Dangerous Asian beetles threaten Midwest ash trees

By Sheryl Israel
Purdue Exponent
Friday, May 26, 2006

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has declared May 21-27 Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week but Indiana residents can prevent the spread of this deadly insect all year round.

The emerald ash borer is an exotic beetle that typically inhabits Asia but has been feeding on North American ash trees, affecting the Midwest and Canada. Jodie Ellis, a Purdue University exotic insect education coordinator, said the borer was probably brought to this region through solid wood packing material from Asia. The spread of it has led to the death of over 15 million ash trees in the Detroit area.

"It was first brought attention to in the Detroit area in 2002 but could have been there for 10-15 years previously," she said.

The beetle kills ash trees because feeding larvae make tunnels in the trunk, destroying the tissue that provides water and nutrients to the tree. "There is no way of protecting the tree," Ellis said. "We haven't found any insecticide."

The most common way the borer is spread is by moving firewood from infested areas. "One way of prevention is to buy firewood from a local area and burn it completely," Ellis said.

The major areas that are infested with the emerald ash borer include Michigan, Ohio and Indiana as well as parts of Canada. The infected areas in Indiana include Steuben, LaGrange, Adams, Randolph, Huntington, Hamilton and Marion counties. Research is being conducted to try to find ways of not only protecting the ash tree, but ridding the area of this foreign beetle.

"Purdue is supporting the research done at Ohio State and Michigan State and we are starting to do some research too," Ellis said.

The Department of Natural Resources is also developing programs for preventing the spread of this insect. Robert Waltz, director of entomology and plant pathology for the Department of Natural Resources, said there are three goals of their prevention program. The first is through quarantining affected areas. This provides education to the public as well as allows everyone to use the infected area but not spread the borer to new areas.

Next, the DNR hopes to provide the public with education through multimedia to provide information about the biology of the borer and how to control the spread of it.

Lastly, Waltz said the DNR wants to sent a singular message, "Education of general pest control and how it spreads with firewood."

The spread of the borer could cause the extinction of ash trees in North America said Ellis. The DNR's mission, through quarantining and education, is to contain the borer to the already infected areas.

"The goal is to make sure that the ash borer is not spread to other states. Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois are all at risk," Ellis said. "The goal is to keep the borer isolated in the areas it is."

Waltz says that the public can do simple things to prevent the spread of the beetle. "Be aware of the signs and symptoms of infected trees, follow quarantine rules and don't move firewood."