Emerald ash borer makes way to Porter County

By Jennifer Stewart
Ag Communications
October 20, 2006

EAB adult D. Cappaert, Michigan State University

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced this week that an infestation of emerald ash borer has been confirmed in Porter County near Burns Harbor, Ind.

Emerald ash borer is an invasive species first found in 2002 near Detroit. Since its discovery, the beetle has killed millions of ash trees in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.

Because of this latest find, the DNR has issued an emergency rule quarantining Porter County from any hardwood removal. This means that no nursery stock, firewood or other hardwood products may be taken out of the county.

A secondary quarantine also has been issued to prevent any of these materials from leaving Westchester Township, where the infested tree was found.

This latest infestation was discovered on a so-called trap tree, a tree that has had a 6-to 10-inch strip of bark removed at chest height. This fatal wound sends a signal to nearby beetles that a tree is dying, enticing the insects to infest the tree.

"This find is significant because it shows that the trap trees are being helpful in clarifying the distribution of this pest in the region," said Cliff Sadof, Purdue University entomologist. "With this information, we can make better regional management decisions."

Throughout fall and winter, emerald ash borers are inside trees beneath the bark, and they don't fly again until May when they become adults. Because the insect is stationary, homeowners have some time to develop a strategy for dealing with the pest and for dead tree removal.

"This latest arrival means that homeowners should start thinking about taking steps to manage their landscape trees this spring," Sadof said. "If trees are half dead and homeowners want to take them down, they should consider doing this sooner rather than later.

"This also means that if homeowners have landscape plans that include planting ash trees, they should change those plans."

Identifying infestations is more difficult during the winter when leaves are not on trees. Homeowners should survey trees for vertical splits in the bark, S-shaped tunnels beneath the branches and trunk, and D-shaped exit holes.

If these symptoms are detected, homeowners should call the DNR's toll-free hotline for invasive species at 1-866-NO EXOTIC (866-663-9684). More information on identifying ash trees and borer symptoms also are available on Purdue's emerald ash borer Web site.

Questions concerning emerald ash borers and the Porter County infestation should be directed to the DNR at (317) 232-4120 or to Purdue entomology by contacting Sadof at (765) 494-5983.

Writer: Jennifer Stewart, (765) 494-8402, jsstewart@alumni.purdue.edu

Source: Cliff Sadof, (765) 494-5983, csadof@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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