North Central Research Station

Providing New Information on the Biology, Ecology, and Management of Exotic Invasive Forest Insects

Well over 400 species of exotic (non-native) invasive forest insects are established in the United States.  Among these 400+ exotic insects are several whose life-history attributes allowed them to become invasive and thereby spread rapidly to cause significant economic and ecological impacts to the Nation's forest and urban trees.  Exotic invasive forest insects can build quickly to damaging levels once established in a new country because:

the trees in the new country  often lack evolved defenses against these new arrivals.

The annual economic losses related to invasive forest insects in the United States are estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. 

Hot Topic

The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, was discovered infesting and killing thousands of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in a six-county region of southeastern Michigan in summer 2002. Evidence now suggests that A. planipennis first entered Michigan at least 5 to 10 years ago.  EAB was also found in Ontario in 2002 and in Ohio and Maryland in 2003.

On July 16, 2002, the State of Michigan imposed a quarantine on movement of ash trees and ash wood products to limit human-assisted spread of this pest.  Canada and Ohio also initiated quarantines in 2003.  As of September 2003, there were 13 quarantined counties in Michigan, 2 in Ohio, and 1 in Ontario.  The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued a Federal quarantine on the 13 Michigan counties effective October 8, 2003.