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This informal report by the Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology is a commentary on insects, diseases, and curiosities division staff encounter on a week-to-week basis. Comments and questions about this report are welcome and can be sent to your respective Inspector.

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Division Staff

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Eric Biddinger (Nursery Inspector & Compliance Officer) - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

From everyone here in the DEPP, we wish you all the best this holiday season! We have a few announcements and reminders to wrap up the year.

Nursery license renewals were sent out back in October. While most have been returned to us, we always have a few nurseries each year that we have to track down. Renewals should be returned by Dec. 31. If you have any questions or concerns about a nursery grower or dealer license, please reach out to your nursery inspector.

We are planning to treat for Spongy Moth in portions of Marshall, Jasper, Porter, and Starke counties in 2025. Virtual public meetings are scheduled for Jan. 27 and 28, 2025 at 1 p.m. ET (Noon CT) and 7 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. CT) each day. Please visit our Spongy Moth website for treatment maps and more information.

I received a few more recommendations for webinars to catch up on this winter.

The Midwest Invasive Plant Network has webinars featuring emerging threats and management practices.
The Midwest Invasive Species Information Network based in Michigan has several invasive ID training modules. While they are free, you do have to create an account to access some of the material.
Clean Wisconsin hosted the Wisconsin Neonic Forum in October 2024 to discuss the environmental impact of neonicotinoid insecticides. The recordings are available on YouTube.

University of Minnesota’s David Tork has a fascinating presentation on creating a genetic test to distinguish North American and European highbush cranberry (Viburnum) cultivars.

Ren Hall (Nursery Inspector & Compliance Officer) – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you like to purchase real greenery for the holidays, be aware of the potential for pests that can be transported on Christmas trees, wreaths, planters, garlands, etc. Invasive insects and diseases such as spongy moth, spotted lanternfly, hemlock woolly adelgid, elongate hemlock scale, and boxwood blight can be moved around on holiday decor. The real greenery you find at big box stores is often brought in from other states, which is a potential pathway for invasive species to enter Indiana.

Carefully inspect holiday greenery before purchasing and contact Indiana DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology at 1-866-NO-EXOTIC or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you notice anything concerning. Consider buying a tree from a local supplier to minimize risk. When you are ready to take down your greenery, check with your city or county for proper disposal locations – dumping your tree in the woods can not only introduce invasive species, it is also illegal in many places.

Jared Spokowsky (Nursery Inspector & Lead Apiary Inspector) - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The results from the 2023-2024 beekeeper loss survey are out. It is a little flipped this year with more losses on the commercial side than with hobbyist beekeepers. Either way it still wasn’t a great year for losses. The total number of lost hives was the third highest since the survey started.

In total over 1,600 beekeepers took the survey nationwide accounting for about 13% of all the managed hives in the country. Unfortunately, only 10 beekeepers from Indiana took the survey. I would highly encourage any beekeeper to spend a few minutes filling this out when the next survey opens in the spring. The more data we have the better picture we will get about management practices and the wellbeing of bee colonies across the country. It only takes a few minutes to fill out and there is no identifying data given so you remain anonymous. I will send out a reminder again in May when the next survey rolls around.

From the report, “Different from previous years, backyard beekeepers during 2023-2024 experienced a lower annual loss rate than commercial beekeepers (45.1% [42.4 – 47.6 CI] for backyard vs 55.7% [48.9 – 62.9 CI] for commercial). This represented a lower loss year than average for backyard beekeepers (4.1 pp less than their running 13-year average of 49.2%), but a significantly higher loss year for commercial beekeepers (16.8 pp more than their running 13-year average of 38.9%).”

You can find the full report here.

Will Drews (Nursery Inspector & Compliance Officer) – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

During a nursery inspection in Owen County earlier this year, I noticed some interesting yellowing of the leaves on some American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) trees (Photo 4). A look on the underside of the leaves revealed some yellow-orange pustules, reminiscent of a rust fungus (Photo 5). With the assistance of the Purdue Plant & Pest Diagnostic Lab staff, this fungal pathogen has been confirmed to be hornbeam rust (Melampsoridium asiaticum), a relatively new emerging rust fungal disease in the US.

Hornbeam rust can be identified by its yellow-orange raised bumps, called pustules, on the underside of the leaves (Photo 6 & 7). As these pustules develop, there will be corresponding yellow leaf spots that form on the upper side of the leaves. If there is a severe pustule load on the undersides, the yellowing pattern on the upper sides of the leaves may coalesce and appear as larger yellow patches (Photo 8 & 9). Besides leaves, the samaras (fruit structures) may also become infected with hornbeam rust.

Hornbeam rust originates from Japan and China and was first detected in the US in a couple counties in Florida in the fall of 2018. In 2019, similar rust reports were made in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. This new find in Owen County is the first detection of hornbeam rust in Indiana and is likely the northernmost report in the country to date.

Hornbeam rust has been confirmed on American hornbeam, European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), and Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) trees. Unlike a number of common rusts like cedar apple rust which alternate between two very different hosts (e.g. Apples [Malus spp.] and Cedars [Juniperus spp.]) depending on life cycle stage, hornbeam rust appears to stay on its host throughout its life cycle.

Because of its recent discovery, not much is known about spread and control. If you think you have some infected Carpinus or Ostrya trees, you can contact your nursery inspectorhere or send a sample to Purdue PPDL.

