EAB News

This from The Blade, Toledo Ohio Saturday, July 22, 2006
By Laren Weber (Blade Staff Writer)

Michigan State University researchers are hoping tree-ring patterns from infested trees will help them fight the devastation caused by the emerald ash borer, which has killed more than 20 million trees in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana alone.
By studying tree-ring patterns, researchers can tell when the bright green, wood boring insect began affecting the growth of a tree and when trees died.
Using that information, scientists may be able to determine whether it is cost-effective to conduct pre-emptive cutting or insecticide spraying on other trees nearby to prevent further damage - or whether it's too late.
"It allows us to almost backdate the infestation," said Nathan Siegert, an MSU researcher and forest entomologist.
When the insect was first discovered near Detroit in 2002, all the ash trees within a half-mile radius were destroyed in hopes of killing the emerald ash borer.
But as more and more areas became infested and federal funding became limited, the government could no longer afford to use that approach, forcing scientists to search for new ways to contain the infestations.
Large parts of Northwest Ohio, southeast Michigan, and norther Indiana are infested with the ash tree-killing insect, and researchers are working to better understand how the insect populations are established and how quickly they spread. Illinois is the latest state to report widespread infestation.
"It's a pretty nasty critter," Mr. Siegert said.
In addition to the natural spread of the emerald ash borer through limited flight, humans have also contributed to its spread by transporting infested firewood or nursery trees across county or state lines, he said. Some infested Michigan nursery trees ended up as far away as Maryland and Virginia.
"It's the hardest thing to get a handle on," Mr. Siegert said.
State and federal officials are enforcing a ban on firewood movement by checking vehicles periodically throughout the summer.
Scientists studying the borer have already discovered that the bug has a two-year life cycle, not one year as previously thought. "I don't think anyone was expecting a two-year life cycle." Mr. Siegert said. "If you've got a two-year cycle, it buys you more time."
Mr. Siegert said it takes four to five years after the insect is in an area before ash trees begin to die, leading scientists to believe the emerald ash borer was in the United States long before it was discovered.
Very little was known about the bug whe it was first discovered, and "we had to learn everything from scratch," said Robin Usborne, MSU communications manager for the emerald ash borer program.
As research continues, Mr. Siegert is hopeful scientists will develop traps or lures as alternative ways to manage the insects.
'It's pretty hard to say what's going to come down the pipe, but hopefully research will catch up and it wont spread as quickly," Mr. Siegert said.

END

In Toledo, Ohio State University researchers are using neighborhoods with EAB infested trees as laboratories for pesticide effectiveness. Several approaches are being tried. Then the trees will be cut to determine what worked and what didn't and if there are any homeowner friendly practical strategies. The State has abandoned all cutting in the northwest part of Ohio as a means to control the spread. They began to cut last spring in the Oak Openings Park area and stopped at 10,000 trees when they realized that they could not find the outside perimeter of the infestation. There is some gossip among local Ohio Department of Natural Resources people that the State is considering abandoning cutting across the state altogether.

In the tiny town of Holland, Ohio local officials have located all ash trees, private and public, and assessed their condition. Homeowners will be notified in writing that they have ash and what their options are. Ash trees quickly become dangerous (in as little as one year from death) from brittle limbs, so the local officials felt that a warning was the prudent thing to do. Of the public trees all but 12 will be cut over the next two years. This is a public safety issue. The remaing twelve trees are being treated with imidicloprid. These are a commerative row of ashes planted in honor of a well liked public official with deep family ties in the community. In fact the trees, which look healthy and show no signs of EAB, have been treated for the three last years, against the wishes of the State. At the time the municipality began treating, the State was insisting upon 100% cutting. It is too soon to tell if the trees are lucky or surviving because of the treatment. Ash trees less than 1/4 mile away are, in fact, dying. Things are beginning to look pretty ugly around here. Dying ash are everywhere. This is not just an esthetic issue nor an ecological issue. It as an economical issue and a public safety issue.

Heads up Illinois. Knowledge is power.

This message was edited Jul 22, 2006 12:37 PM

This message was edited Jul 22, 2006 7:51 PM

Thanks Snap -- not great news, but worth reading if one feels like becoming even more depressed.

Guy S.

We just need to accept that the insect is the next species to inhabit and control the planet.