Title: Flight potential of the emerald ash borer

Author: Bauer, Leah S.; Miller, Deborah L.; Taylor, Robin A.J.; Haack, Robert A.

Year: 2003

Publication: In: Mastro, Victor; Reardon, Richard, comps. Emerald ash borer research and technology development meeting; 2003 September 30 - October 1; Port Huron, MI. FHTET 2004-03. Morgantown, WV: U.S. Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team: 9.

Abstract: The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is an invasive pest of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in North America. Native to several Asian countries, EAB was discovered in six southeastern Michigan counties and southwestern Ontario in 2002. EAB presumably emerged from infested solid wood packing materials and/or dunnage about 10 years ago. Isolated infestations continue to be discovered in lower Michigan, Ohio, Maryland, and Virginia as a result of transportation of infested ash nursery stock, firewood, and logs. Federal and state agencies are developing an EAB eradication plan to contain the core infestation and eradicate EAB from isolated infestations. Knowledge of EAB flight behavior and physiology is needed to predict dispersal beyond identifiable boundaries of the core and to estimate the size of isolated infestations. Failure to understand dispersal prior to development and implementation of an eradication plan will clearly reduce its efficacy.