Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine
Extended to Saginaw County, Coleman Area
Exotic Insect Responsible for Death of 8 Million Ash Trees in Detroit Area
Adult Emerald Ash Borer insects are dark metallic green in color, 1/2 inch long and are seen from mid-May to late July. Larvae are creamy white in color and are found under the bark.
Vertical splits may result in the ash tree in response to larval feeding.
The state agriculture department has announced extension of the emerald ash borer quarantine to the entire Saginaw County and the Coleman area in Midland County.
The ash borer has not yet been detected in Bay or Arenac counties, but officials are alert for any infestation as the entire ash tree resources of the state are at risk.
All or parts of the following mid-Michigan and northeast Michigan counties also are under the recent quarantine: Alcona/Iosco; Gratiot, Ingham, Montcalm, Oscoda, Roscommon, and Sanilac.
An estimated eight million ash trees have been killed in the Detroit metropolitan area since the pest was discovered in southeast Michigan in 2002.
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Although the EAB can and does infest and kill healthy ash trees, it mainly attacks weakened treesin poor health.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has a response program in cooperation with other state and federal agencies to eliminate the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) from Michigan. For more information visit www.michigan.gov/mda orwww.emeraldashborer.info.
The quarantine is aimed at preventing further spread of the pest means that sale of all ash nursery stock, saw logs and firewood into or out of the Lower Peninsula is prohibited. Movement of firewood is prohibited unless treated and certified by the state.
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A detection tree program has been started by the state to locate previously undetected populations of EAB. Detection trees are being placed across the state; these trees are girdled by removing a section of bark from the trunk and traps placed to attract female beetles.
The borers do not attack mountain ash, which are not related to black or green ash trees. Presence of the ash borer insect is usually not detected until the trees show symptoms of infestation. Usually the upper third of the tree will die the first year of the attack, the rest the following year. A large number of shoots will sprout beneath the dead portions of the trunk.
The beetles leave a D-shaped hole where they have emerged; the tree may show a vertical split in response to larval feeding and distinct s-shaped tunnels may occur under the bark.###
Dave Rogers
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Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read, respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City. (Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)
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