Danielle Howard stands in front of a field on fire from a prescribed burn.
Danielle Howard has been hired as an Extension prescribed fire specialist housed with the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue.
The prescribed fire specialist position, funded by the Sam Shine Foundation, aims to increase prescribed fire capacity in Indiana by coordinating, conducting, and leading prescribed fires and prescribed fire training and outreach statewide.
In this role, Howard also will support the formation of prescribed burn associations (PBAs) and the Indiana Prescribed Fire Council (INPFC). She will work closely with Indiana conservation partners to develop prescribed fire training and outreach that builds capacity and support for prescribed fire on public and private land in Indiana.
“Prescribed fire is key to maintaining healthy ecosystems in Indiana, and I’m very excited to be at the forefront of increasing its use across the state,” Howard said.
Co-PIs on the supporting grant titled “Building Capacity for Prescribed Fire in Indiana” are Extension wildlife specialists Jarred Brooke and Brian MacGowan, Extension forester Lenny Farlee, natural resources training specialist Jessica Outcalt and Dr. Zhao Ma.
Danielle Howard holds a drip torch while starting a prescribed burn.
Howard, who previously worked in FNR as the field coordinator for the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment from 2020 to 2023, comes to her new role after spending the last three years as the central region ecologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish, Wildlife and Nature Preserves. In that role, she managed 71 state-dedicated nature preserves and multiple privately-owned conservation easements across 26 counties in central Indiana. She also planned, prepared and implemented prescribed fire, invasive species control measures, native plantings, forest stand management and other restoration activities. She also established and sampled research plots for post-fire vegetation monitoring in Brown County State Park.
Howard also has taught Applied Ecology as an adjunct professor at Indiana University since January 2025.
In her previous stint in FNR as part of the HEE project, Howard coordinated forest management research activities, including bird surveys, overstory plots, small mammal trapping and more, conducted by various universities and partners at sites in Morgan-Monroe and Yellowwood State Forests.
Previously, she acted as an intermittent bird biologist for the Indiana DNR, the whooping crane outreach program assistant in Indiana for the International Crane Foundation and as a farm bill wildlife biologist for Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever.
Howard is a type II certified wildland firefighter and has certifications in prescribed fire for managers, wildlife fire chainsaws (S-212), wildlife fire pumps (S-211) and a pesticide applicator’s license for core and forests.
Howard began her new role on May 18. She will be based remotely in Bloomington, Indiana.
Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) Extension would like to share a timely update from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Division of Entomology newsletter regarding a wood-boring insect that may be encountered in hardwood logs across the state. Will Drews, Entomology staff member located in south-central Indiana (Bloomington area), recently reported activity from one of the more common round-headed borer pests found in hardwood logs: the flat-faced longhorn beetle, Graphisurus fasciatus. Will shares in the Entomology Weekly Review how to identify the borer, their habitat and if we need to be conerned.
What to Look For On the wing recently is one of the more common round-headed borer pests I find in hardwood logs, and that is the flat-faced longhorn beetle without a common name: Graphisurus fasciatus (Photos 2 – 5). This longhorn beetle (in the family Cerambycidae) is quite large as far as longhorn beetles go, reaching up to 0.6 inches in length, and features two long antennae (aka “horns”) characteristic of most of its family (Photo 3).
Photo 2 – Flat-faced longhorn beetle (Graphisurus fasciatus) adult found on a black walnut (Juglans nigra) log during a recent phytosanitary inspection.
Photo 3 – Flat-faced longhorn beetle (Graphisurus fasciatus) adult female lateral view at 10X magnification. Note the long “horns” or antennae which are a little longer than the main body.
Photo 5 – Flat-faced longhorn beetle (Graphisurus fasciatus) adult female lateral view at 20x magnification. G. Fasciatus is parte of the flat-faced longhorn beetle subfamily (Lamiinae), which its membes are characterized by a long, usually flat face, shown here.
