Pests and Diseases of Common Live Staking Species

If you are not already familiar with live stakes and the process of planting these dormant tree and shrub cuttings, Penn State Extension has great resources you can explore. The gist is that cuttings can be taken from some fast-rooting native woody plants to provide semi-quick stabilization for minor streambank erosion. You can harvest these live cuttings from host plants at little to no cost instead of purchasing nursery stock. It is this harvesting that can have unintended consequences. Just like with moving firewood, the plants used for live staking can carry along hitchhikers in the form of pests and diseases.

Some plant pests and diseases are ubiquitous in Pennsylvania and can be moved on just about any host. Others are more particular about the species they inhabit. Here we will present some of the most common pests and diseases to look out for while harvesting live stakes, as well as best practices to help prevent their spread.

Spotted Lanternfly

At the top of the lists of pests to be on the lookout for, the Spotted Lanternfly is slowly making its way across Pennsylvania and neighboring states. Most live stake harvesting takes place during the winter months when Spotted Lanternfly is dormant. However, these potentially devastating pests will lay their eggs on any vertical surface. So, become familiar with what the egg cases look like and make sure to properly scrape and destroy them when encountered during your harvesting.

Freshly laid spotted lanternfly egg masses – Erica Smyers, Penn State University

Anthracnose

Many different deciduous trees are susceptible to the leaf disease known as Anthracnose, which is caused by a group of different fungus species. While leaves are usually off the trees during live stake harvesting, cankers on branches and twigs can harbor anthracnose during the winter months and show up in newly formed buds in the spring. Those diseased buds will appear frost damaged. Isolated dead areas, either discolored or sunken, indicate cankers. Avoid cutting from and transplanting from diseased hosts.

Sycamore Anthracnose Canker - Robert L. Anderson, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Dogwood Anthracnose on New Growth - Robert L. Anderson, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Scale

There are many different species of armored insect known as Scale, which can become a nasty pest to many species of trees. Potential scale species among common live staking plants include Oystershell Scale and Obscure Scale. In winter, during the live stake harvest months, Oystershell scale is generally only found in protected egg cases while Obscure Scale overwinters on twigs and branches as nymphs. In either case, the armored shells of previous generations will be the most obvious sign of infestation. Avoid cutting live stakes from plants with scale.

Obscure Scale infestation on a branch - James Solomon, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Lace Bugs

Willows, Sycamores, and Alders are among the live staking plants that host lace bugs. Each of these trees hosts a distinct species of lace bug, but they all overwinter as adults in bark crevices, branch crotches, and similar protected sites. Keep an eye under peeling bark for these flat and lacelike pests while cutting stakes from these species. 

Overwintering Lace Bug Under Bark - Richard Turcotte, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Elderberry Borers

Elderberry is subject to larva of several borers; the Elder Borer Beetle and the Elder Shoot Borer. They can be transported in canes of Elderberry plants, so look for signs in your live stakes before transporting them and planting them. Signs include holes in the canes and frass or sawdust-like piles forming on or around the canes.

Elder Borer pupae in the lower stems of Elderberry with piles of sawdust-like frass built up in borer holes - James Solomon, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Other Dogwood Diseases

Dogwood species are susceptible to several other fungal diseases. The majority of these are found during the leafy growth stages and will not be noticeable or spreadable from dormant woody cuttings. However, if you are attempting spring or fall cuttings, you should become familiar with these diseases as well, and avoid moving cuttings that exhibit symptoms.

Cankered Dogwood Branch - Elizabeth Bush, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org

Other Willow Diseases

Unlike dogwoods, many common Willow diseases affect stems, branches, and twigs and can move with dormant woody cuttings. Look for signs of galls around the base of host trees before cutting live stakes. Also, check the stakes themselves for signs of cankers and lesions.

Crown Gall on Willow - Lesley Ingram, Bugwood.org

Black Canker on Willow - Mary Ann Hansen, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org

In addition to checking for signs and symptoms of pests and diseases on your host plants, another best practice is to make sure you are using clean pruning tools and gear to prevent the introduction of new pests and diseases to your host plants.