The Green Menace: The Emerald Ash Borer and Its Spread Through

OhioMike Zimmermann

Background

• Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis)

• Invasive from China introduced in Michigan

• Attacks Healthy Ash Trees

• All 16 Ash Species Susceptible

Background

• Larva live underneath bark

• Kill Ash Trees from top down– 3-5 years

• Adults Emerge– infest new trees

Spread

• Natural Spread– Adults travel up to 1 mile

• Human Spread– Movement of infested firewood– Estimated human movement upwards of

20 miles per year

Emerald Ash Borer Infestation in Ohio

Red – Infected Areas

Green – Uninfected Areas

Projection of Natural Spread of the Emerald Ash Borer (3 years)

Red – Infected Areas

Blue – Projected Spread (3 years)

Green – Uninfected Areas

Projection of Human Induced Spread of the Emerald Ash Borer (3 years)

Red – Infected Areas

Purple – Projected Human Spread (3 years)

Green – Uninfected Areas

Natural vs. Human Induced Spread of the Emerald Ash Borer (3 years)

Red – Infected Areas

Blue – Projected Natural Spread (3 years)

Purple – Human Induced Spread (3 years)

Green – Uninfected Areas

Conservation Efforts

• Firewood Bans

• Awareness Efforts

• Continuous Research on Prevention Tactics