The Emerald Ash Borer:

What You Need to Know

SavATree Emerald Ash Borer Agrilus planipennis Emerald Ash Borer Agrilus planipennis EAB Adult feeding Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)

Attacked and killed tens of millions of ash in Michigan alone Killed tens of millions more ash trees throughout the Great Lakes Region, Midwest, Mid‐Atlantic Region, and Canada Estimated tens of billions of dollars of economic impact Compliance agreements are required Violating quarantine regulations can result in fines and imprisonment Emerald Ash Borer Agrilus planipennis

Key Points

– Native ash have not co‐evolved with EAB – EAB does not discriminate – Females lay 60 to 90 eggs each season – Attack the “circulatory” system of the tree EAB Host Preferences

• Attacks all species of ash trees (genus Fraxinus): white, green, black, blue • Mountain‐ash (Sorbus) or prickly‐ash (Zanthoxylum) are not true ashes • Attacks trees in any condition: healthy or stressed • Attacks ashes of all sizes EAB History in North America

2002: First discovered in southeast Michigan − Arrived sometime in early to mid‐1990s? − Wooden packing crates/pallets from Asia − 15‐20 million ash trees affected 2002: Discovered in Ontario, Canada 2003: Discovered in Maryland − Illegal sale of ash nursery stock from Michigan 2003: Discovered in Ohio 2004: Discovered in west central Indiana Interactive EAB Timeline

Interactive EAB Timeline

Pennsylvania Emerald Ash Borer Timeline

June 2007 ‐ First confirmed in PA – Detected in Cranberry Township in Butler County and Marshall Township in Allegheny County June 2008 ‐ Found in West Middlesex, Mercer County 2009 ‐ Identified in Granville, Mifflin County; then Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County –spread to Washington, Armstrong, Indiana and Juanita Counties September 2010 –18 counties under quarantine March 2012 –Confirmed in Bucks County August 2013 – Detected in Montgomery County May 2015 – Pennsylvania counties confirmed fro EAB Pennsylvania Infestation Treatment Options

Soil injection or drench – Imidacloprid – Annual application – Must travel through soil to the roots – To be moved throughout the entire tree, a healthy vascular system is required – Preferred method for smaller trees Soil Injection & Drench Treatment Options

Trunk injection – Emamectin benzoate – Treatment lasts 2 years – Closed system – Studies have shown best results – To be moved throughout the entire tree, a healthy vascular system is required – Preferred method for larger trees Trunk Injection Photos Treatment Options

Cover sprays – Many products available – Multiple applications needed – Not a closed system – Controls adults – Affects non‐target insects and beneficial insects Tree Spray Other (non‐treatment) Options

Tree Removal • Identify low value and hazardous trees • Identify smaller trees that can be easily replaced

EAB Lifecycle ‐ adults

One generation per year Adult beetles active from late May to early August – peak in June Beetles feed on ash leaves for about a week & then mate Females lay 60‐90 eggs (1 mm in size) in their 3 to 6 week lifetime Eggs are deposited individually in bark crevices EAB Lifecycle ‐ eggs to larvae

Eggs hatch in 2 to 3 weeks New larvae chew through the bark down to the cambial layer and feed on phloem and outermost sapwood Most feeding and growth occurs between August and October Larval stage damages and kills the tree Fully grown larvae complete their feeding in a shallow chamber in the bark

EAB Lifecycle ‐ larvae to adult

Full grown larvae over‐winter in shallow chambers Early spring ‐ pupation occurs Newly formed adults stay in chamber for a week or two Adult beetles emerge from a “D” shaped hole EAB Adult Habits

• Strong attraction to ash trees – healthy or stressed • Active during the day • Prefers the upper part of the crown • Can fly ½ to one mile in a season • Are most active on warm & sunny days • Seek shelter in bark crevices and under leaves during inclement weather Emerald Ash Borer Agrilus planipennis

What to look for: – Upper canopy die‐back – “D” shaped holes in trunk – Vertical split in bark – Serpentine galleries beneath bark – Prolific sprouting (epicormic shoots) – Woodpecker damage

Chicago Botanic Garden arch 2013 ‐ Dundee Road before removals Chicago Botanic Garden arch 2013 ‐ Dundee Road before removals Chicago Botanic Garden April 2013 ‐ Dundee Road after removals Emerald Ash Borer Agrilus planipennis

What can be done? – Raise awareness through education – Inventory and assess your tree population – Develop a plan (see SMA’s EAB paper) – Treat high‐value & desirable ash trees – Remove & destroy trees that are not desired – Diversify tree population udget for treatment or budget for removal Emerald Ash Borer: What You Need to Know

Plan for when EAB arrives, not if it arrives – ecause it will. Understand that once EAB is in your area it can move through your ash trees very quickly, often efore trees show any signs or symptoms. Know what you have; do your inventory now. Obtain costs to remove undesirable trees ‐ now. Obtain costs to treat your desirable trees ‐ now. Develop a budget and implementation plan ‐ now. Do it now! Methods . Data Collection . ArcGIS Online

Outputs . Data . Maps . Analysis . Planning Maps Data Management plan

Goal is approximate location Tree Diameter (Size) Health of tree Condition of tree Perceived value of tree Recommendations Investment Emerald Ash Borer: Good Resources

Department of Agriculture • http://www.mda.state.mn.us/ merald Ash Borer • http://www.emeraldashborer.info

University of Minnesota –Extension • www.extension.umn.edu/issues/eab Emerald Ash Borer: What You Need to Know

Alison Pottage ISA Certified Arborist 201 Colwell Lane Conshohocken, PA 19428 [email protected] 610‐636‐5616 ‐ cell 610‐941‐7766 ‐ office