| Oak trees in the back country of eastern San | | | | In the Letters to the Editor section of the Back |
| Diego County are under attack by a beetle | | | | Country Messenger, September '08 edition, Lake |
| presumed to be relatively new to California and | | | | Morena Village resident Jerry De Lucia described |
| not previously connected to the deaths of these | | | | the problem he had with his oak trees dying. He |
| types of trees in this area. Only very recently has | | | | tried increasing water to the trees which was a |
| the correlation to the dying trees and the rare | | | | recommended solution. It did not work. He |
| shiny green oak borer been made. It is difficult to | | | | became increasingly concerned he would loose all |
| determine at this time the exact number of trees | | | | 22 trees on his property when he was |
| infested and killed by this pest, but it is thought to | | | | recommended to Mr. Sole. |
| be a spreading problem affecting perhaps | | | | A treatment regimen was initiated on the dying |
| hundreds of square miles. | | | | oaks consisting of spraying them at intervals with |
| The connection was discovered somewhat | | | | the liquid blend of worm tea and yucca extract. |
| inadvertently by United States Forest Service | | | | Results were quickly noticeable and it appears to |
| entomologist Tom Coleman while investigating | | | | have brought the infested trees back from what |
| widespread damage to oaks in the Cleveland | | | | was a sure death. De Lucia claims in the article |
| National Forest where many trees were dying | | | | that his trees, after treatment, recovered and |
| from what was assumed to be the drought | | | | "almost looked like four years ago" - before he |
| conditions of recent years in Southern California. | | | | noticed any problems. He further states "If your |
| Coleman instead noticed that the trees were | | | | trees look like they are dying, I highly recommend |
| under some sort of aggressive insect attack and | | | | Nature's Big Bud (Worm Castings) Premium |
| subsequently discovered the culprit - which may | | | | (100% Organic Liquid) Plant Food." Apparently the |
| be named the Gold-spotted Oak Borer (Agrilus | | | | treatment made a believer out of him. |
| Coxalis). Oaks were infested with the beetle - | | | | Nature's Big Bud Worm Castings Field Tech, |
| drought was most likely not the primary cause of | | | | Richard Buck, has been spraying trees at Legacy |
| tree deaths although it may have been a | | | | Ranch and surrounding areas. He has had great |
| contributor. | | | | results with the liquid blend. (He also has tested it |
| In a press release dated August 15, 2008 the | | | | on trees affected by Sudden Oak Death, a |
| Forest Service formally announced the discovery | | | | pathenogenic disease involving a fungus-like |
| and the nature of the widespread problem citing | | | | bacterial infection and claims good results in |
| the cause officially as the wood boring beetle. | | | | treating it.) |
| According to the press release: "Evidence of | | | | As an aside and a warning to unsuspecting |
| insect attacks on oak trees can be seen by the | | | | residents of the area, a so-called tree ‘expert' |
| presence of the insect under the bark, D-shaped | | | | from out of area has been wandering the back |
| exit holes in the bark, woodpecker foraging, and | | | | country in the vicinity of Cuyamaca (and probably |
| bark staining on the trunk of the tree and larger | | | | other rural places) offering to spray trees with a |
| branches." | | | | spectricide chemical - at an outrageous price. The |
| The infestation seems to be confined to the | | | | U.S. Forest Service has not recognized this nor |
| eastern part of the county although now | | | | any chemicals as an effective treatment at this |
| spreading over what appears to be a widening | | | | point to kill this particular beetle. Residents are |
| area. It is estimated as many as 70% of the | | | | warned not to be taken in by any opportunists as |
| trees in the locale may be bug-ridden with | | | | of now. When a treatment method is approved, |
| mortality rates nearing 10%. | | | | I'm certain the Forest Service will let people know. |
| The oaks are the primary trees of many | | | | And, it would be wise to only deal with known |
| landowners and are, in some cases, over a | | | | and reputable local businesses vice traveling |
| hundred years old, some even older. Local | | | | ‘flimflammers'! |
| residents are concerned that they will lose their | | | | The loss of these trees is far more than an |
| trees to the beetle and are looking for ways to | | | | esthetics matter. Large scale deaths of the oaks |
| treat them. | | | | will contribute to soil erosion problems, increased |
| The Forestry Service is working on a plan for | | | | fuel for wildfires, and loss of habitat for varied |
| 2009; they have held public meetings around the | | | | wildlife. The infestation is a growing threat over a |
| county since October of last year to get the | | | | large area with potentially devastating results. Let's |
| word out on the pest and measures which can be | | | | hope the Forest Service and other related |
| taken to treat for it and, importantly, prevent its | | | | agencies will find a solution to the problem soon. |
| spread | | | | Perhaps they should contact Mr. Lonnie M. Sole of |
| In Campo, California, one rancher, Lonnie Sole, is | | | | Campo, California to confirm his ‘Go Green' |
| initiating his own proactive measures using a liquid | | | | organic treatment method has merit rather than |
| blend of worm castings and yucca extract to | | | | resort to the customary use of harsh and |
| spray trees. His treatment, though not yet | | | | polluting chemicals which will contribute to toxic |
| officially sanctioned by the State of California's | | | | runoff into our waterways and underground |
| Department of Agriculture, appears to be working | | | | water supplies. |
| as he tests it on his own and his neighbors' trees. | | | | |