Caring For The Trees And Forests of Mississippi

Forest Health

The Mississippi Forestry Commission assists Mississippi timber owners in forest pest management by conducting forest pest surveys and evaluations.  Landowners with timber damaged by forest pest will be informed of the location of the damage.  Recommendations for practices on how to salvage timber and reduce/prevent damage from forest pest will be provided to landowners upon request.

Mississippi Forestry Commission's Forest Health Program Species of Concern

• Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica)

• Kudzu (Pueraria Montana)

• Chinese Tallow (Triadica sebifers)

• Privet – Chinese/European (Ligustrum sinense)

• Privet – Japanese/Glossy ( Ligustrium japonicum

• Japanese Climbing Fern (Lygodium japonicum

Other Forest Health Concerns:

• Laurel Wilt Disease and Redbay Ambrosia Beetle

  •  Pest Alert - The Redbay Ambrosia Beetle has arrived in Mississippi in Jackson County. (posted 8/12/2009)

  • Press Release - Disease Killing Redbay Trees Makes First Appearance In Mississippi. (posted 8/12/2009)

Forest Health Articles:

2009

• Southern Pine Beetle Predications for 2009 (Posted 7/7/2009)

• Are You Seeing Top Dieback in your Pines? (Posted 6/2/2009)

• Threats to Mississippi Forests (Posted 5/4/2009)

• Fusiform Rust: Another Threat to the Health of Forest in Mississippi (Posted 4/06/2009)

• Prevent The Spread of Forest Health Threats (Posted 3/2009)

• Threats to Mississippi Forests (Posted 2/6/2009)

• Firewood Movement Threatens Mississippi Forests (posted 1/21/2009)

2008

• Redbay Wilt or Laurel Wilt (Posted 8/25/2008)

• The Unnecessary Extinction of the Redbay, a Defining Southern Tree (Posted 8/25/2008)

• Laurel Wilt Disease Or “An Ecological Disaster” - Extinction of Red Bay Trees in the Southeast (Posted 6/24/2008)

• Forest Health Task Force Update - June 4, 2008 (Posted 6/9/2008)

• Southern Pine Beetle Forecast for Mississippi - 2008 (Posted 6/9/2008)

• A Spot that is a Pocket (Infection Center): Southern Pine Beetle vs. Annosus Root Rot (Posted 5/13/2008)

• Dieback in Pine:  Pitch Canker (Posted 4/15/2008)

• Another Invasive of Potential Concern: Sudden Oak Death (Posted 3/17/2008)

• Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Program - Mississippi (Posted 2/27/2008)

2007

• Tree Planting Time Brings Challenges: Pales Weevil (Posted 12/12/2007)

• Africanized Honey Bees (Killer Bees) (Posted 11/28/2007)

  • Mississippi Africanized Honey Bee Reference Manual (Posted 11/28/2007)

• Laurel Wilt Potential Threat To Mississippi? (Posted 11/05/2007)

• Forest Health Assessment - Risk Rating (Posted 9/24/2007)

• MFC Surveying for Sirex noctilio F an Exotic Woodwasp Capable of Killing Trees (Posted 8/27/2007)

• Ips Engraver Beetle, drought and Hurricane Katrina winds (Posted 6/01/2007)

• Redhumped Caterpillar (Posted 6/01/2007)

• Tree Planting Time Brings Challenges: Tip Moth (Posted 1/16/2007)

Other Publications:

• Mississippi's 10 Worst Invasive Weeds (Mississippi State University Extension Service)

For more information on the Forest Health Program, contact:

Randy Chapin

District Forester, Southwest

P.O. Box 749

515 County Farm Lane NE

Brookhaven, Mississippi 39602-0749

(601) 833-6621 office

rchapin@mfc.state.ms.us