Host Trees and Habitat
As a larva, Graphisurus fasciatus feeds on a variety of hardwoods and is reported to feed on pine trees as well. I generally find G. fasciatus larvae feeding between
the bark and sapwood of black walnut (Juglans nigra), white oak (Quercus alba ) and red oak (Quercus rubra) logs (Photo 6).
Photo 6 – Flat-faced longhorn beetle (Graphisurus fasciatus) larva (below) and pupa (above) with signs of larval mines on a red oak (Queracus rubra) log.
Identification Tips There are several ways to differentiate this species from the less common but closely related Graphisurus despectus, but one of the surest ways is to examine the scutellum (aka the small shield-like plate at the top/between the elytra [wing covers]). In G. fasciatus, the scutellum has two small whitish patches of hair, not present on G. despectus (Photo 7). Another diagnostic characteristic of G. fasciatus is that it has elytra with emarginate (or notched) tips (Photo 8).
Photo 7 – Flat-faced longhorn beetle (Graphisurus fasciatus) adult female dorsal view at 20X magnification showing scutellum (cirecled in red). Note the two light/whitish patches of hair on the scutellum. This is one of the best ways to distinguish G. fasciatus from G. despectus.
Photo 8 – Flat-faced longhorn beetle (Graphisurus fasciatus) adult female dorsal view at 20X magnification showing its elongated ovipositor. the ovipositor of G. fasciatus is quite unusual and proturberant for a longhorn beetle species and makes the females closer to 0/75 inches in length counting it. Also present in this image is the emarginate (or notched) tips of the elytra. This is another distinguishing characteristic of G. fasciaturs.
Should You Be Concerned?
This species can be alarming by its noticeable size and relative abundance but is not necessarily a major pest of concern as it does not usually bore into the sapwood and cause defects to the wood.
Stay Informed
FNR Extension encourages landowners and natural resource professionals to remain observant when working with hardwood logs and report unusual insect activity when found.
Agricultural & Natural Resources (ANR) Newsletter: On May 5, Natural Resources professionals gathered at the Davis Purdue Agricultural Center (DPAC) in Farmland, Indiana, for a forestry and wildlife management training led by Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources’ Brian MacGowan, wildlife extension specialist and extension coordinator; Don Carlson, forester; Jarred Brooke, wildlife extension specialist; and Jessica Outcalt, natural resources training specialist. The program combined classroom updates with field-based learning focused on active land stewardship, habitat management and conservation planning.
Jarred Brooke provided an overview of prairie grass plantings, including seed mixes, establishment methods and species composition.
Don Carlson discussing the 2014 planting and the management goals involved at Herrmann Property.
During the field tour of DPAC and Herrmann Properties, participants explored topics including native warm-season grass management using prescribed fire, Sericea lespedeza control in native grass plantings, prairie restoration, young forest management, and oak forest management for multiple objectives. Don Carlson discussed the history and management goals of DPAC, emphasizing how tree spacing, mowing and the use of crop and nurse trees influence tree establishment and growth. Jarred Brooke highlighted challenges such as rabbit damage to young trees and invasive species management. Participants learned key wildlife habitat principles, including a practical guideline for quail habitat: If a baseball tossed into the grass rolls, the habitat structure is suitable for quail; if it does not roll, the vegetation is too dense. The day concluded with updates on the NR Training Hub, prescribed fire and evaluation efforts.
If you’re interested in bringing a program like this to your area, we’d love to hear from you, submit a request at fnrextension@purdue.edu.
Emily Kring, Extension Educator
Agriculture & Natural Resources, Purdue Extension Jay County
Most of us have probably heard or seen a lot about pollinators in the media recently. The reason why is that pollinators are really, really important. We simply can’t live without them. Researchers estimate that one out of every three bites of food we eat is made possible by pollinators. More than 100 food crops in the U.S. depend on pollinators, including almost all fruit and grain crops.
