Emerald Ash Borer Alert
Firewood Risk - Do Not bring
firewood onto the Forest
One
of the major concerns of the Ottawa
National Forest at this time is
the invasion of the Emerald Ash Borer. This exotic beetle from Asia
was discovered in July 2002 feeding on ash (Fraxinus
spp.) trees in southeastern Michigan.
It was identified as Agrilus Planipennis
Fairmaire (Coleoptera:Buprestidae). Larvae feed in the cambium between the
bark and wood producing galleries that eventually girdle and kill branches
and entire trees. Evidence suggests that it has been established in Michigan
for at least six to ten years. Infestations have spread from the movement
of firewood and infected nursery stock throughout the Lower Peninsula of Michigan,
Windsor, Ontario Canada,
Ohio, Indiana, Maryland,
Virginia, and the eastern end
of the Upper Peninsula. Emerald ash borer has killed over 10 million
ash trees of various sizes and conditions in Michigan.
Larvae have developed in trees and branches ranging from 2.5 cm (1 inch) to
140 cm (55 inches) in diameter. The
EAB is unique in that it appears to be able to maintain high populations in
healthy ash trees and to spread naturally into adjacent uninfected areas. The current situation has been described by
pest specialists as the largest known outbreak of a flatheaded
wood borer ever recorded, anywhere in the world. The EAB has no known enemies in North
America, and extremely limited control options other than tree
removal. To limit the spread, a quarantine has been established which encompasses
over 13,000 square miles and includes 20 Michigan
counties, parts of Ohio, and
Indiana.
To stop the
potential movement of these exotic pests, which are a major threat to
Michigan's 19 million acres of forestland the following recommendations are
made:
Use local sources of firewood
Do not bring firewood from home if you live within a quarantined area
If you have already brought firewood from home, within a quarantined area,
do not take it back home and do not leave it, BURN IT!
For more information, please check the links below or contact our office at
(906) 932-1330 or call the toll free Michigan Emerald Ash Borer Hotline at (866)
325-0023.
Links:
Emerald Ash Borer Home
Page, USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area
Michigan
Department of Agriculture