Emerald Ash Borer

By Adam Jurado

(Agrilus Planipennis)Family: Buprestidae (metallic wood borer

family)

“Ash tree killer”

Life Cycle

• Hundreds of larvae are laid under tree bark for the winter

• Larvae feeds on the tree’s phloem

• In June and July, pupation occurs, which can cause the bark to slough off

• Newborn females reproduce within a week after birth

• 1, 2 and 3 year life cycles are typical

Infested Areas of the U.S.

• Northeastern US

• Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, New York

Negative Effects

• Canopy thinning

• Bark sloughing

• Money lost for property owners and businesses

• Death of the Fraxinus, Pterocarya, Ulmus and Juglans trees

• Spread of infestation

Reason for Public Concern

• Tens of millions of trees have died

• The beetles are monitored by the USDA

• Nursery operators, forest workers, municipalities and property owners have lost billions of dollars since introduction of the species

Place of Origin

• China, South Korea, North Korea, Japan, Mongolia and Taiwan

• The emerald ash borer was carried on boats and airplanes, probably on wood shipping crates

• First sighting in the US was in 2002, in southeastern Michigan

Spread of the Borer

• The emerald ash borer spreads a half a mile each year, however it can fly 6 miles in 24 hours

• After introduction in 2003, the borer has spread throughout Northeastern and North-Central US, and Southeastern Canada

Why the Borer is a Problem

• Deforestation

• Quarantines by the USDA are inconvenient for when firewood needs to be shipped

• Property damage, and spread of the emerald ash borer are hard to control

• Every year, the borer expands its domain

Methods of Control

• Survey and protection programs

• State and local governments are alerted

• Fixing the infestation first in populated areas

• Killing live ash trees

• Quarantines

Bibliography• Ashalert.osu. 9 September 2011. The Ohio State University. 20 September 2011

<http://ashalert.osu.edu/>. (life cycle)• Datcpservices.Wisconsin’s Emerald Ash Borer Information Source. 20 September

2011 <http://datcpservices.wisconsin.gov/eab/index.jsp>. (rate of spread)• Emeraldashborer. Emerald Ash Borer University. 20 September 2011

<http://www.emeraldashborer.info/>. (current distribution)• Emeraldashborer. USDA. 20 September 2011.

<http://www.emeraldashborer.info/files/edpacket.pdf>. (methods of control)• Googleimages. Google Images. 20 September 2011 <Borer distribution>.• Googleimages. Google Images. 20 September 2011 <Eastasiamap>.• Googleimages. Google Images. 20 September 2011 <Infested tree>.• Googleimages. Google Images. 20 September 2011 <Life cycle>.• Na.fs.fed. United States Forest Service. 20 September 2011

<http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/eab/>. (origin)• Themorningsun. Satayut, Lisa. 11 July 2011. The Morning Sun. 20 September 2011

<http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2011/07/12/news/doc4e1c9f425b911553913307.txt>. (article)