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Summary
Emerald Ash Borer Adult Beetles Begin to Take Flight (5/10/2009)
The first emergences of adult emerald ash borer (EAB) beetles have been observed in the southern Ohio. The invasive wood-boring insect infests and kills native North American Ash (Fraxinus spp.), both in forests and in landscapes. As the metallic green adult beetles emerge, they leave behind a small (one eighth of an inch) distinctly D-shaped exit hole. After emergence, the adults feed on foliage for one to two weeks prior to mating. Females produce about 50 to 100 eggs, which are laid individually on the bark surface or within bark cracks or crevices. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae tunnel into the tree and begin feeding underneath the bark. This feeding will occur throughout the summer and into early fall, and is what causing the decline and finally death of the trees. Many trees in NW Ohio especially have already been killed by the borer, while others are still showing signs of decline. Some individuals have opted to protect their trees with insecticide treatments. Those treatments can be made by the homeowner, or can be professionally made by an arborist. Once a tree show severe signs of decline, control can be very difficult and often treatments will fail. Questions regarding insecticide treatments should be directed to the local Ohio State University Extension office, or a FactSheet can be found on http://ashalert.osu.edu It is important to remember that ash trees, branches, all non-coniferous firewood, and mulch greater than one inch in two dimensions are regulated articles and cannot leave the Ohio quarantine. Additionally, Ohio is quarantined by the USDA and those items cannot leave the state. Questions about the quarantine can be addressed by call 888-OHIO-EAB or visiting the Ohio Department of Agriculture's website at http://ohioagriculture.gov/eab
The first emergences of adult emerald ash borer (EAB) beetles have been observed in the southern Ohio. The invasive wood-boring insect infests and kills native North American Ash (Fraxinus spp.), both in forests and in landscapes. As the metallic green adult beetles emerge, they leave behind a small (one eighth of an inch) distinctly D-shaped exit hole. After emergence, the adults feed on foliage for one to two weeks prior to mating. Females produce about 50 to 100 eggs, which are laid individually on the bark surface or within bark cracks or crevices. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae tunnel into the tree and begin feeding underneath the bark. This feeding will occur throughout the summer and into early fall, and is what causing the decline and finally death of the trees. Many trees in NW Ohio especially have already been killed by the borer, while others are still showing signs of decline. Some individuals have opted to protect their trees with insecticide treatments. Those treatments can be made by the homeowner, or can be professionally made by an arborist. Once a tree show severe signs of decline, control can be very difficult and often treatments will fail. Questions regarding insecticide treatments should be directed to the local Ohio State University Extension office, or a FactSheet can be found on http://ashalert.osu.edu It is important to remember that ash trees, branches, all non-coniferous firewood, and mulch greater than one inch in two dimensions are regulated articles and cannot leave the Ohio quarantine. Additionally, Ohio is quarantined by the USDA and those items cannot leave the state. Questions about the quarantine can be addressed by call 888-OHIO-EAB or visiting the Ohio Department of Agriculture's website at http://ohioagriculture.gov/eab
