Emerald Ash Borer Sightings

Over the past couple of weeks, there have been two new sightings of the emerald ash borer beetle (Agrilus planipennis, "EAB") in the USA and Canada, including Quebec (a first for the province) and Mercer County, Pennsylvania (the fifth county in PA since the beetle was first found there in 2007).

The end of June is considered "peak emergence" time for the species, when adults are most likely to emerge from underneath the ash bark they spend the beginning part of their lives burrowing in. With many states and Canadian provinces actively trapping for the EAB, there may be further reports of the presence of this invasive species throughout the summer. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation monitors emerald ash borer traps placed throughout our state, which remains EAB-free.

(Photo of EAB courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Forestry Archive, Bugwood.org)