The long (and getting longer!) anticipated magical appearance of Brood X (10) of the 17-year periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) has not yet gotten underway in Ohio. The clock is still ticking for the cicadas to take the stage en masse.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture will begin making treatments to manage the gypsy moth in the buckeye state. Information shared in this BYGL Alert was provided by ODA in the form of a news release. 

This week's Turfgrass Times includes reports from: Dr. Ed Nangle, Dr. David Gardner, Dr. Dave Shetlar (aka the BugDoc), Todd Hicks, Pamela Sherrat and Dr. Karl Danneberg. 

The reemergence and wide use of American elms (Ulmus americana) in Ohio landscapes means we’re becoming reacquainted with some old woolly pests. Today, the point was driven home when I found both woolly elm aphids (Eriosoma americanum) and woolly apple aphids (E. lanigerum) on ‘Princeton’ elms in a landscape in southwest Ohio. Both are native insects that appear in pest records dating back to when American elms were "America's Street Tree."

The “horns” that give the horned oak gall its common name are rising to the surface in southwest Ohio. The woody stem galls were formed under the direction of the gall-wasp, Callirhytis cornigera (Family Cynipidae) to feed and house immature grub-like wasps.

Concerned Ohioans are reporting their maples have stunted leaves or no leaves at all; particularly towards the top of the tree. However, it’s unlikely a tree-killing issue is responsible for a general widespread maple malaise throughout Ohio.

Crabapples attract birds in spring as well as fall and winter.

Since November of 2020, there have been a number of new infestations of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) discovered in Ohio. These discoveries have been made in Mahoning, Summit, Jefferson, and Columbiana counties. This brings the total amount of known HWA-infested counties in Ohio to 16. The question for the homeowner and/or landscaper is: What should I do? The short answer is: Report it!

Like many, my first introduction to extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) was in a dendrology class. The tiny structures were described as “glands” found on members of the Prunus genus. They appear on the leaf petiole or along the edge of the leaf blade near the base.

The anticipated magical appearance of Brood X (10) of the 17-year periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) is getting closer with each day. On one hand, the cicadas are providing clear evidence they are nearly reading take the stage en masse. On the other hand, progress has slowed to glacial speed owing to continual dips in springtime temperatures.