UW-Madison, asking if they had seen or heard of any recent swarms or blooms of leafhoppers in Wisconsin, if they recognized these, and what their lifespans were.
Unbeknownst to me, while I was working with these in the kitchen, my wife had turned on a reading light and slid open another window. Very quickly, about 500 leafhoppers had come through the screen and were making a rapid pilgrimage across the ceiling and walls towards the light. My interest in these insects was now growing.
The entomologists were able to drill deeper and concurred that these hoppers were most likely of the species Tautoneura polymitusa, an elm-feeding species originating from Korea. There are several large elm trees near the side of our house where they were detected. I shipped my sticky cards to PJ Liesch. However, to determine an authoritative ID, more samples (not on sticky cards) would be required, and would need to include both sexes. Of the dozen I had first collected, none were males.
Eventually, I was able to gather 30-40 live hoppers using translucent trash bags held up against window screens and on walls, tie them off, and ship them (still filled with air) to the lab. The later samples were confirmed as T. polymitusa at the UW Insect Diagnostic lab and were then confirmed positive as a new record in Wisconsin by USDA-APHIS in November 2024.
We recently received the pest risk analysis results from USDA-APHIS-PPQ categorizing Tautoneura polymitusa (Cicadellidae) as non-quarantine for the entire United States. Non-quarantine pests are pests that are already established in the United States and are unlikely to cause additional harm to the U.S. agriculture, economy, or environment.
--Contributing author Tim Boyle, DATCP nursery inspector
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Note: this article was originally published in the Wisconsin DNR Forestry News December issue.
We are often asked difficult questions about our forests, their health, and how climate change is impacting them. Here is a curated collection of resources that may help you answer some of those questions.
Climate Change Primer
Yale Climate Connections gathered a collection of basic climate change information for when you need to consult or share a primer or introduction that’s short, but not overly simple, in their “Got Questions about Climate Change? Start Here” article.
Tornado Patterns Changing?
New research suggests that tornadic activity may be shifting east and north, away from Tornado Alley, which traditionally runs through Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. Experts say the causes are still unclear, but the change is consistent with a warming world.
Assisted Migration Trends
In a recent issue of Rooted in Research, the U.S. Forest Service shared the results of “Assessing Assisted Migration under Climate Change Scenarios,” in which researchers ran simulation models using the LANDIS-II forest landscape model to understand the potential effects of assisted migration in northern Wisconsin forests under three climate scenarios. Under a limited climate change scenario, assisted migration can boost species diversity, increase biomass production, and maintain ecosystem goods and services. Under an extreme climate change scenario, assisted migration alone was not expected to maintain ecosystem goods and services.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid’s Impact
From the Yale Climate Connections, hear how an invasive insect, the hemlock woolly adelgid, may accelerate climate change and change our forests. *Note that HWA has not yet been found in Wisconsin.*
Making Forests More Resilient
Northern Woodlands published its third article – “Managing Forests for Resilience” – in a four-part series focusing on climate change impacts and adaptation in forests. The first article was “Climate Change Impacts on Northeastern Forests,” and the second was “Future Climate-Adapted Tree Species.”
Wisconsin State Climatology Office
Weather and climate play a vital role in our state’s economy, agriculture, and recreation. The Wisconsin State Climatology Office, part of the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Rural Partnerships Institute, collects, analyzes, and shares climate information with our communities while leading the way in climate science education and research. Subscribe to their monthly bulletin.
2024 Climate Literacy Guide
The guide aims to promote greater climate literacy by providing an educational and communication framework of principles and concepts. Access additional climate data at climate.gov.
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DATCP is now hiring a seasonal, full-time (40 hour/week) LTE Apiary Inspector (statewide travel with some overnights required)
The selected candidate will conduct apiary inspections from April-October; provide outreach on honey bee pest management and pollinator protection; enforce honey bee import regulations; and provide certificates to migratory beekeepers who take bees to other states for pollination.
Knowledge of honey bees and other pollinators, outreach experience, natural science courses or degree(s) and computer skills (including MS Office and Geographic Information Systems related apps such as Survey 123) is preferred. Contact Shahla Werner with any questions at (608) 957-5100 or shahla.werner@wi.gov.
Deadline to apply: Feb. 24, 2025
Link to Apply: https://wj.wi.gov/16923
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Seasonal, full-time (40 hours/week) LTE Spongy Moth Trapper Job (100% of work duties require travel)
Spongy moth trappers work May-September setting, checking and removing approximately 700 insect traps in predetermined areas. During the season, this position will record trap catch data, identify male spongy moths, and communicate daily progress to a lead worker. The trapper will also educate the public about spongy moth and contact residents to gain access to private land.
Training, education, or experience in the natural sciences, experience working independently without direct supervision, and effective communication skills preferred. Contact Amanda Miller with any questions at (608)-571-9226 or AmandaE.Miller@wi.gov.
For first consideration, apply by March 11, 2025
Link to Apply: https://wj.wi.gov/17018
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Strategies for Managing Invasive Plants
Feb. 19, 2025, 6:30 p.m. CST: Melinda Myers will be hosting a free webinar titled "Strategies for Managing Invasive Plants". The event is sponsored by the Wisconsin DNR and WI Aquatic Invasive Species-UW Madison Extension and hosted by the Milwaukee Public Library. Everyone is welcome to attend the free webinar or watch the recording, but registration is required.
REGISTER HERE
MSU Christmas Tree Winter Webinar Series
Feb. 20, 2025, 11:30-1:00 p.m. CST: Extension Outreach and Impacts for Christmas Tree Production
Feb. 27, 2025, 11:30-1:00 p.m. CST: Insect Management Updates
REGISTER HERE
EPA Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Webinar series
Feb. 26, 2025, 1:00-2:30 p.m. CST: Getting to the Root of the Problem: Myths About Urban Trees and Soil
Mar. 19, 2025, 1:00-2:30 p.m. CST: Picking Up Ticks: New Threats, Precautions, and IPM Solutions
April 22, 2025, 1:00-2:30 p.m. CST: Promoting Pollinators Through Plant Selection
May 13, 2025, 1:00-2:30 p.m. CST: Protecting the Public from Illegal and Unregistered Pesticides
REGISTER HERE
WNLA/WLCA Landscape University 2025
Mar. 4, 2025, 7:45-3:00 p.m. CST: Panel discussion and breakout sessions for green industry professionals. In-person event. RTA Center, Pewaukee, WI
VIEW DETAILS & REGISTRATION FORM HERE
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