The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and Ohio State University Extension are collaborating with state agencies to control the spread of emerald ash borer (EAB), a destructive ash tree pest that threatens Ohio's forests and its wood manufacturing, landscaping and nursery industries.
OARDC entomologist Dan Herms and OSU Extension entomologist David Shetlar have joined the Ohio Emerald Ash Borer Task Force, which also includes experts from various state and federal agencies. The task force was appointed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) to make recommendations on the department's regulatory response to EAB.
A native of China and other Asian countries, the wood-boring insect was first confirmed in Ohio Feb. 28 in Whitehouse, Lucas County. Subsequent infestations were detected in August and September in Hicksville (Defiance County), Paulding County, and Perrysburg (Wood County).
Last April, ODA had more than 8,000 ash trees cut, chipped and burned in the Whitehouse area in an attempt to stop the initial infestation. A quarantine has also been enacted that prohibits movement of ash trees, branches, firewood and other materials from the areas where EAB has been positively identified.
“We hope (the Whitehouse infestation) has been eradicated,” Herms said. “So far there are no symptoms of further infestation, but we won't know for sure for at least a year, as it takes that long for symptoms in a tree to become noticeable. The task force will meet and make recommendations to ODA on how to proceed with eradication of the new infestations before emergence of the beetle next spring.”
Source: USAgNet