| Oak trees in the back country of eastern San Diego | | | | blend of worm castings and yucca extract to spray |
| County are under attack by a beetle presumed to be | | | | trees. His treatment, though not yet officially |
| relatively new to California and not previously | | | | sanctioned by the State of California's Department of |
| connected to the deaths of these types of trees in | | | | Agriculture, appears to be working as he tests it on |
| this area. Only very recently has the connection to | | | | his own and his neighbors' trees. |
| the dying trees and the rare shiny green oak borer | | | | In the local paper, The Back Country Messenger, |
| been made. It is difficult to determine at this time the | | | | September '08 edition(pg16), local resident Jerry De |
| exact number of trees affected and killed by this | | | | Lucia describes the problem he had with his oak trees |
| pest, but it is thought to be a spreading problem | | | | dying. He tried increasing water to the trees which |
| affecting perhaps hundreds of square miles. | | | | was a recommended solution. It did not work. He |
| The connection was discovered somewhat | | | | became increasingly concerned he would loose all 22 |
| inadvertently by United States Forest Service | | | | trees on his property when he was recommended to |
| entomologist Tom Coleman while investigating | | | | Mr. Sole. |
| widespread damage to oaks in the Cleveland National | | | | A treatment regimen was initiated on the dying oaks |
| Forest where many trees were dying from what | | | | consisting of spraying them at intervals with the liquid |
| was assumed to be the drought conditions of recent | | | | blend of worm tea and yucca as well as laying a base |
| years in Southern California. Coleman instead noticed | | | | of worm castings around the root zone and a |
| that the trees were under some sort of aggressive | | | | watering schedule to assist the treatment. Results |
| insect attack and subsequently discovered the culprit | | | | were quickly noticeable and it appears to have |
| - which may be named the Gold-spotted Oak Borer | | | | brought the infested trees back from what was a |
| (Agrilus Coxalis). Oaks were infested with the beetle | | | | sure death. De Lucia claims in the article that his |
| - drought was most likely not the primary cause of | | | | trees, after treatment, recovered and "almost looked |
| tree deaths although it may have been a contributor. | | | | like four years ago" before he noticed any problems. |
| In a press release dated August 15, 2008 the Forest | | | | He further states "If your trees look like they are |
| Service formally announced the discovery and the | | | | dying, I highly recommend Nature's Big Bud (Worm |
| nature of the widespread problem citing the cause | | | | Castings) Premium (100% Organic Liquid) Plant Food." |
| officially as the wood boring beetle. | | | | Apparently the treatment made a believer out of |
| The infestation area seems to be confined to the | | | | him. |
| eastern part of the county although now spreading | | | | The loss of these trees is far more than an esthetics |
| over what appears to be a widening area. It is | | | | matter. Large scale deaths of the oaks will contribute |
| estimated as many as 70% of the trees in the area | | | | to soil erosion problems, increased fuel for wildfires, |
| may be infested with mortality rates nearing 10%. | | | | and loss of habitat for varied wildlife. The infestation |
| The oaks are the primary trees of many landowners | | | | is a growing threat over a large area with potentially |
| and are, in some cases, over a hundred years old, | | | | devastating results. Let's hope the Forest Service and |
| some even older. Local residents are concerned that | | | | other related agencies will find a solution to the |
| they will lose their trees to the beetle and are looking | | | | problem soon. |
| for ways to treat them. | | | | Perhaps they should contact Mr. Lonnie M. Sole of |
| The Forestry Service is working on a plan for 2009 | | | | Campo, California to confirm his 'Go Green' organic |
| and will hold public meetings in October of this year | | | | treatment method has merit rather than resort to |
| to get the word out on the pest and preventative | | | | the customary use of harsh and polluting chemicals |
| measures which can be taken to treat for it. | | | | which will contribute to toxic runoff into our |
| In Campo, California, one rancher, Lonnie Sole, is | | | | waterways and underground water supplies. |
| initiating his own proactive measures using a liquid | | | | |