Name two important tree pests/diseases of Wisconsin and a quick sign for each.

Name two important tree pests/diseases of Wisconsin and a quick sign for each.

• A. Emerald ash borer — rapid leaf scorch and leaf browning; Oak wilt — D-shaped exit holes in bark.
• B. Emerald ash borer — D-shaped exit holes in bark; Oak wilt — rapid leaf scorch and leaf browning.
• C. Asian longhorned beetle — round exit holes; Dutch elm disease — yellowing.
• D. Gypsy moth — defoliation; Pine wilt — needle browning.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is to pair a well-known Wisconsin pest with a clear, distinctive field sign, and pair a major Wisconsin disease with a sign that is commonly observed in the target trees. Emerald ash borer is a top ash pest in Wisconsin, and a reliable field cue is the D-shaped exit holes left in the bark by adult beetles as they emerge. Oak wilt is a major disease for oaks in the state, and a quick, telltale sign is rapid leaf scorch and browning, especially on red oaks, which helps distinguish it from other stresses. The other options mix signs that don’t fit these pests or diseases (for example, associating EAB with rapid leaf scorch, or suggesting round exit holes for a beetle that typically doesn’t match the key signs), so the pair in this answer best reflects the common Wisconsin realities and their recognizable symptoms.

The main idea is to pair a well-known Wisconsin pest with a clear, distinctive field sign, and pair a major Wisconsin disease with a sign that is commonly observed in the target trees. Emerald ash borer is a top ash pest in Wisconsin, and a reliable field cue is the D-shaped exit holes left in the bark by adult beetles as they emerge. Oak wilt is a major disease for oaks in the state, and a quick, telltale sign is rapid leaf scorch and browning, especially on red oaks, which helps distinguish it from other stresses. The other options mix signs that don’t fit these pests or diseases (for example, associating EAB with rapid leaf scorch, or suggesting round exit holes for a beetle that typically doesn’t match the key signs), so the pair in this answer best reflects the common Wisconsin realities and their recognizable symptoms.