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Home > What's New > Emerald Ash Borer Update

Emerald Ash Borer Update

September 3 , 2008

The emerald ash borer has now been found in ten states and in areas of Ontario and Quebec, Canada.

 

Emerald ash borer on leaf Background:

Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae (the immature stage) feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. Emerald ash borer probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia. Emerald ash borer is also established in Windsor, Ontario, was found in Ohio in 2003, northern Indiana in 2004, northern Illinois and Maryland in 2006, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia in 2007, and Wisconsin and Missouri in summer 2008. Since its discovery, EAB has:

  • Killed more than 40 million ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone, with tens of millions more lost in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Missouri, Wisconsin and Virginia.
  • Caused regulatory agencies and the USDA to enforce quarantines (Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Missouri) and fines to prevent potentially infested ash trees, logs or hardwood firewood from moving out of areas where EAB occurs.
  • Cost municipalities, property owners, nursery operators and forest products industries tens of millions of dollars.

What is Maine doing?

The Maine Department of Agriculture Division of Plant Industry, the USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Maine Forest Service (MFS) Division of Forest Health and Monitoring have joined efforts to survey high risk areas in Maine for EAB. The current surveillance tool for EAB, purple prism traps baited with manuca oil, is being used at popular campgrounds and nurseries. [Press Release]

The MFS is also doing work with a native wasp, Cerceris fumipennis, that collects buprestid beetles, including EAB when present. Please see the MFS website to learn more about the Cerceris wasp and about the risks of moving firewood.

 

You can help

Please contact us if you suspect EAB; (207) 287-3891

Some points to remember:

  • EAB adults are small - about 1/2 inch long
  • EAB adults are metallic green
  • EAB only attack ash trees

 

map of U.S. with positive EAB finds