Destructive Insects Infest Trees, Threatening U.S. Economy

Officials want to designate May 20-26 as National Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week. The focus of the awareness week will help educate the public to the ease in which the insect is transported and the devastation economically that the infestation could create if not stopped.

The Emerald Ash Borer Beetle is native to eastern Russia, northern China, Japan and Korea. It probably slipped into the US. carried in wooden packing materials. It is an invasive, hard to control insect that could cost the nation billions of dollars if its continues to flourish and move from state to state. The shiny dark green, metallic beetle was first discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in 2002. It is approximately 3/8" to 5/8"inches in length. The insect now has infected Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Maryland. The Ash Beetle is also established in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The USDA has placed a quarantine on these states. Residents and visitors are asked not to transport any firewood from one destination to another. They are asked to purchase firewood at their destination.

The Emerald Ash Beetle is an exotic insect that lays it's eggs under the bark of the ash tree. The ash tree shows infestation by the D-shaped holes that it leaves in the bark. When the larvae hatches it feeds on the layer of wood just beneath the bark. This prevents the tree from absorbing water and nutrients. The tree once infected, dies within two to four years.

Government officials state that there is no native predators in North America and the beetle will flourish if not contained. Woodpeckers do eat the larvae of the Emearld Ash Borer, but it is not a way to eradicate the insect. Officials are working to find a way to control the voracious insects. Pesticides are being tested but as yet none have been approved commercially. Local farmers are trying some insecticides to combat the insect. The infestation is moving eastward towards Virginia where in Shenandoah National Park, ash trees make up about 65% of the acreage. The economic impact would be catastrophic. About $25.1billion worth of ash trees are grown in the eastern United States. The USDA says that nationally this infestation could cost the US. in urban loss alone up to $60 billion dollars.It would also cost state and local governments and growers an additional $7 million to replace the ash trees over the next 25 years.

If you suspect that you may have inadvertently transported infested firewood, officials say to encase the wood in plastic to halt the reproductive system of the beetles and to call officials. You may contact the USDA at 1-800-866-322-4512. You may also get more information at www.emeraldashborer.info . Additional Resources www.emeraldashborer.info www.news.yahoo.com/ap