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Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald Ash Borer
Ash trees Genus Fraxinus are deciduous trees from the Olive Family (Oleaceae). Common to Northwest Ohio including Wood County are several Ash species including Green, White, and Blue Ash. These trees native of eastern North America inhabit our woodlots, stream banks, fields, and urban areas. Its wood is used in the manufacture of baseball bats, tool handles, furniture, and firewood. As a shade tree it is known for its rapid growth and dependable fall color. One of the first trees to change color in autumn, these trees have yellow, orange, red, and purple hues depending on the cultivar. They can often maintain a height of around sixty foot or greater with a spread of forty-fifty feet. An identifying feature includes leaves that are opposite pinnately compound and have five to nine leaflets attached to a central stalk with a short petiole.
An exotic accidentally introduced beetle from Asia was discovered feeding on ash (Fraxinus spp) trees in southeast Michigan in July of 2002. This beetle was identified as the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis). The larvae stage feeds in the cambium that contains the phloem, and outer xylem tissue producing galleries that eventually girdle and kill branches and entire trees. This same beetle was identified again in Lucas County Ohio near Whitehouse in February of 2003, and again in Rossford (Wood County) September 2003. Other Ohio Counties reporting sitings include Defiance, Paulding, and Franklin. When Emerald Ash Borer infects ash trees there is no control.
Infestations of emerald ash borer can be difficult to detect until the upper branches or canopy dieback begins. Evidence of infestation includes D-shaped exit holes on branches and the trunk. Callus tissue produced by the tree in response to larval feeding may cause vertical splits approximately 2-4 inches in length to occur. Infested branches in the canopy die when they are girdled by the snake like tunnels excavated by feeding larvae. Many trees appear to lose about 30 to 50 percent of the canopy in one year and the tree is often killed after 2-3 years of infestation. When trees are nearing death, dense root and trunk sprouting occurs. This phenomena is known as epicormic shoots. Frequently a profusion of epicormic shoots arises at the margin of living and dead tissue on the trunk.
The life cycle of the emerald ash borer is dependent on the region. However in southeast Michigan the adults emerged in mid to late May and continued through June. The adults are active during the day during conditions of warm and sunny weather. Long distance flight at this time is unknown. Female adult beetles can mate several times and lay up to 65-90 eggs in her lifetime. Eggs are deposited individually on the bark or in bark crevices on the trunk and branches. After 7-10 days eggs hatch and first instar larvae chew through the bark and begin feeding in the cambial region. (xylem and phloem tissue) The S shaped feeding galleries become progressively wider as the larvae grows. The full-grown larva over winters in a shallow chamber in the xylem tissue. Pupation begins in late April or early May. The adults emerge head first out of pupal chamber and burrow out of tree leaving D shaped exit hole.
Evidence in Michigan showed that the Emerald Ash Borer killed trees of various size and conditions. Larvae successfully developed on trees as small as 2 inch in diameter, but pole-sized and mature trees were also killed. Stress likely contributes to vulnerability of ash trees and recent summer droughts may have contributed to high emerald ash borer populations in southeastern Michigan. However, emerald ash borer attacked and killed apparently vigorous trees in woodlots and urban trees under regular irrigation and fertilization schedules.
Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an invasive species from Asia that belongs to a group of insects known as metallic wood-boring beetles. Adults are dark metallic green in color, ½ inch in length and 1/16 inch wide, and are present from mid May until late July. Larvae are creamy white in color and invade and damage the tree the rest of the year. It will typically kill an ash tree within three years. The State of Ohio has regulations in place to control and prevent the spread of a number of invasive species and plant diseases to protect the health of Ohio’s plants and prevent massive economic losses to the nursery, timber, and tourism industries and the communities they serve. (Ohio Revised Code 927.70) Property owners who have specific questions about their ash trees in Ohio are encouraged to call the Ohio Department of Agriculture Emerald Ash Borer Hotline: (888) 644-6322.
When Emerald Ash Borer infects ash trees there is no control. Death to the tree is likely within one to three years. There are several opinions to the prevention of Emerald Ash Borer. One of the opinions is to apply a systemic insecticide containing imidacloprid in April before the adults emerge in mid May and begins feeding and laying eggs. An imidacloprid product available for general use is Bayer Advanced Garden Tree and Shrub Insect Control. Commercial licensed pesticide applicators can apply imidacloprid products such as Merit. However even if applied there is no guarantee to its effectiveness. The other opinion is to do nothing. This is because the Ohio Revised Code 927.70 gives the Ohio Department of Agriculture full regulatory command to remove any plant material that it deems necessary for control of this insect. For example you treat your trees with an insecticide, and the Ohio Department of Agriculture finds the Emerald Ash Borer on another property. Under their regulatory authority they may remove your trees even if treated.
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SNAKE LIKE GALLERY VERTICAL SPLITS D SHAPED EXIT HOLE
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The Ohio Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has placed quarantines in the State of Ohio that restricts the movement of Fraxinus spp. commonly known as Ash. Ohio residents and those who conduct business in the quarantined areas it is unlawful to move or transport any Ash with the outer one inch of sapwood and or bark attached out of the quarantined areas. Furthermore all non coniferous firewood even if load doesn't contain any Ash may not be transported out of any quarantined area. Also to further protect Ohio's Natural Resource of Ash the ODA has quarantined all of Michigan meaning it is unlawful to transport any Ash material and all firewood from Michigan into the State of Ohio. Violators of any of these quarantines in Ohio are subject to a $4000.00 fine plus litigation fees. If you reside or conduct business in a quarantined area and have firewood or restricted ash and you wish to transport out of quarantined area, the state of Ohio will allow transport, if there is a compliance agreement in effect. Compliance agreements are with the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture (APHIS). A compliance agreement is a certificate of inspection stating that the regulated article has been found to be free of infestation.
Red dots on map are known infestations of the Emerald Ash Borer.
The counties that are outlined are quarantined areas.
Ohio State University Extension Wood County
Craig Everett
Horticulture
419-354-9050