There are many different types of pollinators including native bees, butterflies and moths, beetles, flies, wasps, and of course hummingbirds. But perhaps one of the more interesting pollinators is the Monarch. Millions of Monarchs congregate in a relative small area in Mexico each winter. In March they start their journey north which has occurred over several generations. Unfortunately, the number of Monarchs counted in overwintering colonies has declined over the past 25 years.
In response, many states including Indiana have developed a state Monarch Conservation Plan. With input from many stakeholders over several years, the Indiana Monarch Conservation Plan was released in December 2020. One goal of the plan was to create an online resource that would act as a clearinghouse for Indiana monarch and pollinator conservation data, research, best management practices (BMPs), and events. I invite you to visit the Indiana Monarch and Pollinator Conservation Hub at indianawildlife.org/monarchs.
You might be asking yourself, ‘Why is a wildlife specialist writing about pollinators?’ It turns out that quality habitat for wildlife is often quality habitat for pollinators. The diversity of wildflowers and structure that native grasslands, trees and shrubs benefit them all. Trees such as eastern redbud and Ohio buckeye provide early nectar sources. Native grasslands that have a diverse mixture of wildflowers provide food, bare ground, and structure desirable for a wide variety of pollinators.
Purdue Landscape Report: Earlier this year, Ohio expanded its quarantine for box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) to include seven additional counties, bringing the total number of quarantined counties in the state to 14 (ODA, 2026). Michigan currently has 13 counties under quarantine as well. Although this invasive pest has not yet been detected in Indiana, populations close to our borders are continuing to spread. It is important to remain vigilant, particularly in the northeastern and southeastern regions of the state where the risk of introduction is greatest. Landscape professionals, nursery workers, and homeowners can all assist with early detection by monitoring boxwood plantings for signs of infestation.
Signs and Symptoms
The caterpillar stage of box tree moth is responsible for the damage to boxwoods. Caterpillars are aggressive foliage feeders and often leave behind only the leaf margins or midribs, giving damaged plants a characteristic “stringy” appearance (Figs. 1, 2). As they feed, the larvae also produce large amounts of webbing throughout the shrub canopy.
One of the challenges in detecting infestations is that damage often begins deep within the interior of the shrub. Boxwoods may appear healthy from the outside even while caterpillars are actively feeding inside the canopy. As feeding progresses outward, severe defoliation can develop rapidly. When scouting plants, carefully inspect interior branches for webbing, brown or dried leaves, and feeding injury.
Identification
Box tree moth caterpillars are bright yellow-green with black stripes and rows of black spots running the length of the body (Fig. 3). This is the time of year when the caterpillars are active, so take a few minutes to check any boxwoods for them.
Adult moths are primarily night fliers, so they are less commonly observed during the day. Adults are typically white with broad brown wing borders and a distinctive white crescent-shaped marking within the brown band on the forewing (Fig. 4).
Figure 1: Boxwood damage from box tree moth. Photos by Ferenc Lakatos, University of Sopron.
Figure 2: Boxwood damage from box tree moth. Photos by Ferenc Lakatos, University of Sopron.
Figure 3: Box tree moth caterpillar. Photo by Ferenc Lakatos, University of Sopron.
Figure 4: Box tree moth adult. Photo by Szabolcs Sáfián, University of West Hungary.
Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is a major pest of concern across most of the United States. Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive planthopper native to China that was first detected in the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014. SLF feeds on over 70+ plant species including fruit, ornamental and woody trees with tree-of-heaven as its preferred host. Spotted lanternfly is a hitchhiker and can easily be moved long distances through human assisted movement.
Know the Primary Host: Tree -of-Heaven Tree of heaven (TOH) is the preferred host for the spotted lanternfly (SLF). The ability to identify TOH will be critical to monitoring the spread of this invasive pest as the 4th-stage nymphs and adult spotted lantern-flies show a strong preference for TOH.
