Green Horizons

Images, from top: Relative size of adult emerald ash borer. EAB larval galleries underneath bark. “D-shaped” emergence hole of adult.

Add Pennsylvania to the emerald ash borer’s (EAB) hit list. On June 21, 2007, EAB was detected for the first time in western PA by two USDA APHIS surveyors. They collected two adults using a sweep net while conducting visual surveys that are part of the joint EAB taskforce detection effort. State and federal officials are currently working to intensify surveys near the detection site to determine the extent and severity of the infestation.

To date there have been NO confirmed reports of EAB in Missouri.

But, with the vacation season in full swing remember that the transportation of infested firewood has been linked to the long-distance spread of this serious pest. Help prevent the spread of emerald ash borers by buying local firewood when camping, and burning all wood onsite during your stay. If you go camping outside Missouri DO NOT bring any firewood back with you.

If you think you might have an emerald ash borer infestation, collect a sample by trapping the insect in a zippered plastic bag. Place the bag in the freezer for several days to kill the insect, then mail the sample in a sturdy container (35mm film canisters or empty pill bottles work well) to one of the addresses below. Be sure to include your contact information and the date and location where you captured the sample.

Rob Lawrence
Forest Entomologist
Missouri Department of Conservation
1110 S. College Ave.
Columbia, MO 65201
Phone: (573) 882-9909 ext. 3303
E-mail: robert.lawrence@mdc.mo.gov

Michael Brown
State Entomologist
Missouri Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 630, 1616 Missouri Blvd.
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: (573) 751-5505
E-mail: michael.brown@mda.mo.gov