Emerald Ash Borer – Perhaps the most destructive insect of this decade
Maybe you have heard of the Emerald Ash Borer already. This destructive little insect has been in the news quite a bit over the past few years as it has left tens of millions of dead Ash trees
(genus Fraxinus) in its wake as it has spread across North America. The Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) was first detected in here in the States in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002 and has since spread to 18 states and many provinces. It arrived here from Asia, most likely in wooden shipping crates, and has become a very real threat to the survival of The Ash species. This small beetle could very likely kill most of the 7.5 billion ash trees through out all of North America and ha cost municipalities, property owners, nursery operators and forest products industries tens of millions of dollars already.
Emerald Ash Borer Range
Removing wood from ash trees is restricted. Such quarantines have already been put in place in many of the affected states ( see map below) , as it is thought that the EAB’s primary means of spreading is through the movement of wood products and infected plant stock.
Identifying Emerald Ash Borer
EAB Is small, 1/2 long bright metallic green beetle with a flattened back. The EAB is bullet shaped and has purple abdomen beneath its wing that is visible during flight. The adult EAB emerge from under the bark from May to August to mate. This emergence will several D shaped exit holes along the stem of the tree. The females lay their eggs in the crevices of the bark. The larvae that hatch out then tunnel under the bark to feed and grow through out the fall and winter. this tunneling is what kills the tree as the tree’s vascular system is damaged and unable to transport water and nutrients for the tree.
Symptoms of Emerald Ash Borer infestation
