Emerald Ash Borer

What is Emerald Ash Borer?
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a metallic green insect native to Asia. EAB was first discovered in 2002 near the port cities of Detriot, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario and continues to spread into the surrounding states. Locally, this insect was first detected in Illinois in 2006 and this spring it was detected in northeast Iowa.

The adult beetle is approximately 1/2 in long and 1/8 in wide. EAB adults emerge from infested ash trees via
D-shaped holes.  EAB larvae feed under the bark of ash trees. They leave serpentine shaped markings and damage the tree’s ability to transport nutrients and water.

EAB have killed tens of millions of ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone, with tens of millions more lost in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Quebec, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The removal of dead ash trees have cost municipalities, property owners, nursery operators and forest products industries tens of millions of dollars.

Purple traps such are being hung throughout the midwest to help detect and monitor the Emerald Ash Borer’s movement. Researchers at the US Department of Agricutlture along with many universities have been hard at work discovering the basic biology of this borer, but research was very limited before 2002. Additional research such as preventative products, natural insect predators, and trapping techniques are ongoing.