This Web site is part of a multinational effort in Michigan, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Ontario and Quebec to bring you the latest information about emerald ash borer.

Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees

Many homeowners, arborists and tree care professionals want to protect valuable ash trees from EAB. Scientists have learned much about this insect and methods to protect ash trees since 2002. This bulletin is designed to answer frequently asked questions and provide the most current information on insecticide options for controlling EAB.
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Select a state/province to learn more about EAB.

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:

• Killed tens of millions of ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone, with tens of millions more lost in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Quebec, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
• Caused regulatory agencies and the USDA to enforce quarantines (Michigan, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, New York, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Environment Canada) and fines to prevent potentially infested ash trees, logs or hardwood firewood from moving out of areas where EAB occurs.
• Cost municipalities, property owners, nursery operators and forest products industries tens of millions of dollars.

Wood Utilization Options Outlined in a New Publication

Once an invasive wood pest has invaded, many questions come to light: How should this pest be managed? How much will it cost? Can it be stopped? How can we deal with the dead trees left in its wake?

"Wood Utilization Options for Urban Trees Infested by Invasive Species" is a new publication that can shed light on that last question. This publication is a compilation of information on the properties, processing characteristics, and potential products that can be manufactured from hardwoods that have been attacked by various invasive species, including emerald ash borer.

The publication provides a wide range of information on wood utilization that is a useful reference for land management professionals, arborists, utilization specialists, and other natural resource professionals who are at the forefront of dealing with invasive species and their devastating effect on our forest resources. Included in the publication:

• Background information and outline of the magnitude of the problem in the United States,
• Information on many U.S. hardwood species that grow in urban areas, summarizing their scientific and common names, physical and mechanical property data, machining characteristics, and more. Micrographs of the cross sections of several species or representative specie for a species grouping are included.
• Summaries that highlight a wide range of product options for wood from these species, and
• Results from a recently completed, extensive research program focused on providing detailed, practical heat sterilization options for treating firewood obtained from these trees.

The authors are university and USDA Forest Service specialists from Minnesota and Wisconsin who have been working on this issue for several years.

Read the publication

New Strategy Being Developed to Deal With Emerald Ash Borer

• Research is being conducted at universities, as well, to understand the beetle's life cycle and find ways to detect new infestations, control EAB adults and larvae, and contain the infestation.
• Quarantines are in place to prevent infested ash firewood, logs or nursery trees from being transported and starting new infestations.

This Web site provides information from Michigan State University, Purdue University, the Ohio State University, the Michigan and Ohio departments of Agriculture; the Michigan, Indiana and Ohio departments of Natural Resources; the USDA Forest Service; the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Our goal is to help you find answers to your questions about EAB. We also provide links to other EAB-related Web sites. Please check this site often because information changes frequently.

What to know about EAB:

• It attacks only ash trees (Fraxinus spp.).
• Adult Beetles are metallic green and about 1/2-inch long.
• Adults leave a D-shaped exit hole in the bark when they emerge in spring.
• Woodpeckers like EAB larvae; heavy woodpecker damage on ash trees may be a sign of infestation.
• Firewood cannot be moved in many areas of Michigan, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin because of the EAB quarantine.
• It probably came from Asia in wood packing material.

If you suspect you may have EAB in your ash trees, call these numbers:

• Michigan — 1-866-325-0023
• Connecticut — The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station at 1-203-974-8474 or email CAES.StateEntomologist@ct.gov
• Illinois — Contact your county Extension office. The Illinois Department of Agriculture also will offer a toll-free hotline at 1-800-641-3934 for extension-confirmed infestations
• Indiana — 1-866-NO-EXOTIC
• Iowa — 1-515-294-5963
• Kansas — 1-785-862-2180
• Kentucky — 1-859-257-5838
• Maryland — University of Maryland Home and Garden Information Center — 1-800-342-2507 or the Maryland Department of Agriculture — 1-410-841-5920
• Massachusetts — 1-866-322-4512
• Minnesota — 1-888-545-6684 (Arrest-the-Pest Hotline)
• Missouri — 1-866-716-9974
• Nebraska — 1-866-322-4512
• New York — 1-866-640-0652
• North Dakota — North Dakota Forest Service in Fargo at 701-231-5138 and North Dakota Department of Agriculture in Fargo at 701-239-7295 or Bismarck at 701-328-4765
• Ohio — 1-888-OHIO-EAB
• Pennsylvania — 1-866-253-7189
• Tennessee — 1-800-628-2631
• Virginia — The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Plant Industry Services at 1-804-786-3515
• West Virginia — 1-304-254-2941
• Wisconsin — 1-800-462-2803
• USDA APHIS — 1-866-322-4512
• Canada — 1-866-463-6017

Scientists are studying methods of controlling EAB. The latest information on insecticide evaluations can help homeowners, arborists and landscapers decide if and how they can treat trees for EAB.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Since the emerald ash borer's discovery in 2002, research has been ongoing to develop tools to control and eliminate this pest. Currently, there are a number of treatments available for use by homeowners or tree care professionals that can provide a varying degree of beetle control. A review of all options is recommended, as well as knowing the regulations regarding EAB quarantines and eradication strategies for your area. Contact your state department of agriculture for more EAB regulatory information. As more methods of EAB control are developed, more information will be available. References to commercial products or trade names do not imply endorsement by the entities supplying the information, or bias against those not mentioned. Reprinting of any material on this site cannot be used to endorse or advertise a commercial product or company.