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August 21, 2014 VOLU M E 1 1 9 | I S S UE 29
ElbertCountyNews.net E L B E R T C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Trees hit by sawfly outbreak
POWER TO THE PONY
Record larvae numbers seen in Elbert County, southern Douglas By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com
Cherry Hills Village Mayor Doug Tisdale, right, helps Bronco alumnus and celebrity auctioneer Reggie Rivers, left, work the crowd during the 2014 SaddleUp! Denver Suitcase Party.
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Lovers of the horse, as well as horsepower, gathered the evening of Aug. 8 at Centennial Airport to rein in hope — and funds — for the SaddleUp! Foundation, an Elizabeth-based organization that provides equine-assisted therapy to special needs individuals, their families and caregivers. Approximately 400 guests attended the annual charity event held inside the AeroColorado hangar and, within four hours, raised more than $300,000. The luxury travel-themed Denver Suitcase Party is a dinner auction where guests come dressed and packed for the chance to win an all-expense paid trip, via private jet, to Napa Valley, Calif. Former Denver Bronco Reggie Rivers served as celebrity auctioneer, along with special guest, Cherry Hills Village mayor, Doug Tisdale.
PHOTOS BY DEBORAH GRIGSBY SMITH /CENTENNIAL AIRPORT
Little larvae are causing some major damage to trees in Elbert County and southern Douglas County. Epidemic levels of the pine sawfly, a native insect that defoliates ponderosa pines, have reached areas south of Denver, according to the Colorado State Forest Service. The outbreak is believed to have started near the border of El Paso and Elbert counties, and has now been detected on the southeastern fringes of Douglas County. “We’ve heard some people say that if you see them, then five days later the trees will be dead. That’s not true,” said Meg Halford, assistant district forester for the Colorado State Forest Service’s Franktown District. “If you see a tree that has been exposed and it still has some of those green needles on it, chances are that come spring it will be fine. It might experience a little defoliation, but it’s probably going to make it.” Residents in the area can expect to see heavy defoliation of pine trees and large numbers of visible sawfly larvae in the trees themselves and on the ground beneath them. The Colorado State Forest Service and USDA Forest Service are monitoring the outbreak and believe many of the larvae are depleting their food source and dropping to the ground early, before they mature, and are expected to die before they become adults. Mature larvae, which hatch in spring and
Complete with designer luggage displays, the luxury travel-themed SaddleUp! Denver Suitcase Party was a feast for both eyes and palate. The annual event was held Friday, Aug. 8 at the AeroColorado hangar at Centennial Airport.
Sawflies continues on Page 12
Justin Joseph, third from left, poses for a quick photo with friends before boarding his private jet, bound for Napa Valley, Calif. Joseph won the all-expenses paid trip Aug. 8 at the 2014 SaddleUp! Denver Suitcase Party. Attendees to the party were asked to come dressed and packed for the grand prize trip, which departed that evening.
Pine sawfly larvae outbreaks have been found in Elbert and southern Douglas County. Sawflies can defoliate pine trees and potentially kill them. Courtesy photo
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