The official blog of the Oregon State University Plant Clinic
Sooty bark disease – a new disease of maples is found in Seattle
Hot summers have consequences. Earlier this year the fungus Cryptostroma corticale was found infecting a sycamore maple in Seattle by an alert arborist. This [...]
Impact of smoke on wine grapes
The historic 2020 September Oregon wildfires brought unprecedented smoke conditions to the Willamette Valley, the heart of Oregon's wine country. The intensity and timing of [...]
Big moths of Oregon
The Plant Clinic often received inquiries about large moths found. Here are some you may encounter in Oregon. [...]
Part II: Do lichens cause branch or tree death?
If you saw Part I of this blog entry, then I know you have been waiting, patiently, I might add, for the second part. [...]
Pest alert: Southern pink moth
Last week we highlighted a new exotic insect pest in Oregon, the Ligurian leafhopper. This week we have another new potential pest to bring to [...]
Pest alert: Ligurian leafhopper
A new exotic insect pest, the Ligurian leafhopper, was reported in Oregon for the first time. The introduction of a new potential pest is [...]
It may not be possible to save large trees in decline
Trees often decline for apparently no clear reason. However, if you look carefully at the conditions the tree has experienced over the years, the [...]
Big Beetles
This is the time of year when many of Oregon's beetles are emerging in their recognizable adult stages and encountering humans wherever they go! [...]
Flying Ts
The capacity of the natural world to surprise and delight is simply wonderful. There are things out in the environment we may not see because [...]
Jumping Oak Galls
When you were a child, did you ever see what were called Mexican jumping beans? They used to be sold at the ends of [...]
Tenlined June Beetles
Every year, as June rolls up here in the PNW, a hard-to-miss scarab beetle makes its appearance. Curious folks take notice and want to [...]
Carpenter ants
Like many of you, I’ve been working from home during the Coronavirus pandemic. The weather has been steadily warming, which means I’ve extended my [...]
Rust never sleeps
I’m pretty sure Neil Young didn’t intend his song entitled “Rust Never Sleeps” to become an unofficial anthem of fungal plant pathologists, but that [...]
Pest alert posters
Here is our first set of pest alert posters for the PNW. We'll continue to add posters to highlight new potential insect pests. Contact [...]
The chemical stew of black spot
The intermittent rainfalls this spring in Western Oregon have been a bonanza for fungal diseases, and many are showing up earlier than we have seen [...]
Snow-making bacterium is making no friends
The same bacterium used to make artificial snow, Pseudomonas syringae, is causing problems in blueberries right now. The near freezing night time temperatures experienced [...]
Carpet Beetles
Series: Insects commonly submitted to the OSU Insect ID Clinic While you’re sheltering in place at home right now, you’re probably noticing some [...]
Brown rot – an aptly named and unwelcome disease of stone fruits
I have a sour cherry tree in my yard that declines a bit more each year. It is in sad shape, with seared-open main branches injured by sun scald and invaded by decay fungi. This all stemmed from leaf loss due to an ongoing and pervasive case of brown rot caused by the fungus Monilinia. This organism infects first through the flowers, usually after a rain while the flowers are open.
Tea Scale: An unwanted hitch-hiker
Sunny days and warmer weather bring about thoughts of gardening: which plants are not performing as well as would be liked, which new ones would look better in that spot. If you are contemplating adding to your garden, be sure not to add an unwanted component: insect or mite pests (or disease) that might be tagging along with your new acquisition.
Pest and Weather Models
The Oregon Statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center has a great collection of online resources to support both commercial growers and home gardeners across the country. Their web-based tools include weather and climate driven models for IPM/pest models, plant disease risk models, crop models, horticultural models, beneficial species models, climate suitability models, and many others.
The spotted lanternfly makes its first west coast appearance
Last September we published our first post about the potential for the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, to be a pest of serious concern to Oregon agriculture. At the time, only a handful of eastern states had reported established populations (Pennsylvania has been the most impacted). More recently, a live adult spotted lanternfly was reported in Davis, California.
Hide your honeybees, the Asian giant hornet has landed in the PNW [updated]
The national press generated a lot of buzz about "Murder Hornets", spurring a flurry of interest and confusion about where the Asian giant hornet [...]
Purple days
Winter is the perfect time for dreaming of the perfect garden.Even if your garden is established, it is never really finished. Preferences change over time. [...]