Report a Sighting If you suspect you’ve seen a spotted lanternfly, please take the following steps:
Take a picture and note your location.
If you can, collect a sample of the insect by catching it and placing it in a freezer. You can use any container available as long as it has a tight seal (like a water bottle) so that the spotted lanternfly can’t escape.
Follow updates and management tips on social media by connecting with ReportINvasive on Facebook (@reportINvasive) and Indiana Department of Natural Resources, which shared information acrossa Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@INdnrinvasive).
Spread Awareness
Share your spotted lanternfly knowledge with others! Share about SLF with neighbors, colleagues and your communit to help protect Indiana’s natural and agricultural resources.
Purdue Landscape Report: Besides nursery inspections, our division assists with phytosanitary inspections in partnership with the USDA’s APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine staff. In my area, I assist mainly with log inspections and ensure the commodities are relatively pest-free before leaving the country or, if not, that they will be treated beforehand.
Figure 1: Painted hickory borer (Megacyllene caryae) emerging from a hickory (Carya spp.) log.
Figure 2: Painted hickory borer (Megacyllene caryae) on a hickory (Carya spp.) log with finger for size reference. Note the distinct “w” marking on elytra.
Recently I found an interesting pest on a hickory (Carya spp.) log. I occasionally find round-headed borers infesting logs, which are fairly common pests that often mine in or between the bark and sapwood of logs. Round-headed borers are the larval form of longhorned beetles (a.k.a. cerambycids [or beetles in the Cerambycidae family]). I normally just find the larvae during inspections, not the future life cycle stages like pupae or adults. However, I recently was able to spot painted hickory borer (Megacyllene caryae) adults emerging from a hickory log I inspected.
Painted hickory borers are colorful distinct longhorn beetles in the Cerambycidae family that can be distinguished by their yellow bands on an otherwise black body, including a “w” shaped band on the elytra (or wing coverings). They are important decomposers which help break down fallen logs for hickory trees as well as other hardwood species. However, because they bore into logs and firewood, they are considered pests for those commodities and are a species we look for when we perform inspections.
Painted hickory borers can be confused with their very similar relative, the locust borer (Megacyllene robiniae), but there are some easy ways to distinguish these longhorned beetle species. First, the host is important to note since locust borers only infest black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) trees. Also, painted hickory borer adults are active in spring, while locust borer adults are active in late summer/fall.
Figure 3: Painted hickory borer (Megacyllene caryae) lateral view under 20x magnification. Note the dense hairs, which also are what give the beetle its distinct coloration.
Painted hickory borers do not often warrant management as they generally feed only on dead and decaying wood and do not affect living trees. Larvae generally feed on the inner bark of dead logs initially but can bore into the sapwood and heartwood as they develop. The biggest impact this has is on the lumber production since scarring to the wood can occur. Very few management activities will be successful once the borers are inside the logs, except for fumigation activities from a state-approved facility. The best method of control is preventative such as not leaving logs lying around for long periods of time before processing or treating susceptible logs with an insecticide like bifenthrin to create an insecticidal barrier and prevent infestation. Otherwise, painted hickory borers are harmless, colorful longhorned beetles to be admired as they emerge in spring.
This article appeared in the Indiana Department of Natural Resources-Department of Entomology’s Weekly Review. You can find past reports and subscribe to their newsletter by visiting IN DNR – Entomology Weekly Review.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) highlights a powerful example of how conservation practices on working lands can support both farm productivity and wildlife habitat in their recent story, Restoring Roots to Save the Salamanders.
Image from U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service
On a stretch of farmland in southern Indiana, deep ruts once cut through fields so severely that, as landowner Ben Shireman recalls, “we had ditches in the field that you could park pickup trucks in.” Years of continuous row cropping by a previous owner had taken a toll on the land, leaving behind eroded hillsides, depleted soils and a system that was no longer sustainable both economically and environmentally. What followed for the Shireman family was not a quick fix. It was a transformation rooted in conservation, partnership and a willingness to rethink how their land could work for them and the environment around them.
