Sudden Oak Death

[felix123]

I've recently seen an article on BBC Spotlight news about a disease killing trees in Devon and Cornwall they say it is carried by the wind in spores and they are chopping down trees because of it.

I'm worried about the Purple hairstreaks.

Felix

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10715339

[Dave McCormick]

Well so far its only Larch trees that are affected, but I am wondering what they will do after they remove all the trees, surely they can't just leave it like that? Hope it doesn't spread here, although most of the trees around here are spruce, there is one forest of larch (just was in it this morning and confirmed it) but so far the good thing is it hasn't spread to the oak which is more important for many species of moth, not just purple hairstreak (I have a huge oak in front of my garden on hill nearby and I get many different moths in garden as a result).

Surprised no one has mentioned this sooner, I was going to but never got around to it.

[Zonda]

It is a worry Felix. Oaks cater for so many species of insect, if they went the same way as Elms, well i hate to think.

[Piers]

It's not all bad news... ...yet.

Lab tests have shown that Sudden Oak Death unlikely to infect European species of oak (such as 'English' or pendunculate oak (Q. robur) or sessile oak (Q. petraea); these species appear to have a high resistance to the pathogen. So the Oaks of Britain's woods and hedgerows should be safe.

Parkland oaks such (particularly American species such as Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) and Red Oak (Quercus rubra), and invasive species including Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris) could be pretty badly hit however.

The Larch species that has been affected, particularly in Wales is the Japanese Larch (Larix kaempferi), a commercial timber tree. So far European Larch (Larix Decidua), the only diciduous Larch native to Europe (introduced to Britain in the early 1600's) has been largely unaffected.

A serious threat exists for English and Scottish Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) however, and this would be very bad news indeed for the communities that rely upon this shrub in the UK.

Felix.

[felix123]

Ok, thanks guys.....phew....

Felix

[Dave McCormick]

Well thats not so bad. My only main wonder is what happens after the trees are gone as I said, they can' just leave these areas barren of a lot of trees.

the only diciduous Larch native to Europe (introduced to Britain in the early 1600's) has been largely unaffected.

Last time I checked larch was evergreen not decidious.

Is turkey oak not native? We only have a few here (that I know of) and didn't know it was invasive. For wildlife purposes, those that use the oak for footplant (main leps and other insects) does it matter which oak they use or can they use any?

[Eris]

Don't breath a sigh of relief just yet..Sudden Oak Death may not be affecting our oaks but Acute Oak Decline is:

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/INFD-7UL9NQ

[Piers]

the only diciduous Larch native to Europe (introduced to Britain in the early 1600's) has been largely unaffected.

Last time I checked larch was evergreen not decidious.

Check again Dave, Larix decidua (European Larch) is deciduous (the clue is in the name...!) It could be that you don't have a lot of this species near you. You're pretty observant Dave (really, I think you are) so I am sure you would have noticed if you had deciduous conifers in your neck of the woods.

Is turkey oak not native?

No, it's American, and considered a pest in certain areas (such as the Polden Hills, Somerset, where it is grubbed out where ever possible) because it is so invasive. I have to say; I love those 'furry' acorn cups though...!

Felix.

[Dave McCormick]

Check again Dave, Larix decidua (European Larch) is deciduous (the clue is in the name...!) It could be that you don't have a lot of this species near you. You're pretty observant Dave (really, I think you are) so I am sure you would have noticed if you had deciduous conifers in your neck of the woods.

I see now, thanks...didn't notice the latin decidua. I do have a lot of larch but it isn't decidious, the spruce I think might be as it tends to go bare.

No, it's American, and considered a pest in certain areas (such as the Polden Hills, Somerset, where it is grubbed out where ever possible) because it is so invasive. I have to say; I love those 'furry' acorn cups though...!

Thank goodness there is little here though, there is native ones, which I am unsure, need to get photos of the leaves and find out, just got a book on British and European trees as I found it useful around here where I lvie having so many different forests around me.

Don't breath a sigh of relief just yet..Sudden Oak Death may not be affecting our oaks but Acute Oak Decline is:

Interesting, thanks for the info...If its not one thing, its another.

[JohnR]

Check again Dave, Larix decidua (European Larch) is deciduous (the clue is in the name...!) It could be that you don't have a lot of this species near you. You're pretty observant Dave (really, I think you are) so I am sure you would have noticed if you had deciduous conifers in your neck of the woods.

I see now, thanks...didn't notice the latin decidua. I do have a lot of larch but it isn't decidious, the spruce I think might be as it tends to go bare.

For the avoidance of doubt, or rather because I happen to have a picture of larch in flower in April

Larch.jpg (18.56 KiB) Viewed 245 times