Emerald Ash Borer
Family:
Buprestidae (metallic wood-boring beetles) in the order Coleoptera (beetles)
Description:
Adult: a dark metallic green beetle with a bullet-shaped, slender body. When wings are spread, the top of the abdomen under the wings is metallic purplish red. Adults are most active during the day, from late May to mid-June. Larva (immature stage): flattened, cream-colored, approximately 1 inch long when fully developed. Signs: Larvae feed under the bark of ash trees, leaving S-shaped galleries. Adults emerge from the tree, leaving D-shaped exit holes that are 1/8 inch in diameter.
Size:
Length: to 1/2 inch; width: to 1/8 inch.
Habitat and conservation:
The EAB can infest all types of ash trees, in the wild and in landscaped areas. Adults can fly at least 1/2 mile from their home trees, but many infestations start when people move infested ash nursery trees, logs or firewood into uninfested areas. The U.S. and Missouri departments of agriculture have placed Wayne County, Missouri, under quarantine: No one may move ash nursery stock, any part of an ash tree, or firewood cut from any hardwood species outside of that county and the state.
Foods:
Adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae, however, feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients, which eventually kills the tree. All of Missouri’s native ashes can be affected, including green, white, pumpkin and blue ash. Horticultural cultivars (such as Autumn Purple white ash or Marshall Seedless green ash) can be killed as well. The EAB infests trees ranging from saplings to fully mature specimens.
Distribution in Missouri:
The EAB was discovered July 2008 in southeast Missouri in a campground at Wappapello Lake (Wayne County). In July 2012 it was confirmed at Parkville (Platte Co.), and at 2 locations in Reynolds Co.
Status:
Invasive. Native to Asia. As of July 2011, the only known population in Missouri is in Wayne County. The Missouri Department of Conservation has participated in detection surveys, follow-up inspections and education to help protect the state’s ash populations. The EAB has been confirmed in 15 U.S. states (IL, IN, IA, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WI) and in two Canadian provinces (ON, QC).
Life cycle:
Usually has a 1-year life cycle. A female can mate numerous times and lay a total of 30-60 eggs before dying at the end of the season. She deposits each egg singly into bark crevices of ash trees. The larvae hatch in 7-10 days, chew through the bark and feed on phloem and outer sapwood for weeks. In autumn, they stop feeding and overwinter in shallow chambers in outer sapwood or bark. Pupation begins in late March or April. Adults emerge in spring and summer, leaving a D-shaped exit hole.
Human connections:
Left unchecked, the EAB will destroy Missouri’s ashes, ruining millions of dollars in forest products and costing us for dead-tree removal. As the EAB spreads to more states, federal funding for fighting it has almost disappeared, leaving states and municipalities to search elsewhere for funding.
Ecosystem connections:
While most native borers kill only severely weakened trees, the EAB kills healthy trees, making it especially devastating. EAB harms American ecosystems by destroying all the ash trees, damaging shade and wildlife habitat. There are few ways to control EAB beyond trying to slow and its spread. MDC's Mission, Vision, Priorities
MDC protects and manages Missouri's fish, forest, and wildlife resources.
We also facilitate your participation in resource-management activities, and we provide opportunities for you to use, enjoy and learn about nature.
Shortened URL
http://mdc.mo.gov/node/16134
