Emerald Ash Borer

 

Origin:  Asia

 

Many new infestations center around campgrounds, implicating camp firewood in this insect’s spread.

 

Hosts:  Ash 

 

Nearest Known Occurrences:  To the north, this insect was recently discovered in Edmonston, N. B.  This is directly across the St John River in Madawaska, Maine.  To the south, Emerald ash borer is now known to be within a half of a day's drive of Maine's border. It has been most recently found in Dalton, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts and around Prospect and Naugatuck in New Haven Co. Connecticut; Toronto, ON Canada; Montreal Area (Montérégie Region), QC, Canada.   

 

Description:  Metallic green beetle with wings and body tapered towards the rear.

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Signs and Symptoms:  Symptoms and signs include D-shaped adult exit holes, bark splitting, serpentine frass-filled (sawdust-like waste) feeding galleries, wood pecker feeding, crown dieback, and epicormic shoots (whips growing off the trunk and branches).  Many of these symptoms and signs are similar to other insects and diseases of ash. 

 

Damage:  Larval feeding under the bark girdles and kills ash trees. Since its discovery in the United States in 2002 emerald ash borer has killed millions of ash trees.

 

Biosurveillance:  Biosurveillance uses one living organism to monitor for another.  A native non-stinging wasp, Cerceris fumipennis, is a efficient survey tool for detecting emerald ash borer.  Purple Traps: Large, purple, sticky traps are hung in ash trees to help look for the emerald ash borer.

 

Please join them in helping to protect Maine’s forest health:

·        Be aware of the signs and symptoms of invasive forest pests,

·        Ask questions when you see an unfamiliar damage in your forests and neighborhood trees,

·        Don’t move firewood long distances—you may move hidden invasive pests within and on that wood. 

 

DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION  Maine Forest Service  Forest Health and Monitoring

168 State House Station – 50 Hospital Street – Augusta, ME  04333-0168

(207) 287-2431

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All the latest information:  http://www.maine.gov/dacf/php/caps/EAB/index.shtml