The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an Asian species that was discovered in June 2002. Currently, six counties in southeastern Michigan and Windsor, Ontario (Essex Co.) are known to be infested. Larval feeding under the bark disrupts vascular tissue, eventually girdling and killing ash trees (Fraxinus sp.). In North America, EAB is aggressively attacking apparently healthy, as well as stressed, green ash (F. pennsylvanica), white ash (F. americana) and black ash (F. nigra). An estimated 5.5 million ash trees were dead or severely declining in spring 2003. Anecdotal reports suggest that green ash may be preferred, but this has not been quantitatively assessed. In its native range, EAB reportedly attacks other genera including: Ulmus sp., Juglans sp., and Pterocarya sp. Attacks on these genera have not been observed in North America, but there is concern about potential host switching as ash trees die in the infested area. To evaluate host range of EAB, we quantified (1) oviposition on ash and potential species in no-choice laboratory bioassays; (2) landing rates and oviposition on bolts of ash and alternate host species in a field study and (3) infestation rates on green and white ash, and potential species in woodlots and residential plantings.
Species 1: Coleoptera Buprestidae Agrilus planipennis (emerald ash borer)
Species 2: Scrophulariales Oleaceae Fraxinus (ash)
Keywords: invasive species
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