Thursday, March 21, 2013

Environmental History Timeline June, 2002

Emerald Ash Borer discovered killing ash trees near Detroit, Michigan

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Agrilus planipennis, an exotic beetle thought likely to have arrived in North America in green (fresh) wooden shipping containers delivered to the Detroit area from its native Asia, begins devastating ash trees in Michigan at about the start of the new millennium. During June of 2002 extensive damage to local area ash trees is discovered. EAB larvae are found under the bark of ailing trees, disrupting these trees' transport of water and nutrients. Quarantine efforts fail to stop the invasive insect's spread. EAB's devastating history is made anew daily as ash tree death accelerates geometrically.

Today, EAB is established in two Canadian Provinces, Ohio (2003), Indiana (2004), Illinois and Maryland (2006), Pennsylvania and West Virginia (2007), Wisconsin, Missouri and Virginia (2008), Minnesota, New York, Kentucky (2009), Iowa and Tennessee (2010), Connecticut, Kansas, and Massachusetts (2012). EAB continues to expand its range, eventually killing all infected trees in three to five years: current losses of billions of ash trees have cost communities, forest owners and households many tens of millions of dollars.

Federal and state agencies are cooperating with universities in multidisciplinary efforts to slow ash mortality. The SLAM (SLow Ash Mortality) pilot project is testing methods to slow the spread in outlier forest infestations.

The marketplace offers homeowner solutions, some more effective and less toxic to non-target species than others. Valued landscape ash trees can be saved only through costly insecticide treatments: injectable TREE-age insecticide performs best, by far, according to university research. TREE-age (emamectin benzoate) remains inside professionally injected trees, greatly reducing impacts to other species. Without pesticide treatments, once infested, all ash trees of all native species are expected to die.

Ash trees are wonderful dooryard shade trees. They were planted by many homeowners and communities to replace the grand curbside elm trees that once defined so many boulevards in Midwestern towns, until the large elms themselves were lost to another foreign invader, Dutch Elm Disease. Today, urban foresters recommend diversity in selections of trees to green our streets. Single species boulevards may no longer be a responsible choice. Must global commerce equal global species?
Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae (the immature stage) feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. Emerald ash borer probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia. Emerald ash borer is also established in Windsor, Ontario, was found in Ohio in 2003, northern Indiana in 2004, northern Illinois and Maryland in 2006, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia in 2007, Wisconsin, Missouri and Virginia in the summer of 2008, Minnesota, New York, Kentucky in the spring of 2009, Iowa in the spring of 2010, Tennessee in the summer of 2010, and Connecticut, Kansas, and Massachusetts in the summer of 2012. Since its discovery, EAB has: - See more at: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/#sthash.FK8QIdTK.NHaPRM8R.dpuf
Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae (the immature stage) feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. Emerald ash borer probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia. Emerald ash borer is also established in Windsor, Ontario, was found in Ohio in 2003, northern Indiana in 2004, northern Illinois and Maryland in 2006, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia in 2007, Wisconsin, Missouri and Virginia in the summer of 2008, Minnesota, New York, Kentucky in the spring of 2009, Iowa in the spring of 2010, Tennessee in the summer of 2010, and Connecticut, Kansas, and Massachusetts in the summer of 2012. Since its discovery, EAB has: - See more at: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/#sthash.FK8QIdTK.NHaPRM8R.dpuf

Lean about treatment options and follow the impacts of this devastating insect invader at emeraldashborer.info.

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