Emerald Ash Borer Found in Colorado
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 27, 2013
Contact:
Workabeba (Abby) Yigzaw,
US Department of Agriculture, (301) 851-4096
Destructive Tree Pest Detected
in Colorado
LAKEWOOD, Colo. –An
invasive insect responsible for the death or decline of tens of millions of ash
trees in 21 states has been detected in Colorado for the first time.
A suspect tree was
spotted in Boulder County on September 23rd by City of Boulder Forestry staff. Insect specimens from the ash tree were
collected and sent to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Systematic Entomology Laboratory where the identity of the insects was
confirmed.
“The confirmation of
these specimens as emerald ash borer (EAB) marks the western-most occurrence of
this invasive pest in North America,” said Patrick McPherren, USDA State Plant
Health Director in Colorado. “To date Colorado is the fourth State to detect
EAB in 2013.”
“The first step will be
to determine how widespread its presence is,” said CDA’s Plant Inspection
Division Director, Mitch Yergert. “We
have a plan in place to quickly respond in order to protect Colorado’s ash
trees.”
Additional steps will involve
initiating a quarantine in the regulated area to prevent the movement of all ash tree
products and hardwood firewood. The Colorado Department of Agriculture will
also expand efforts to detect the destructive bug. CDA has been trapping for EAB for five years;
additional efforts will now include bark inspections and tree sampling. Officials
will also step up education and outreach efforts.
The emerald ash borer
(EAB) is a small, green metallic beetle first detected in North America in 2002
in southeastern Michigan. The emerald ash borer attacks only ash trees and all
ash species – including green, white, black and blue – are at risk. Signs of
emerald ash borer infestation include a general decline in the appearance of
the tree, thinning of upper branches and twigs, loss of leaves, and serpentine
tunnels produced by EAB larvae under the bark. Woodpeckers may often be
observed removing the bark of infested trees to access the larvae.
EAB has killed over 50
million ash trees since its initial discovery in Michigan in 2002. In the last
ten years the small green metallic colored pest, originally from Asia, has
spread from Michigan to 21 states, including Colorado. Ash trees are popular in Colorado with an
estimated 98,000 in the city of Boulder alone; the Denver Metro area has an
estimated 1.45 million ash trees.
“The public can play a
vital role in preventing the spread of this destructive bug by simply not
moving firewood,” said Yergert. “EAB larvae can survive underneath the bark of
ash firewood, and when it’s moved from one place to another, the pest can
hitchhike to a new location. Furthermore, it’s
important to note that trees begin to decline a bit during fall months but
there are certain features of a EAB-infested tree that residents can look for.”
It is possible that EAB
could infest an ash tree for 3 or 4 years before visible signs of decline of
the tree. If an ash tree is experiencing
die back or looking unhealthy, residents are encouraged to have it examined by
a professional tree company, contact CDA, or their city or county forestry
office. Infestation signs include:
· Sparse leaves or branches in the upper part of
the tree
· D-shaped exit holes about 1/8 inch wide
· New sprouts on the lower trunk or lower branches
· Vertical splits in the bark
· Winding S-shaped tunnels under the bark
· Increased woodpecker activity
For five years, CDA has
been conducting EAB early detection activities through the Cooperative
Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) program.
The project is in coordination with the US Department of Agriculture,
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine
(USDA-APHIS-PPQ), Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) and City Foresters from
27 communities on the Front Range. Targeted
surveys, trapping or sampling, are conducted annually to detect pests that are
likely to be introduced to Colorado via commerce, human travel or natural
spread.
If you think you have
EAB in your ash trees, or if you have any questions or concerns, or would like
additional information, please contact the Colorado Department of Agriculture
at 888-248-5535 or email CAPS.program@state.co.us.
Additional Information:
- Colorado specific information can be found at www.colorado.gov/ag/dpi and click on “Emerald Ash Borer.”
- http://www.emeraldashborer.info
- For more on the EAB and other exotic pest threats, visit the USDA site http://www.hungrypests.com.
- A fact sheet on the EAB survey is also available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_health/2013/faq_eab_survey.pdf.
- http://www.dontmovefirewood.org
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