Gary Moughler (Nursery Inspector & Compliance Officer) – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I attended the Aerial Pesticide Applicators Training in Gettysburg, Penn. back in September. Classroom time was spent learning about spray systems, nozzle basics, avionics, and aviation safety. Meanwhile, outdoor portions included learning how to inspect aircraft and ground equipment and calibrate spray equipment. The highlight of the training for many attending was the demonstration of a spray drone which can be used to treat up to 4 acres at a time.

December 15, 2007 Julia Carson, American politician (Rep Indiana (D) 1997-2007), dies of lung cancer at 69.

December 16, 1908 Harland Sanders was born in a four-room house in Henryville, Indiana. After many jobs, including farmhand, streetcar conductor and fireman, he created the “secret recipe” for fried chicken that made him famous as the “Colonel” of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

December 18, 1958 The movie “Some Came Running” was released. Filmed primarily in Madison, it starred Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Shirley MacLaine.

December 20, 1865 The Indiana legislature created the Indiana Normal School, which later became Indiana State University.

December 21, 1956 The bust of Sherman Minton was unveiled at the Indiana State House. Governor George Craig led the ceremony honoring Minton, the only native Hoosier to serve on the U. S. Supreme Court.

Our Where in Indiana? from last week was taken in Lebanon, home of the Tigers.

Where in Indiana?

Do you know where this photograph was taken?

Visit us on Instagram to submit your answer.

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Hoosier Holidays at the Statehouse

Indiana Statehouse Tour Office

Indiana Department of Administration

Guided Tours of the Indiana Statehouse are offered Monday through Saturday. For more information, contact us.

(317) 233-5293
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Indiana Quick Quiz

1. What American Christmas song was first released by Helmsburg, Indiana, born, Bobby Helms?

2. In what fictional Indiana city did the move "A Christmas Story" take place?

3. How many years has Indianapolis celebrated the holidays by turning the Soldiers and Sailors monument into a giant Christmas tree?

4.How many lights are used to transform the Soldier's and Sailors Monument into a Christmas tree?

Answers Below

For more activities

in IN

https://www.visitindiana.com/

Answers

1. Jingle Bell Rock

2. Hohman, Indiana

3. 62

4. 4,784

"I found that the only thing that does bring you happiness is doing something good for somebody who is incapable of doing it for themselves."

-David Letterman

Please send your favorite Hoosier quote to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thank You Indiana Tree Growers!

This year marks the 65th year Indiana tree growers have donated trees to the Indiana Statehouse. Growers participating this year include:

Birch Island Tree Farm, Waldron

Dull's Tree Farm, Thorntown

Sambol's Tree Farm, Fortville

Bohman's Tree Farm, Greensburg

Hensler's Nursery, Hamlet

Millbrook Tree Farm, Yorktown

St. Joe Tree Farm, Ft. Wayne

Oak Hill Tree Farm, Crawfordsville

Piney Acres Farm, Fortville

Sugar Ridge Pines, Centerpoint

Cassens Tree Farm, West Lafayette

Yakey Tree Farm, Fishers.

Indiana Capitol Tour Office
http://www.in.gov/idoa/2371.htm

Join us for an engaging Healthy Living Workshop to inspire your journey toward a healthier lifestyle!

This hands-on event includes cooking demonstrations and taste tests. You'll take home a meal kit for a family of four at each of the twelve sessions and receive free kitchen gadgets to make cooking easier and more enjoyable.

ALL FREE!

Come to learn, enjoy, and boost your health!

Reserve your spot in the much desired program by contacting:

Sonya Mitchell at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 812-883-4601 to reserve your spot!

The first series meets Wednesdays, starting April 16, 1:00pm, at the Washington County Government Building Meeting Room (806 Martinsburg Road, Salem 47167).

DON'T MISS OUT! THIS IS OUR THIRD AND FINAL YEAR FOR THIS FULLY FUNDED PROGRAM!

Members of the Salem High School Class of 1964 gathered recently. They had dinner together at the Salem Lions Club on October 24.

Those attending included Mike and Connier Pruitt, Raymond and Tina Lee, Ronnie and Sandy Morris, Isaac Smith, Tom Jackson, Vivian Wilson and Debbie Hall.

Also, Ronnie Ransom, Phillip and Patty Lytle, Pat Horner, Max Bedwell, June Rudder, Lew and Aliene Reyman and Sally and Marvin Hattabaugh.

The next meeting for the class will be Saturday, December 14, 5 p.m., at the Lions Club, North Shelby St., Salem.

All classmates are invited to attend.

December 8, 1821 Alexander Ralston publishes his map of Indianapolis, a one-mile square with four diagonal streets and a circle in the middle.

December 8, 1983 President Ronald Reagan gave a speech about education at the Indiana Convention Center.

December 9, 1963 Studebaker announced its closing in South Bend. The company had begun more than 100 years earlier with the production of wheelbarrows. They became the world's largest maker of wagons and carriages and evolved into a major manufacturer of cars and trucks.

December 12, 1958 Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke to a crowd of 4,000 in Indianapolis at Cadle Tabernacle. He said, "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

December 14, 1909 Workers placed the last of 3.2 million ten-pound bricks on the 2 1/2 mile oval track at the Indianapolis Speedway. It has been called "The Brickyard" ever since.

Our Where in Indiana? from last week was taken in Indianapolis of Lockerbie Street.