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- [Instructor] This is Mark
Isselhardt, Maple Specialist

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with University of Vermont Extension.

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And this is another
"Vermont Maple Minute".

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Maple trees managed for sap production

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remain part of a forest ecosystem.

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Forest ecosystems are complex communities

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of plants, animals, and microbes,

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all interacting with their
physical environment and climate.

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Forests are especially
competitive environments for trees

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that must attempt to maximize exposure

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to light, water and nutrients
in order to survive.

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One of the threats faced by
maples growing in a sugarbush

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is from insects who feed on leaves.

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One of the insects that feeds on maple

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is called the saddled prominent.

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This insect feeds on leaves
during its caterpillar stage.

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Like many insects,

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the populations of saddled
prominent rise and fall each year

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with some years reaching
severe or outbreak levels.

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The younger, reddish caterpillars

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have a distinctive,
dark, antler-like horn,

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whereas older caterpillars are smooth

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and have a distinctive
saddle-shaped marking on its back.

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Most maples can withstand defoliation

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caused by saddled prominent.

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The trees that have been
defoliated repeatedly

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are those with predisposing stresses,

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are more at risk to decline or mortality.

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According to the Vermont
Department of Forest, Parks

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and Recreation, early
August is a good time

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to look for the saddled
prominent in sugarbushes.

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The caterpillars feed through the first

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or second week of August, and
then make their presence known

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as they crawl or drop to
the ground and pupate.

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While there have not been
widespread observations

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of saddled prominent recently,

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there have been a few sightings.

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This is not especially surprising giving

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that this insect has a history

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of appearing following outbreaks
of forest tent caterpillar,

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similar to the one Vermont saw recently.

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This is Mark Isselhardt, Maple Specialist

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with University of Vermont Extension.

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And this has been another
"Vermont Maple Minute".