Is There a Killer Lurking in Your Firewood?

Goldspotted Oak Borer (GSOB) Agrilus auroguttatus is an invasive pest contributing to the on-going oak tree mortality occurring on federal, state, private, and local Native American lands in many areas of Southern California. Isolated areas of infestation have been confirmed in Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties in Southern California. GSOB was detected in more than one area near Big Bear last month. Widespread oak mortality can have severe implications to the environment and human safety. Due to the current and potential impacts to California oaks and communities, public and private organizations are working together in the research, education and outreach efforts related to GSOB management.

Public meetings were held in 2021 and will be scheduled in the future to help folks identify this pest You can fill out the form below to request a GSOB identification kit (provided for FREE thanks to a grant from the National Forest Foundation and Southern California Edison, and support from IERCD and CAL FIRE).

The beetles aggressively attack California black oaks, coast live oaks and canyon live oaks. Dead trees can also increase risk of fire danger. Selling fire wood from the downed dead oaks helps the beetle move from community to community.

The beetle is native to Arizona, but is believed to have traveled first to San Diego County and then Riverside and now up to the San Bernardino mountains via infested fire wood.

Come to the workshops to learn more about the beetle, how to identify evidence it has attacked your trees and what the USFS, CAL FIRE, IERCD, and other local authorities and organizations are doing to address it. For more info about the GSOB, visit www.GSOB.org.

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Past meetings were sponsored by the National Forest Foundation  & SCEdison and supported by USDA Forest Service, CAL FIRE, IERCD, Wildlands Conservancy, NRCS, Univ. of CA Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, Big Bear Fire and others.