Contact: Elaine J. Lidholm, 804.786.7686
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has expanded the Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) Quarantine to include the counties of Fairfax and Prince William, and the cities of Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park. This action became necessary after the detection of TCD in the counties of Fairfax and Prince William. The quarantine area now includes Chesterfield, Fairfax, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico and Prince William counties and the cities of Colonial Heights, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park and Richmond.
TCD is a disease complex that attacks walnut trees,Juglans spp. The fungus Geosmithia morbida is vectored by the walnut twig beetle,Pityophthorus juglandis, causing small cankers under the bark of the tree. The beetle introduces the fungus while it tunnels beneath the bark. As more beetles attack the tree, the number of cankers increases until they coalesce to girdle twigs and branches, restricting movement of nutrients and eventually killing the tree. Neither the beetle nor the fungus is native to the eastern U.S. Thinning or dead branches will initially occur at the top of the tree which will die from the top down. Trees may be infested for many years before showing symptoms. There is currently no preventive or curative treatment for the disease.
Once established, TCD has the potential to spread to uninfested areas, either through natural means or through the artificial movement of infested articles. The quarantine is intended to prevent the artificial spread of the disease. Under the terms of the quarantine, all walnut plants and plant parts of walnut, including green lumber, logs, stumps, firewood, roots, branches, mulch and chips, are prohibited from being moved out of the quarantine area.
Clickhere for more information on Thousand Cankers Diseases in the Eastern United States.