Bug Invasions from the Far East

Last year we began to deal with another illegal migration of bugs from Asia and it was the brown marmorated stink bug. This year it is reported that the stink bugs are now threatening millions of dollars in crop damage in the U.S. You can read the latest report on stink bugs here.

Now we are dealing with another terrible illegal migration that took place in Michigan although the exact time is not known. The end result is the loss of millions of trees all across America. The alien is the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) that supposedly arrived on our shores while hidden in packaging materials that was shipped from Asia. You can see it here.

The EAB is threatening not just our American forests but an entire culture that relies upon the ash trees to supply the wood needed for weaving baskets, making musical instruments for ceremonial occasions (flutes) and medicinal remedies. American Indian tribes everywhere are feeling the effects of the EAB infiltration and have even produced a brochure outlining the impacts and you can view it here.

It took roughly five years before the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) began the "Don't Move Firewood" campaign to prevent the further spread of the EAB. Since that time the Ash Borer has spread into New York State and begun the attack on our Ash trees here. A high infestation has been reported in two neighboring counties and violation penalties for moving firewood are skyrocketing. The DEC states that violations for moving firewood across state or county lines or in excess of fifty miles from the original source can result in result in a $250 fine, plus a $100 civil penalty and up to 15 days in jail.

How will they combat this alien? The attack plan includes entrapment. The DEC is hanging purple prism traps that contain a scent that represents a distressed Ash Tree. The trap's color and scent will draw the EABs inside and the sticky glue coating will hold them there. The DEC lure is meant to detect the presence of the bugs and not necessarily kill them. They have currently placed more than 8,000 of these traps throughout high risk locations in New York State alone.

For more information about the EAB, you can call the New York State's Toll-free Forest Pest and Firewood Hotline: 1-866-640-0652 or visit them on the Internet at www.dec.ny.gov and search Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) or firewood for the latest press releases.

The best thing that you can do to stop the spread of this illegal immigrant is

"Don't Move Firewood!"

Sources:

http://www.emeraldashborer.info/identifyeab.cfm

http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/74604.html

www.dec.ny.gov

http://article.wn.com/view/2011/05/20/Stink_Bug_Invasion_Causing_Terrible_Crop_Damage/