Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is an exotic beetle from Asia that was discovered (in North America) near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. However, the larvae (the immature stage) feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients, eventually killing the tree. The emerald ash borer probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes arriving from Asia. Emerald ash borer has also been found in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Wisconsin, Iowa as well as Quebec and Ontario, Canada. It was discovered in southeast Missouri in July 2008 in Wayne County. To date no other populations of EAB in Missouri are known to exist. Multi-agency survey efforts are ongoing.
Since its discovery in the US, EAB has killed trees, created regulatory headaches and cost millions in control measures:
- Killed over 50 million ash trees in 15 states.
- Caused regulatory agencies to enforce quarantines and fines to prevent potentially infested ash trees, logs or firewood from moving out of areas where EAB occurs.
- Cost municipalities, property owners, nursery operators and forest products industries millions of dollars.
To report a possible Emerald Ash Borer infestation, call the Missouri EAB hotline at (866) 716-9974.
For information on Emerald Ash Borer in Missouri, or the current quarantine status contact Collin Wamsley, State Entomologist, Missouri Department of Agriculture at (573) 751-5505.
To learn more about the efforts of the Cooperative Missouri Emerald Ash Borer Program, visit our website at www.eab.missouri.edu.
For additional information on Emerald Ash Borer see the following links:
