The Gold Spotted Oak Borer (GSOB) is killing Black Oak trees on our mountain and

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We are reaching out to you because you participated in our GSOB Spray Treatment program earlier this year.

We are asking you to do us a favor before the snow comes… Can you snap a couple photos of your oaks? We are looking for color images that show the overall condition of the tree. Include a shot of the whole tree if possible, as well as a couple of the leaves/canopy, and a couple of the bark/trunk.

You don’t need to photograph every tree, but make sure all images submitted are of the same tree. Please send them by email to [email protected] or by text to 760-218-1203. Include your name and the date the photos were taken, as well as the tree tag number, if we’ve left a small metal tag near the base and you can read it easily. Please note, these photos and the tree location (street address) may be shared with University of California ANR, and other partnering agencies to contribute to research and monitoring of this invasive species. No personally identifying information will be passed along.

LOOK AT YOUR LEAVES Now is a great time to watch for possible GSOB infestations on your property. GSOB-infested Black Oaks may have brown and dead leaves that have not dropped off during autumn:

Compare with a healthy California Black Oak with normal seasonal changes. Note that the healthy leaves have a variegated coloring and a combination of dead and dying leaves throughout the whole tree:

GSOB is a small, bullet-shaped beetle about 10mm (0.4 in.) long that has six golden yellow spots on its dark green forewings. Adult female beetles lay eggs under the bark in the fall, where the larvae feed on the cambium and grow until emergence in May, leaving tell-tale D-shaped exit holes. When left untreated this weakens the tree, causing signs of decline that include crown thinning and dieback, and ultimately tree mortality. Untreated trees also pose the risk of spreading GSOB beetles to other oaks in the area.

For more information on the Gold Spotted Oak Borer, click the button below.

Find out more at GSOB.org