Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer found in Pennsylvania (July 11, 2007) click here for more information

(Click on an image below to see the captioned full-size version)
Figure 1		Figure 2		Figure 3		Figure 4		Figure 5		Figure 6
Figure 7

Scientific Name: Agrilus planipennis
Common Name: Emerald Ash Borer

Known Hosts:
White ash (Fraxinus americana), black ash (F.nigra), red ash (F. pennslyvanica), green ash (F. pennsylvanica var. subintegerrima) and several horticultural varieties of ash.

Key ID Features (Adults):
	The body is a golden green or brassy color overall with darker, metallic emerald green wing covers. (Figure 1)
	Adults measure ½” 8.5-13mm) in length. Females are larger than males. (Figure 2)
	Adults are present from mid May to late July and feed on leaves leaving irregularly- shaped patches with jagged edges.

Key ID Features (Larvae):
	Larvae are creamy white in color, flattened, and 1-1 ¼” (26- 32mm) in length. (Figure 3)
	The abdomen is ten-segmented with a pair of brown pinchers at the tip.

Description of damage:
	Distinct S-shaped tunnels beneath the bark are formed from larval feeding. (Figure 4)
	Vertical splits in the bark are caused by callus tissue forming in response to larval feeding. (Figure 5)
	Adult emergence leaves D- shaped exit holes (3-4 mm in diameter) in bark. (Figure 6)
	The upper third of the tree dies back.
	Numerous shoots arise below the dead portion of the trunk (Figure 7)

Similar species:
The emerald ash borer is larger and a brighter green than any of the native Agrilus species.
The two-lined chestnut borer (Agrilus bilineatus) and bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius) are found attacking oak and birch trees, respectively.
See the USDA Forest Service fact sheets describing these pests:
Bronze Birch Borer http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/bbb/bbb.htm
Two-lined Chestnut Borer http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/chestnutborer/chestnutborer.htm

Fact sheets and references:
UDSA Forest Service Emerald Ash Borer Homepage
http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/eab/

USDA, APHIS, PPQ Pest Detection Emerald Ash Borer Homepage
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/emerald_ash_b/index.shtml

Multistate effort in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana to bring you the latest information about emerald ash borer.
http://www.emeraldashborer.info/

USDA Forest Service Pest Alert Emerald Ash Borer January 2004
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/pest_al/eab/eab.pdf

Canadian Food Inspection Agency Emerald Ash Borer Homepage
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/agrpla/agrplae.shtml

Michigan Department of Agriculture EAB homepage
http://www.michigan.gov/eab

Newsletter of the Michigan Entomological Society
http://www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/4501/eab/downloads/MichEntSocEABarticle.pdf

National Park Service Pest Alert, Firewood: Threat from Invasive Beetles
Information about quarantine regulations affecting firewood movement
http://massnrc.org/pests/linkeddocuments/USDAfirewoodpestalert.pdf

last reviewed February 25, 2008