Got Nature? Blog

This fungal disease is spread by a small twig beetle, eventually leading to the death of infected trees. Thousand cankers disease has been found in many western states. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology, activated Indiana’s Emergency Rule for Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) of Black Walnut, effective August 30, 2010. TCD disease, endemic in the western U.S., was recently identified in Tennessee. A number of factors suggest that this disease could establish in eastern forests: the widespread distribution of eastern black walnut, the susceptibility of this tree species to the disease and the capacity of the fungus and beetle to invade new areas and survive under a wide range of climatic conditions in the West.

Things we can do to help prevent this disease: check your black walnut trees for signs of this disease: report any dead or declining walnut trees to 1-866-NO-EXOTIC (1-866-663-9684); don’t move firewood of any kind as it spreads insects and diseases; and don’t move walnut material from a known infested area.

For more information, please visit the Thousand Cankers Disease website.