Hickories, pecans, and walnuts belong to the family of trees called Juglandaceae. The hickory and pecan genus (Carya) is a close relative to the walnut genus (Juglans). This family of trees provide valuable resources to both humanity and nature. The nuts are consumed by humans and wildlife alike, and the wood is highly valuable in woodworking, furniture making, and flooring. In particular, black walnut (Juglans nigra) is probably the most sought-after wood for making gun stocks.
Black walnut trees are also highly susceptible to the disease complex known as Thousand Cankers Disease. This disease is the result of the combined activity of a fungus (Geosmithia morbida) and the walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis). Fungal spores are carried and introduced into the tree by adult beetles during gallery construction. Subsequent canker development in the inner bark disrupts the flow of nutrients throughout the tree.
This disease is native to the western United States. Widespread mortality of black walnut since 2001 in Colorado led to the recognition and description of the disease. The disease has shown up in black walnut native range of Tennessee, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, suggesting human spread to the eastern United States. Many insects and diseases of trees, such as thousand cankers disease, can spread through the movement of infested firewood, nursery stock, timber, or uncured lumber.
For more information on Thousand Canker Disease:
Thousand Canker Disease Website
Don't Move Firewood Website