Emerald Ash Borer

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a newly discovered non-native insect pest of American ash trees. In July 2002, it was identified in southeastern Michigan and may have been in Michigan for as long as five years.

The insect is a beetle from Asia and it has been assigned the scientific name Agrilus planipennis.

The emerald ash borer lays eggs within the ash wood tree. When the eggs hatch, larvae gnaw at layers beneath the tree's bark, cutting off the tree's nourishment. The larvae can girdle and kill just branches or the entire tree.

Emerald Ash borer appears to infest all types of ash trees. In its native range, it is also known to infest Asian walnut and elm species.

This insect can kill trees quickly. A confounding factor in looking for this pest is that ash trees have been showing symptoms of decline for more than 25 years.

There is also a native ash borer to contend with. The banded ash borer and the ash/lilac borer are common pests of stressed ash trees. Both are clearwing moths, and the larvae produce larger, rounded exit holes, compared to the small (3-4 mm) D-shaped exit hole left by emerging adult emerald ash borers.

Ash Tree Leaves Besides the D-shaped exit holes found on the bark of infected trees, other evidence of emerald ash borer includes frass-filled larval tunnels in a serpentine pattern in the outer sapwood and phloem of the trunk and branches and 5-10 cm vertical splits in the bark above these larval galleries.

Once the adult emerald ash borer emerges from the tree, it can travel about a half-mile a year in search of another ash tree. Officials say the borer's expanding range is most likely caused by human intervention. Ash tree firewood carries the larvae. Campers buy the firewood from infected areas, then move on to an un-infected area and leave the firewood at the campsite when they leave. It is important not to transport firewood from camp site to camp site.

Ash trees were a popular landscape tree during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Today however, it is not advised to plant new ash trees.

The beetle has caused the destruction of millions of ash trees in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. It is thought to have originally traveled to Michigan in shipping containers from China, and was first discovered near Detroit in 2002.

The federal government allocated about $20 million to fight the borer in 2005 compared to about $38 million in 2004.

Emerald Ash Borer Ban Sign


Expand All \| Collapse All Landscapes Landscaping Design Lighting Shrubs Soil Watering Xeriscaping Landscape Diseases Edible Plants Ornamental Grasses Trees Trees Tree Benefits Small Garden Trees Apple Scab Disease Emerald Ash Borer Ash Borer ID State Tree List Calculating Tree Loss Tree Care Choosing Trees Tree Planting Tips Tree Fertilization Having Healthy Trees Tree Stump Removal American Shade Trees American Elm American Liberty Elm American Smoketree Black Gum Bur Oak Red Maple Red Maple Columnar Sassafras Sourwood Tree White Ash White Oak Crabapples Flowering Crab Japanese Crab Sargent Crab Siberian Crab Tea Crab Zumi Crab Q&A Ornamentals Amur Maple Bald Cypress Eastern Redbud Serviceberry Wash. Hawthorne Evergreens American Holly Arborvitae Canadian Hemlock Cypresses Arizona Cypress Leyland Cypress Eastern Red Cedar Firs Balsam Fir Canaan Fir Douglas Fir Fraser Fir Grand Fir Noble Fir White Fir Upright Junipers Pines Austrian Pine East. White Pine Scotch Pine Virginia Pine Spruces Blue Spruce Norway Spruce White Spruce Holiday Trees Trees Tree Care Tree History Enter your ZipCode below to find a professional in your area. Subscribe to our Newsfeed:	Home Landscapes Landscaping Design Landscape Design 10 Steps to a Good Landscape DIY Landscape Design Essential Elements Family Use Areas Developing a Plot plan Creating a Site Plan Including Special Use Areas Construction & Installations Property Value Upgrades Hiring a Pro Lighting Shrubs Soils Trees Trees Tree Benefits Essential Steps for Healthy Trees Choosing a Trees Tree Planting Guide How to Fertilize Trees American Shade Trees American Elm American Liberty Elm American Smoketree Black Gum Bur Oak Red Maple Red Maple Columnar Sassafras Sourwood Tree White Ash White Oak Crabapples Flowering Crabapples Japanese Crabapple Sargent Crabapple Siberian Crabapple Tea Crab Zumi Crabapple Q&A Evergreens American Holly Arborvitae Canadian Hemlock Eastern Red cedar Firs Balsam Fir Canaan Fir Douglas Fir Fraser Fir Grand Fir Noble Fir White Fir Pines Austrian Pine Eastern White Pine Scotch Pine Virginia Pine Cypress Arizona Cypress Leyland Cypress Spruce Blue Spruce Norway Spruce White Spruce Upright Junipers Ornamentals Bald Cypress Eastern Redbud Serviceberry Washington Hawthorne Holiday Trees Trees Tree Care Tree History Apple Scab Disease Emerald Ash Borer Ash Borer ID State Tree List Tree Stump Removal Calculating Tree Loss Cost Watering Xeriscaping Gardens Lawns Problems Animals Diseases Insects Noxious Weeds Soil Problems Weeds Galleries Resources Forum
	>>Home > Emerald Ash Borer The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a newly discovered non-native insect pest of American ash trees. In July 2002, it was identified in southeastern Michigan and may have been in Michigan for as long as five years. The insect is a beetle from Asia and it has been assigned the scientific name Agrilus planipennis. The emerald ash borer lays eggs within the ash wood tree. When the eggs hatch, larvae gnaw at layers beneath the tree's bark, cutting off the tree's nourishment. The larvae can girdle and kill just branches or the entire tree. Emerald Ash borer appears to infest all types of ash trees. In its native range, it is also known to infest Asian walnut and elm species. This insect can kill trees quickly. A confounding factor in looking for this pest is that ash trees have been showing symptoms of decline for more than 25 years. There is also a native ash borer to contend with. The banded ash borer and the ash/lilac borer are common pests of stressed ash trees. Both are clearwing moths, and the larvae produce larger, rounded exit holes, compared to the small (3-4 mm) D-shaped exit hole left by emerging adult emerald ash borers. Besides the D-shaped exit holes found on the bark of infected trees, other evidence of emerald ash borer includes frass-filled larval tunnels in a serpentine pattern in the outer sapwood and phloem of the trunk and branches and 5-10 cm vertical splits in the bark above these larval galleries. Once the adult emerald ash borer emerges from the tree, it can travel about a half-mile a year in search of another ash tree. Officials say the borer's expanding range is most likely caused by human intervention. Ash tree firewood carries the larvae. Campers buy the firewood from infected areas, then move on to an un-infected area and leave the firewood at the campsite when they leave. It is important not to transport firewood from camp site to camp site. Ash trees were a popular landscape tree during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Today however, it is not advised to plant new ash trees. The beetle has caused the destruction of millions of ash trees in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. It is thought to have originally traveled to Michigan in shipping containers from China, and was first discovered near Detroit in 2002. The federal government allocated about $20 million to fight the borer in 2005 compared to about $38 million in 2004. Read also: Identifying Emerald Ash Borer infestation

	©2005 - 2007 Landscape-America.com. All Rights Reserved Site Map \| Pro Search Submission Form \| American-Lawns.com \| FAQ \| Resources Site Submission \| Article Submissions RECOMMEND US TO YOUR FRIENDS

Landscaping with trees

Enter your ZipCode below to find a professional in your area.

Emerald Ash Borer