Emerald Ash Borer

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Emerald Ash Borer

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 treesEmerald Ash Borer (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.

States affect by EAB and quarantines already in effect.

 Identifying Emerald Ash BorerEAB in MA

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

 

 Follow these link for additional information about this destructive pest

Emeraldashborer.info

USDA stop the beetle

Don’t move firewood

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