Last Thursday night we gathered in Filson NYC‘s store for a conservation themed Mappy Hour with The Nature Conservancy. Rachel Holmes, a secret comedian and the director of Healthy Trees, Healthy Cities spoke on identifying pests that kill our trees while keeping the crowd laughing throughout.
Specifically we learned a lot about beetles and pests that attack the trees and places we love to recreate in as well as easy ways to support organizations like The Nature Conservancy in mitigating the damage. And for all of you who missed Mappy Hour – check out the top three points Rachel covered below and start keeping your eyes out for trees in need (and please don’t move your firewood!)
THE PESTS
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been found in the Hudson Valley and some predict it will move into the 5 boroughs, if it is not here already.
Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) has been found on Long Island where eradication efforts are currently under way. Although ALB was found in Manhattan and Staten Island, it was successfully eliminated. Early detection of infestations can help minimize the negative impacts of tree canopy loss.
Photos by Horace Cheng
DETECTION
Some common signs of insect infestation include: perfectly round (ALB) or d-shaped exit holes (EAB), pieces of outer bark flecked off by woodpeckers, “suckers” or branches at the base of the trees, leafless twigs, sawdust or “frass” collected at the base of a tree or in the crevices between branches, patches of bare branches higher up in the tree, and discolored leaves (prior to the fall when leaves change colors naturally).
ACTION
As spring approaches, consider incorporating tree health monitoring into your outdoor routine by simply checking your neighborhood trees for signs of insects or diseases.
**Everyone can help prevent these insects from moving into the City or beyond by purchasing firewood where you intend to burn it, especially upstate.**
After we heard from Rachel we got a sneak peak of the new Pest Detection App and then an update on the Central Park Entire app which maps every single tree in Central Park.
We spent the rest of the night hanging out, drinking delicious craft beer from Sierra Nevada and enjoying the company of the outdoor and nature enthusiasts of New York City.
Huge thanks to our sponsor and host Filson as well as our partners at The Nature Conservancy and Sierra Nevada.
