Hot off the Press… The Forest Health Conditions in Alaska- 2016.
The annual forest health conditions report provided by Forest Service R10, Alaska Region is available online (see link to pdf below). The conditions report contains, but is not limited to, information pertaining to forest insects in the state.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd533099.pdf
US Forest Service Forest Health Protection is currently advertising three seasonal technician positions at two grade levels in Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks on USAJobs. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in entomology and/or enjoys working in the field! The positions are only open until Thursday, Feb 4th:
GS4 level: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/427778900
GS5 level: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/427786100
Bill Davidson, a U. S. Forest Service Student Trainee for Forest Health Protection this summer managed to capture a few great videos of one of our native horntails. While in Cooper Landing this summer Bill found Urocerus flavicornis in action on spruce logs that were cut as part of a fire wise program. Also known as a wood wasp, U. flavicornis is a wood borer that can typically be found on stressed, dying and dead spruce trees in Alaska. It is also commonly found in association with cut wood and saw logs. Although this insect looks menacing, it is completely harmless to humans.
Emergence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=078tCtrfQiU
Oviposition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYfjFOAQcyo
More information on Urocerus flavicornis and other wood wasps and horn tails can be found in these places:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5315942.pdf
http://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/technology/pdfs/GuideSiricidWoodwasps.pdf
The annual forest health conditions report provided by Forest Service R10, Alaska Region is available online (see link to pdf below). The conditions report contains, but is not limited to, information pertaining to forest insects in the state.
“The primary goal of this report is to summarize monitoring data collected annually by our Forest Health Protection team. The report helps to fulfill a congressional mandate (The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, as amended) that requires survey, monitoring, and annual reporting of the health of the forests. This report also provides information used in the annual Forest Insect and Disease Conditions in the United States report.”
Forest Health Conditions in Alaska-2014
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3830191.pdf
The US Forest Service, Forest Health Protection has released the outreach information for two seasonal technicians for the 2015 field season, one in Juneau and the other in Cooper Landing.
Information can be found in the notices below