I bet that was a coincidence. Even if it wasn't, what could one do?

briergardener,

The bay sucker is a new pest in the northwest, one that's not yet widely known.

If you haven't already done so, please contact the WA State Dept of Agriculture with images and information. They want to know where this new insect is established.

The WSDA web site is http://agr.wa.gov/; the office is in Olympia.
You can email their Pest Program at PestProgram@agr.wa.gov.

Please do so soon.

I already sent email to WSDA (read message on NW forum).
Wondering if not birds, how this new pest can appear in private garden?
I got last year SWD but I think this might came because some of neighbors brought infected berries and did not dispose them correctly. But bay sucker? How it can appear?
Pest is tiny to fly long distance.
I am still thinking about birds.

Since they are host specific I doubt it hitched a ride on a bird. More likely it flew off a truck carrying an infested tree.

Here is a link that might be useful: SB plant invigorator

It is possible that a bird brought some in on nesting materials but that would have to be a short distance as they would gather those materials from fairly close by.

Tree is in a back of backyard, far from road. Can't imagine such small pests can fly across big front and back yards.

Ever heard of WIND? They could fly miles with the wind at their backs.

I have a huge problem in a walnut tree that was initiated with a large mockingbird nest from last year. The materials that the birds used to build the nest obviously contained mites and other pests and now I am battling all of those including the giant white fly. I KNOW this was mostly all caused by the birds nest - never had any problems with this tree before and now he is fighting for his life. In my case the pests are all pretty common around here though.

mharris,

I strongly suspect coincidence. Or your delayed realization that problems existed.

I certainly agree with Jean. The kind of pests you'd find on birds and in their nests are not plant pests, but pests of warm-blooded animals. We have spent decades encouraging birds to our property, and now are rich with nests, chicks, those who winter-over. Our pest problems on plants become rarer and rarer and a large part of that I can attribute to our bird population. I actually ENCOURAGE them to come in and out of our greenhouses.