Emerald Ash Borer - Distribution and Dates of Detection

Distribution and Dates of Detection

The natural range of the emerald ash borer is eastern Russia, northern China, Japan, and Korea.

Its first confirmed North American detection was in June 2002 in Canton, Michigan. It is suspected, that it was introduced by overseas shipping containers being delivered to Yazaki North America, an automotive parts distributor. It has since been found in several other parts of the United States and Canada. Ohio, Minnesota, and Ontario have experienced emerald ash borer migration from Michigan. Additionally, Maryland and Virginia received shipments of contaminated trees from a Michigan nursery. The emerald ash borer was confirmed in Indiana in April 2004, in Central Kentucky in the Spring of 2009 and in Northeast Iowa in May 2010.

USDA APHIS PPQ used to attempt eradication of the insect, but its distribution is far too broad at this time and funds are lacking. Quarantine zones are still set up from which unprocessed raw hardwood material cannot be removed. The quarantine applies not only to the counties where the emerald ash borer has been detected but also high risk counties as well. The infected states have prohibited the movement of firewood from one state to another trying to eliminate the spread and fully enforce the quarantine zone. Large fines were imposed on a few companies that violated the ban, including one that was transplanting ash trees from southeast Michigan to Virginia and Maryland and is believed to be responsible for spreading the beetle to those states. The USDA has spent several hundreds of millions of dollars trying to minimize the ecological impact of EAB.

Michigan officials announced 2005-09-14 that ash borer infestation had crossed the Straits of Mackinac and was now in the Upper Peninsula for the first time. Wisconsin environmental officials consider it a grave threat and began preparations years ago for surveys in the state. Several counties in Indiana are under quarantine. However, states and cities are running out of money to combat the problem and many authorities feel that the borer will spread throughout North America. The EAB can move short distances by flying as well as surviving long distances in transit on ash tree nursery stock, Ash logs, branches, and firewood.

In June 2006, it was reported that emerald ash borers had been found at a home near Lily Lake, Illinois. Illinois officials have regulated several counties because it was found to be widespread. In July, 2006, further infestations were discovered in northern Cook County, Illinois, including Wilmette, Evanston, and Winnetka.

In June 2007, it was reported that emerald ash borers have been found in Cranberry Township, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On June 27, 2008, The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported that the state Department of Agriculture says the emerald ash borer has been found in Mercer County. The invasive beetle was discovered in Butler and Allegheny counties last summer. Officials are surveying this year to gauge whether the insect has spread. Mercer joins Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties in a quarantine prohibiting the movement of ash nursery stocks, green lumber and firewood.

In October 2007, an emerald ash borer larva was discovered in a West Virginia Department of Agriculture "detection tree" located in Fayette County. This detection tree was located in a recreational site, with camping, mountain biking, and white water rafting. It is believed that the pest arrived in firewood that was illegally transported by tourists visiting the New River Gorge area, a popular site for white water rafting (USDA-APHIS-PPQ).

As of December 2007, a federal quarantine has been imposed on the following areas in the U. S. for Emerald Ash Borer: the lower peninsula of Michigan; Mackinac County, Michigan; the entire states of Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana; Prince Georges County, Maryland; and Fayette County, West Virginia. (USDA-APHIS)

The state of Missouri has issued a quarantine for the entirety of Wayne County to prevent the beetle from leaving this area where it has been heavily detected.

Emerald Ash Borer has also extended its distribution in Canada. As of August 2009, the following areas are regulated by the CFIA in Ontario: Essex, Lambton, Middlesex, Elgin, Huron, and Norfolk Counties, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, the Cities of Hamilton and Toronto and the Regional Municipalities of Durham, York, Peel and Halton, the City of Sault Ste. Marie, and the City of Ottawa; in Quebec: The City of Gatineau and Municipalities of Carignan, Chambly, Richelieu, Saint-Basile-le-Grand and Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu.

By June 2008, emerald ash borers were discovered in the city of Chicago, and in the far south-west corner of Naperville.

It was confirmed by Canadian Agriculture officials to be present in Monteregie, Quebec. This region lies directly north of New England, therefore drastically increasing the likelihood of being found in New England.

On Tuesday, July 29, 2008, it was announced that the Missouri Department of Agriculture has detected the emerald ash borer in the state. On Monday, August 4, Wisconsin confirmed that the first appearance in the state was detected in the village of Newburg, Wisconsin, in Ozaukee County.

On March 11, 2009 it was confirmed in Mifflin County, Pa. This county lies in the Eastern Central part of the state. As of August 12, 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture reports that two-thirds of the state has been infested with the EAB, most in counties west of the Pocono Mountains.

The insect was furthermore detected in Victory, Wisconsin by agricultural officials on Tuesday April 7, 2009. This town is in the western part of the state, and borders Iowa and Minnesota. It is also along the Mississippi River, which may serve as a pathway for the insect.

On May 14, 2009, spread of the emerald ash borer was confirmed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in St. Paul, Minnesota. This represents the most westerly location it has been found thus far in North America. Minnesota has more ash trees than any other state in the United States.

In the summer of 2011, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture introduced tiny, stingless wasps in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area as a biological control agent for the emerald ash borer.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced on June 17, 2009 that the emerald ash borer was recently discovered for the first time within the borders of New York State, in the Cattaraugus County town of Randolph.

The species was also detected in South Buffalo, New York in early 2011. As of August, 2011, the emerald ash borer was confirmed throughout Monroe County and in the City of Rochester.

In early July 2011, City workers spotted the beetle in some trees in the southeast borough of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve in the City of Montreal.

Authorities across the US are continuing to determine the exact extent of EAB by placing purple traps nationwide.

In 2011, the Emerald Ash Borer was found in traps on Manitoulin Island. The insect was found in July 2011, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and was identified in late autumn. The CFIA made a presentation to Northeast Manitoulin and the Islands town council on November 17, 2011.

On September 12, 2012 it was detected in Massachusetts.