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News Release

Writer: Jennifer Stewart
April 26, 2007

Menace on the loose: Emerald Ash Borer flies again in Midwest

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Millions of ash trees are dead, and after a six-month hiatus, the perpetrator is about to be back on the loose, said an expert from Purdue University.

Each May, the adult Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an iridescent, green invasive beetle originating from Asia, begins flying again-thus increasing the likelihood of finding new infestations.  On its own, EAB will spread only a half mile annually. However, many infestations come as a direct result of firewood, log, and nursery stock movement.

"EAB is an exotic and invasive species that has largely been spread through the movement of firewood," said Jodie Ellis, Purdue Extension EAB specialist. "In order to protect the environment and our natural resources, people must realize that the time to move firewood freely over long distances is over."

The state of Indiana is under a federal quarantine, which means that none of the following may leave the state: ash nursery stock, ash logs or untreated ash lumber with the bark attached, any type of firewood except pine, and any composted or un-composted wood or bark chips that are 1 inch or larger.

In addition to the statewide quarantine, the townships in which EAB is actually found are placed under quarantine regulations, along with their respective counties.  "The quarantines are in place to keep EAB from being moved to new areas. If we can't keep the insect under control, all of our ash resources will be lost," said Ellis.

Aside from following all quarantine regulations, and refraining from firewood movement, the general public can help slow the spread of EAB by monitoring area ash trees for EAB activity.  "Emerald Ash Borer has many times been detected by citizens who knew what to look for," Ellis said. "It is a difficult insect to detect, even with our scouts and our trap tree programs. We need millions of eyes out looking for the signs of this pest, so citizens have the opportunity to make a real difference."

Infested trees show signs of dying leaves beginning on the upper one-third of the tree canopy and progressing downward, vertical splits in the bark, D-shaped exit holes measuring approximately one-eighth of an inch wide, S-shaped feeding galleries in the vascular tissue directly under the bark, heavy woodpecker activity on the tree’s trunk and branches, “epicormic shoots” or water sprouts growing from the tree trunk, and the presence of worm-like larvae up to 1 inch long under the bark of the tree.

If found, these symptoms should be reported to local Purdue Cooperative Extension educators by calling 1-800-EXT-INFO, or to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources by calling their toll-free invasive species hotline at 1-866-NO EXOTIC.

More information for both citizens and professionals, including a list of replacement trees, identification of ash trees and EAB, biology and life cycles of the insect, quarantine information and more, are available on Purdue's EAB in Indiana Website at www.entm.purdue.edu/EAB.