Today, that same farm is a small but vital part of a growing effort to improve water quality and restore habitat for one of Indiana’s most unique aquatic species called the Eastern Hellbender.
Read how one southern Indiana farm transformed degraded soils and severe erosion into a more resilient system through conservation practices and partnerships here: Restoring Roots to Save the Salamanders.
At the center of this effort is the Farmers Helping Hellbenders initiative, a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) focused on improving water quality in the Blue River watershed while supporting habitat for the Eastern Hellbender, one of Indiana’s most unique aquatic species. By implementing practices like rotational grazing, cover crops and nutrient management, farmers can improve soil health and contribute to cleaner waterways that benefit both agriculture and wildlife.
This story highlights how targeted conservation programs and local collaboration can create lasting impacts, helping farms remain productive while protecting natural resources for future generations. It also emphasizes the importance of outreach, technical assistance and farmer-led innovation in building more sustainable systems across Indiana landscapes.
Purdue Landscape Report: Many of the leaf spot diseases we observe can cause premature leaf drop in affected plants, which can reduce plant vigor if the disease is severe enough and a large proportion of the canopy falls in one season. Elm trees are susceptible to a number of different anthracnose fungi, including Ophiognomoniaintermedia, Gloeosporium betulae, Cryptocline betularum, and Cylindrosporium sp. Cryptocline is the fungus that we encounter the most frequently on samples submitted to the lab for diagnosis.
Figure 1: Cryptocline leaf spot on Elm (photo by Paul Bachi, University of Kentucky Research and Education Center)
Figure 2: Cryptocline leaf spot on a young elm shrub. As the density of leaf spots increases, the leaf blade turns more yellow. (Photo from Purdue Landscape Report)
Figure 3: Mature Cryptocline lesions which are tan in color and have black fungal structures within (photo from Purdue Plant & Pest Diagnostic Laboratory)
Symptoms
Leaf spots may start as small, round chlorotic lesions that slowly expand over time (Figures 1 & 2). Eventually, a necrotic spot with a purple/black border and tan or white center will form (Figure 3). Lesions may begin to develop on a leaf vein and instead of being circular will follow the vein a little, creating a thin necrotic lesion (Figure 4). With increased leaf spot development, large areas of the leaf blade will turn yellow and eventually necrotic, before it falls from the tree (Figure 5). Leaf drop will typically occur in the lower canopy, areas where there is less air movement and higher humidity; however, epidemics occur during periods of we weather that can cause significant leaf drop. Leaf loss typically occurs in the summer (late July to mid-August).
Figure 4: Lesions of Cryptocline located on leaf veins, creating elongate necrotic lesions instead of the typical round lesions located elsewhere on the leaf. (Photo from Purdue Plant & Pest Diagnostic Laboratory)
Figure 5: Elm leaves which have turned yellow or necrotic and fallen prematurely from the tree. (Photo from Plant & Pest Diagnostic Laboratory)
Figure 6: Close up image of Cryptocline leaf spots with acervuli. (Photo by Paul Bachi, University of Kentucky Research and Education Center)
Life Cycle Cryptocline is only known to colonize the leaves, so it overwinters in fallen leaf tissue. In the spring, the fungus will produce ascospores which are carried in the wind to infect young elm leaves. Once initial lesions progress, black fungal structures (acervuli) will form in the necrotic tissue and being producing asexual spores (conidia) in a sticky substance, which can be spread via rain (Figure 6). The conidia act as a secondary infection cycle where it will infect foliage and create new leaf spots continuously throughout the growing season as long as the environmental conditions are conducive.
