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Emerald Ash Borer information - Brochure - Adobe PDF (514 Kb)
Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire
The emerald ash borer was first identified in North America in southeastern Michigan in 2002. Larvae of this beetle feed in the tissues under the bark of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.), causing the girdling and death of branches and entire trees. Adults of the species are active from mid-May until September. Since its discovery in Michigan, the beetle has been detected in Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota, Kentucky, and New York in U. S. and Ontario, Quebec in Canada. (Click on the map to see a larger version) |
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| Tens of millions of ash trees have been lost to this pest, which usually kills ash trees within 3-4 years of infestation. Symptoms of emerald ash borer infestation include upper crown dieback (Fig. 1), epicormic branching (Fig. 2), bark splits (Fig.3), and bark flaking (Fig.4) or tissue damage (Fig. 5) resulted from woodpecker predation. |
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| Fig. 1 Crown dieback |
Fig. 2 Epicormic branching |
Fig. 3 Bark splits |
Fig. 4 Bark flaking |
Fig.5 Tissue damage |
| Click on an image above to see the full size photo |
| Signs of emerald ash borer include the adult beetle (Fig. 6) or larva (Fig. 7), “D” shaped exit holes (Fig. 8), and “S” shaped larval galleries under the bark (Fig. 9). |
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| Fig. 6 Adult |
Fig. 7 Larva |
Fig. 8 Exit hole |
Fig.9 Gallery |
| Click on an image above to see the full size photo |
| Emerald ash borer feed exclusively on ash trees in North America. Host species include green ash (F. pennsylvanica March.), white ash (F. americana L.), black ash (F. nigra Marsh.), blue ash (F. quadrangulata Michx.), and pumpkin ash (F. profounda (Bush) Bush). |
| Emerald ash borer has a one- or two-year life cycle in North America, with the larva or prepupa (Fig. 10) overwintering in the outer sapwood or outer bark. Pupae (Fig.11) appear as early as mid-April and adults start to emerge in late May. Peak emergence occurs from early to mid June. Adults undergo two weeks of maturation feeding on ash foliage before laying eggs (Fig. 12) in bark crevices or between bark layers from June to August. Newly hatched larvae bore directly into the bark until reaching the cambial region and phloem where they feed, often forming serpentine galleries under the bark. There are four instars in the larval stage. |
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| Fig. 10 Prepupa |
Fig. 11 Pupa |
Fig.12 Eggs |
| Click on an image above to see the full size photo |
The first emerald ash borer infestation in Pennsylvania was detected in Cranberry Township, Butler County in June 2007. It has been determined that the infestation in Cranberry Township has been there since 1999 ~ 2000. Subsequent detection surveys revealed that Allegheny County was also infested. More infestations were confirmed in Mercer and Beaver Counties in 2008, and Mifflin and Lawrence, and Westmoreland Counties in 2009. Currently, emerald ash borer can be found in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, and Mercer, and Westmoreland Counties in the west and Mifflin County in the central part of the state. (Click on the map to see a larger version) |
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The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has imposed quarantine in those seven counties. The quarantine is designed to help slow the spread of the beetle. Pennsylvania 's quarantine restricts the movement of ash nursery stock, green lumber and any other ash material, including logs, stumps, roots and branches, and all wood chips from the quarantined area. Due to the difficulty in distinguishing between species of hardwood firewood, all hardwood firewood - including ash, oak, maple and hickory - are considered quarantined. Ash makes up 3.6% of the forests in Pennsylvania, with more than 300 million trees throughout the state. The ash component in urban habitats could be significantly higher as it is one of the most favorite landscaping tree species in the state. The potential impact of emerald ash borer on forest biodiversity, wildlife habitats, quality of riparian areas, ash resources, and urban living will be profound if/when this pest become widely established in the state. The DCNR Bureau of Forestry participates in a multi-agency task force assembled to detect and manage this invasive threat to Pennsylvania ash trees. Other cooperating members of the task force include USDA/APHIS, USDA Forest Service, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and the Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension. Since 2003, the Bureau of Forestry has been surveying for emerald ash borer on high-risk state-owned forestlands using visual and trap tree survey methods. Hundreds of sites across the state have been visited, with thousands of ash trees being visually inspected for signs and symptoms of emerald ash borer infestation. In addition, a total of 48 traps trees have been established to detect emerald ash borer infestations on state lands. No emerald ash borer was found as a result of these surveys from 2003-2007 |
A prism purple panel trap was identified by USDA APHIS in 2008 as the major detection tool for emerald ash borer. A total of 48 purple traps were placed in high risk state managed lands in 22 counties in early June. Each trap was baited with a Manuka oil lure in the center, whereas the outside of each panel was covered by Pestick glue to catch adults attracted to the trap. Traps were monitored throughout the summer with the lure replaced once in late July. Beetles captured on the traps were collected during the season and returned to the laboratory for identification. Visual and sweep net surveys were also conducted in some of the counties in conjunction with the trap survey. No emerald ash borer adults were found from those traps or other surveys in 2008. |
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| Trap location for 2008 survey | Trap location for 2009 survey | Prism purple panel trap |
| Click on an image above to see the full size photo |
| The DCNR Bureau of Forestry continues to monitor and study emerald ash borer in Pennsylvania in 2009. Current programs include the study of its seasonal abundance, potential impact, and management options in five of the quarantined counties in western Pennsylvania, the general detection survey on state-owned forest lands in central and eastern Pennsylvania, and the plans to protect seed orchard ash trees with chemical insecticides. A delimiting survey for this pest is also being carried out by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) in 16 counties that surround the quarantine areas, including Erie, Crawford, Warren, Venango, Forest, Clarion, Jefferson, Amstrong, Indiana, Cambria, Westmoreland, Somerset, Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Mifflin. This type of survey uses a 1.5 x 1.5 mile grid with a purple panel trap placed in each grid to define the leading edge of the infestation and provide support for mitigation activities. |
For more information and emerald ash borer in Pennsylvania and North America, please visit:
PADA Firewood Quarantine, Compliance Order and Site Map
Penn State Dept. of Entomology's Emerald Ash Borer web site
Michigan State University Emerald Ash Borer web site
To report possible infested trees in Pennsylvania, contact:
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture 1-866-253-7189
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