|
June 22, 2007
(Red Deer, Alberta) – Dutch Elm Disease Awareness Week runs from June 24 to June 30, and The City of Red Deer urges citizens to learn more about how to prevent this deadly disease.
Dutch Elm Disease is caused by a fungus that clogs the elm tree's water conducting system, causing the tree to die. The fungus is primarily spread from one elm tree to another by two species of beetles: the smaller European and the native elm bark beetle, which are attracted to weak and dying trees that serve as breeding sites. Once the beetles have pupated and turned into adults they leave the brood gallery and fly to healthy elms to feed, thus transporting the fungus on their bodies from one tree to the next.
“Monitoring for the beetles is done annually throughout the province,” said Elaine Johnson, Urban Forester for The City of Red Deer. “All suspicious elms must be tested in a lab.”
Leaves on a DED-infected elm will wilt or droop, curl and become brown, appearing in mid-June to mid-July. Leaves on trees infected later in the season usually turn yellow and drop prematurely. Leaf symptoms are accompanied by brown staining under the bark.
“Our elms are a treasure that we can’t afford to lose,” said Johnson. “There are simple things we can do to protect Alberta’s trees from this disease.” Removing dead branches and trees destroys potential beetle habitat, as does disposing of all elm wood by burning, burying or chipping. Regular watering from April to mid-August, and only pruning between October and the end of March keeps elms healthy and vigorous. Pruning elms between the beginning of April and the end of September can attract beetles that are active in that season to the scent of fresh tree cuts and possibly infect a healthy tree.
Citizens are reminded that it is illegal to transport or store elm firewood in Alberta because DED and the beetles are declared pests under the Alberta Agricultural Pests Act. Firewood will be confiscated at the Alberta-Montana border. Alberta has remained free of Dutch Elm Disease (DED) to date, but the threat of an outbreak continues to exist.
Infected elms, or those suspected of being infected, should be reported to the DED Hotline toll free by dialing the Alberta Rite Line 310-0000 and asking for (403) 782-8613. A confirmed DED tree must be removed immediately to prevent further spread. Residents can call the same number to get more information about DED, or visit www.stopded.org.
-end-
For more information, please contact:
Susan Katzell
Urban Forestry Technician
The City of Red Deer
(403) 392-1425
| 