Management
Like other leaf spot pathogens that do not infect stems, removal of the foliage in the fall can reduce inoculum for the following year (though won’t eliminate the disease). Providing fertilizer (where needed) and water (hot and dry periods) will help mitigate some tree stress, as stress can predispose plants to increased disease severity. Fungicides are not normally recommended for mature trees as it is impractical to get coverage across the entire canopy, but could be practical in a nursery setting if symptoms are observed and leading to leaf drop. It is still early in the season, but the next few weeks are important to monitor for some disease issues that may explode later in the season.
For other information on management of foliar disease problems, please see the following link: Foliar Fungal Disease Management.
Damage to the cambium layer can cause serious health issues for the tree.
One of the most dangerous pests of trees is humans, especially humans with equipment. Lawn mowers and weed trimmers can cause injuries that create a hazard when an injury leads to tree disease or death. This blog explains why the damage is so dangerous and suggests ways to protect your trees.
Defended by Bark
The site of injury is usually the root flare: the area where the tree meets the turf and gets in the path of the mower or trimmer. The root flare, like the rest of the trunk, is protected by bark, which guards a very important plant transport system just behind the woody bark layer. Specialized tubes move nutrients and water between the roots and leaves to keep the tree alive. Any damage to this transport system can affect tree health and the tree could die.
Old damage from mowing can create a serious risk in the landscape
The bark layer can vary in thickness on different tree species. It can be more than an inch in thickness or less than 1/16 of an inch on young, smooth-barked trees such as maples and birches. This isn’t much protection against string trimmers and mowing equipment, especially on young, newly planted trees.
Damage Done
Any damage to or removal of the bark and the transport system can cause problems for a tree. Even when a tree tries to recover from a wound, leaves and branches often decline and die back, because food and water pathways were destroyed. Although a large wound is generally more serious than a smaller one, repetitive wounding adds up to greater trouble for the tree. If the damage extends completely around the base of the tree (a situation called girdling), the tree ultimately dies.
Recent damage from mowing equipment leads to decay and dieback in the tree
All tree wounds are serious when it comes to tree health. No matter what size the wound is, the damage done is irreversible. The tree must devote a great deal of energy and many resources into trying to seal off the damaged area to prevent further complications. The wounded area is an opening for wood-rotting organisms and decay fungi to enter and cause further damage. These microorganisms often attack the injured bark and invade adjacent healthy tissue, greatly enlarging the wound and extending the damage. Trees can be completely girdled from pathogen attack following injuries.
Fungi that are active on the wound surface can also deteriorate the structure of the woody tissues beneath, decaying and weakening the tree. This weakened, structurally unsound tree may eventually die and become a hazard to people around it.
Preventing Problems
Newly planted, young trees need our help to become established in the landscape. They are the trees most commonly and seriously affected by maintenance equipment.
Mulch rings can provide a healthier environment as well as a visual cue to keep equipment away.
However, injury to these trees can be avoided easily and at very low cost if you follow one or more of these suggestions.
Physically remove turf or prevent grass and weeds from growing at the base of the tree. This lowtech solution can eliminate a potentially serious problem.
Spray herbicides to eliminate vegetation around the base of the tree to decrease mowing maintenance costs. Be sure to use care when applying herbicides around trees. Carefully follow label directions.
Add a mulch ring, when possible, to help reduce the competition for water and nutrients. Mulch or other ground coverings reduce mowing requirements in the landscape.
Add a 2˝ to 3˝ layer of mulch on the root zone of the tree to provide an attractive and healthy environment for the tree to grow. This also provides a visual cue to keep equipment away from the tree.
Add trunk guards or similar devices to give the tree additional protection. White, expanding tree guards can help help trees withstand equipment contact and also can help to reduce winter injury.
Trees are a valuable asset to your property and are important to our environment. Every tree contributes to the urban forest and improves air and water quality in your neighborhood. Protect and preserve these growing assets by keeping mowing and weed-trimming equipment away from tree trunks. The damage lasts and it cannot be undone. Don’t create a hazard!
