The emerald ash borer is a serious invasive insect that, prior to Maryland's
detection in late August 2003, had only been detected in the U.S. in Michigan
(2002) and Ohio (2003). The insect feeds on and kills ash trees, an important
neighborhood and landscaping tree, one to three years after infestation.
To help control the spread of this dangerous beetle, Maryland citizens and
visitors are being asked to comply with the established quarantine and refrain
from transporting firewood from the infested area in Prince George’s County to
any other area AND from other states into Maryland.
If you suspect EAB infestation, please contact the Maryland Department of
Agriculture at 410-841-5920.
HISTORY IN MARYLAND
The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) detected the insect during a
routine nursery inspection in late August, 2003.
Ash trees infested with Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) were received at a registered
nursery and landscape business in Brandywine in Prince George’s County. Nursery
records and regulatory investigation by MDA and the USDA indicated the nursery
received 121 ash trees from Michigan in two shipments (57 on April 2 and 64 on
April 3).
The Maryland nursery had ordered the trees from Tennessee. Unbeknownst to the
Maryland nursery, instead of filling the order, the trees were ordered by the
Tennessee nursery and direct shipped from Michigan to Maryland. After receipt,
adult beetles emerged on site at the nursery and these beetles subsequently
infested other ash trees at the nursery.
All but three of the 121 trees from Michigan are believed to have been accounted
for and destroyed. MDA removed from the nursery an additional 389 ash trees that
were exposed when the beetles emerged and began laying eggs. Of these 389 trees,
71 were found to contain EAB larvae.
In an attempt to eradicate the beetle before it could spread further, MDA
identified and removed ash trees within one-half mile of the nursery. MDA also
established numerous “trap” trees in the area that were checked regularly for
evidence of EAB. On August 15, 2006, one of these trees was found to have EAB.
ERADICATION PLAN
MDA and DNR have developed an Emerald Ash Borer Eradication Plan are working
together to implement the plan using a unified incident command structure.
Under federal protocol, all of Prince George’s County is under state quarantine,
with the portion of the county south of I-495 and Rt. 4 (Pennsylvania Avenue)
considered to be the infested area. This quarantine prohibits the movement of
any regulated article out of Prince George’s County, as well as movement of
regulated articles from infested to un-infested areas of the county. The
regulated articles include: all hardwood firewood, all ash trees, including
living, dead, cut or fallen; as well as any ash chips or bark larger than one
inch in diameter.
The control effort will focus on a 2-mile buffer around infested trees. There
are five main aspects of the EAB action plan for accomplishing this pest control
action:
- Identification, flagging and mapping of all ash trees in the environment
within the 2-mile area.
- Cutting and removal of identified trees.
- Staging, stripping, chipping and disposal of cut trees.
- Follow–up surveys to detect any first generation beetles in 2007.
- Public communications and outreach efforts.
HOW TO IDENTIFY EMERALD ASH BORER
Emerald Ash Borer adults are dark metallic green, one-half-inch in length and
one-sixteenth of an inch wide. They are present only from mid-May until early
August. Larvae are creamy white in color and are found under the bark. (See
links below for photos.)
Affected trees show symptoms of infestation including: die-back on the upper
third of the tree, D-shaped exit holes in the bark where adults emerge, vertical
splits in the bark, and distinct serpentine-shaped tunnels beneath the bark in
the cambium, where larvae effectively stop food and water movement in the tree,
starving it to death. It takes 1-3 years for the infested tree to die.
IMPACT IN MARYLAND
The greenhouse and nursery industry is the second largest agricultural industry
in Maryland, accounting for more than $360 million in cash receipts. (Source:
Maryland Agricultural Statistics Service, Farm Receipts in 2004)
Ash trees are one of the most common landscaping trees used in the U.S. and are
common in western Maryland forests. Ash wood is used for all traditional
applications of hardwood from flooring and cabinets to baseball bats.
Ash is the most common tree in Baltimore accounting for 293,000 trees -- 10.4%
of the city’s total tree population. Ash accounts for 6 to 6.5 million trees in
the Baltimore metro area. USDA has estimated losses could exceed $227.5 million
in the Baltimore area alone.
IF YOU SUSPECT EAB
Call the Maryland Department of Agriculture at 410-841-5920.
LINKS
http://hgic.umd.edu/content/emeraldAshBorer.cfm
http://www.hgic.umd.edu/content/emeraldAshBorer_form.cfm
http://www.mda.state.md.us/plants-pests/eab/
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/forester/eab.asp
http://www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/eab_quar.pdf
http://www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/eab_fact.pdf
http://www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/eab_06_md_quarantine_map.pdf
http://www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/quarantine_faq.pdf |
