Cankers & Other Stem Damages

From Bugwoodwiki

Hagle, S.K; S. Tunnock; K.E. Gibson; and C.J. Gilligan. 1987. Field Guide to Diseases and Insect Pests of Idaho and Montana Forests. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. State and Private Forestry, Northern Region. Missoula, Montana. Reprint 1990. Publication Number R1-89-54.

1 On pines; swollen, resinous, or discolored areas of stem which may have definite canker margins --- 2

1’ On other species or not as above --- 14

2 Dark stain under bark in sapwood of stem --- 3

2’ Dark staining not present --- 5

3 Blue, black or brown stain radiating from outer sapwood ending abruptly at heartwood; Stain in dead tree or originating at sites of bark beetle attack --- Blue Stain of Sapwood

3’ Black stain in crescent pattern following annual rings in sapwood --- 4

4 Stain under resinous patch of bark or definite canker on stem; lodgepole pine or ponderosa pine --- Atropellis Canker

4’ Stain originating in roots and spreading upward in stem from roots. Root disease crown symptoms --- Blackstain Root Disease

5 On western white, sugar, whitebark, or limber pines (5-needle pines); white to orange spores may be present in crevices of roughened bark in spring --- White Pine Blister Rust

5’ On lodgepole, ponderosa, Jeffrey, or piñon pine --- 6

6 Globose swelling or canker flared broadly at edges --- 7

6’ Swelling absent or not broad --- 8

7 On lodgepole or ponderosa pine; Swelling on stem with sunken, resinous canker.white to orange spores may be presentin crevices of roughened bark in spring --- Western Gall Rust

7’ On lodgepole pine, rarely other pines; Swelling not associated with canker or resinous bark. Usually in high elevation or frost pockets --- Other Galls and Burls

8 Bark roughened or obvious canker formed, may be slightly or highly resinous; white to orange spores may be present in crevices of roughened bark in spring --- 9

8’ Not as above --- 11

9 On Jeffrey or ponderosa pine in Utah, Nevada or California; in young stems or branches but not on main stem of largetrees --- Peridermium Limb Rust

9’ On lodgepole or ponderosa pines; in older stems, oval to oblong canker with barkless center usually very resinous; in young stems, bark roughened, may be slightly or highly resinous; white to orange spores may be present in crevices of roughened bark in spring --- 10

10 Canker approximately 6- 10 times longer than wide; usually on lodgepole pine --- Stalactiform Blister Rust

10’ Canker shorter; common on both pines --- Comandra Blister Rust

11 Pitch in mass, sometimes streaming on bark; bark not roughened and no canker produced; larva may be observed inside pitch mass --- 12

11’ Pitch not not present or not in mass, usually associated with obvious wound or evidence of chewing, scratching or char --- 13

12 Pitch mass large, often with pitch streaming down stem; Reddish boring dust mixed in pitch; under pitch mass, insect tunnel and , sometimes whitish larvae within the outer bark and phloem. Often observed at base of tree or at edge of cankers or wounds --- Sequoia Pitch Moth

12’ As above, but more often observed higher in stem and under branches. Larvae darker in color --- Pine Pitch Mass Borer

13 Bark roughened or removed. Evidence of tooth or claw marks on saplings or larger trees, or shredded bark on saplings, if bark is removed, a single ridge of callous marks edge of injury rather than multiple ridges. Injury may or may not be resinous --- Animal Damage

13’ Bark roughened or removed, no callous or single ridge of callous at edge of injury, may or may not be resinous. If bark is removed evidence of sapwood scarring or gouging or char on bark or wood usually seen --- Abiotic Stem Damages

14 Globose or spindle-shaped swelling not associated with canker or resinous bark --- Other Galls and Burls

14’ No swelling, or swelling not globose --- 15

15 Sunken discolored area on bark of sapling or smaller tree; branches or tops of trees may be killed; distinct margin between live and dead cambium; on larger stems, multiple ridges of callous form edges of canker --- 16

15’ Not as described above --- 17

16 On Douglas-fir or true firs --- Fir and Spruce Cankers

16’ On western larch --- Lachnellula Canker

17 On true firs; bark covered with white spots of "waxy wool" from 1-2 mm wide --- Balsam Woolly Adelgid

17’ Not as described above --- 18

18 Bark roughened or removed, usually associated with obvious wound or evidence of chewing, scratching or char --- 19

18’ Not as described above --- Bark Beetles and Wood Borers

19 Bark roughened or removed. Evidence of tooth or claw marks on saplings or larger trees, or shredded bark on saplings, if bark is removed, a single ridge of callous marks edge of injury rather than multiple ridges. Injury may or may not be resinous --- Animal Damage

19’ Bark roughened or removed, no callous or single ridge of callous at edge of injury, may or may not be resinous. If bark is removed evidence of sapwood scarring or gouging or char on bark or wood usually seen --- Abiotic Stem Damages