Emerald ash borer is an Asian phloem-borer that was discovered in June 2002 in southeastern Michigan and Windsor, Ontario. Surveys suggest that a six-county area encompassing at least 2500 mi2 is infested in Michigan, where an estimated 5.5 million ash trees are dead or dying. A localized infestation of emerald ash borer was discovered outside the known infestation in fall 2002. Regulatory officials determined that this population became established in spring 2002 when a load of infested ash firewood was inadvertently transported into the area, before the discovery of the beetle. In January and February 2003, we cut and peeled bark from areas on the stem and upper canopy of roughly 200 ash trees within an 800 m radius of the firewood stack. Location and density of emerald ash borer galleries, tree diameter and distance of trees to the point source (firewood pile) were recorded. Preliminary results indicate that at least one gallery was present on trees up to 750 m away. Adult beetles appeared to follow a forested corridor, indicating that under some conditions, dispersal is directional. Attacks were generally more frequent and more likely to be on the trunk (rather than upper canopy) of trees growing near the point source. Tree diameter did not appear to strongly influence the likelihood of attack. Results of this study will be needed for major survey and eradication programs underway in Michigan and Ontario.
Species 1: Coleoptera Buprestidae Agrilus planipennis (Emerald ash borer)
Keywords: Invasive species, dispersal
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