Connecticut On Alert For Signs Of Borer Infestation

By Nancy K. Crevier

The Connecticut Department Agricultural Experimental Station (CAES) and Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued an alert earlier this summer that federal agricultural officials have confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in Saugerties N.Y., just 25 miles from the Connecticut border.

The EAB is a destructive pest responsible for the death and decline of more than 25 million white, black, and green ash trees in 16 states. The insect is native to Asia, where it is not considered a pest, and was most likely introduced to the United States in infected wooden pallets. The EAB was first identified in the United States in Detroit, Mich., in 2002.

It is the larvae of the 3/8 - to 5/8 -inch iridescent green beetle that causes damage, and ultimately death, to the ash tree. As larvae tunnel beneath the bark, food and water transport for the tree is destroyed. Visual signs of EAB infestation include bark splits, crown die-off, with a premature yellowing of leaves, and D-shaped exit holes. “You may notice lots of dead spine twigs at the top of the tree, and a lot of small branches emanating from the trunk of the tree as the tree tries to get more food,” said Christopher Martin, director of forestry for the DEP.

“This discovery is certainly a concern,” said Mr Martin. The EAB is able to spread quickly, ranging up to 20 miles from the site of the initial infestation.

The New York infestation was discovered in a campground, indicating that the source may have been firewood, a likely way for the pest to be transported from one area to another. The DEP and CAES urge campers not to transport firewood. Instead, buy firewood at or near the campground, burn all firewood before leaving the campsite, and do not bring any firewood home.

For those who heat with wood, it is suggested that the firewood be cut or purchased from sources no more than a few miles away, or within the same county.

The preservation of ash trees is important, Mr Martin said, as it is not only aesthetically a beautiful addition to Connecticut forests, but because of its value as a forest product. “Ash is wonderful firewood, and is used to make many items, including tool handles, and probably most famously, for its use in making baseball bats,” said Mr Martin. “The green ash is used for basket making, so ash is an important product that we don’t want to lose,” he added.

If an EAB infestation is suspected, Connecticut residents are asked to contact the US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, at www.aphis.usda.gov; or CAES at 203-974-8474 or 203-974-8485; or CAES.StateEntomologist@ct.gov. Digital photos of suspect insects are helpful when included with an email.

“There is presently no effective treatment for trees infested with EAB,” said Mr Martin. “The tree, or trees, will be quarantined, and must be cut down and destroyed,” he said. Tree removal must be done by workers certified to removed EAB infested trees, and destroyed properly. “It is a very controlled process,” said Mr Martin, “as it is with the Asian longhorned beetle infestation.”

The Asian longhorned beetle has been problematic in the Boston and Worcester areas of Massachusetts, affecting maple, birch, elm, and ash trees. “The Asian longhorned beetle is fairly easy to identify,” said Mr Martin, and noted that to date, it has not been identified in Connecticut. The beetle is about 1 to 1½ inches long, and is a shiny black with very long antennae. The Asian longhorned beetle bores large, dime-sized exit holes in the infested tree. There may be signs of sawdust at the base of the tree and leaves will have a filigree appearance, as this beetle eats in between the veins of the leaf and along the stem.

Suspected infestations of the Asian longhorned beetle can also be reported to CAES or the US Department of Agriculture.