Emerald Ash Borer

The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae (the immature stage of the beetle) feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. Emerald ash borers probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia.

Spread

The emerald ash borer is established in Windsor, Ontario, and it has been found in:

• Ohio in 2003
• Northern Indiana in 2004
• Northern Illinois and Maryland in 2006
• Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia in 2007
• Wisconsin, Missouri, and Virginia in the summer of 2008
• Minnesota, New York, and Kentucky in the spring of 2009
• Iowa in the spring of 2010
• Tennessee in the summer of 2010
• Connecticut, Kansas, and Massachusetts in the summer of 2012
• New Hampshire in the spring of 2013

Effects

The emerald ash borer has:

• Killed tens of millions of ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone, with tens of millions more lost in other states and areas in Canada
• Caused regulatory agencies and the USDA to enforce quarantines and fines to prevent potentially infested ash trees, logs, or hardwood firewood from moving out of areas where EAB occurs
• Cost municipalities, property owners, nursery operators, and forest products industries tens of millions of dollars