Adult beetles leave distinctive D-shaped exit holes in the outer bark of the branches and the trunk. Adults are roughly 3/8 to 5/8 inch long with metallic green wing covers and a coppery red or purple abdomen. They may be present from late May through early September but are most common in June and July. Signs of infection include tree canopy dieback, yellowing, and browning of leaves. Photo by David R. McKay, USDA APHIS PPQ, used courtesy of 
Triangular purple traps are being used to monitor for the presence of Emerald Ash Borer in our region. Photo by Mark Whitmore, Cornell University.Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald Ash Borer found in Tioga County
(9-27-12) The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Tioga County has been confirmed by the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens confirmed in this news release. The EAB was found in a DEC-deployed trap two miles from the Pennsylvania border and six miles from the Chemung County border in the southwestern corner of Tioga County. Chemung County and all of Pennsylvania are under state and Federal EAB quarantine. A single adult EAB was found in one of the thousands of purple detection traps that are placed around the state this summer.
ABOUT THE EMERALD ASH BORER
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire is an invasive, wood boring beetle native to Asia that feeds on and eventually kills all species of Ash. The EAB was first found in North America in 2002 near Detroit and since has spread to 13 states and two Canadian provinces, killing hundreds of millions of Ash trees in rural and urban settings. In June 2009, EAB was found in Randolph, NY and as of October 2011 has been found in Orange, Erie, Cattaraugus, Steuben, Ulster, Monroe, Genesee, Livingston and Greene Counties.
Firewood Quarantine & REGULATIONS
The NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has issued a regulation that makes it illegal to bring firewood into New York unless it has been heat treated to kill EAB and other potentially invasive species. The regulation also limits the transportation of untreated firewood to less than 50 miles from its source. In addition, the DEC and Dept. of Agriculture & Markets (DAM) have implemented a quarantine of 19 counties that prohibits the movement of ash seedlings, trees, logs, boards, wood chips and other plant parts within and beyond these counties without certification or compliance agreements issue by DAM. View a Map of Quarantine zones & EAB Risk Areas on the web site of NY Invasive Species Clearing House (NYISCH) at Cornell University.
EAB LIFE CYCLE
Females lay eggs 2 weeks after emergence. During this time, adults feed on the leaves, making them irregularly notched. Eggs are initially light-yellow, turning to brownishyellow before hatching. Eggs hatch in 1-2 weeks, and the tiny larvae bore through the bark and into the cambium layer. The creamy white larvae are 1 - 1 1/4 inches long with flat, broad, segmented bodies. Larvae feed in the cambium creating S-shaped, frass-packed tunnels. Adults begin emerging in mid-June leaving 0.1 - 0.2 inches "D" shaped emergence holes. It is a small, brassy-green, metallic woodboring beetle measuring 1/3 to 1/2 inches in length. Vertical splits in the bark are created by the tree forming callus tissue in response to larval feeding. The damage by the larvae causes general yellowing and thinning of the foliage followed by crown dieback and the eventual death of the tree. Basal sprouting and the presence of woodpeckers may indicate wood-boring beetle activity. After 1 to 2 years of infestation, the bark often falls off in pieces from damaged trees, exposing the insect galleries. The life cycle in Michigan takes between 1-2 years (from: http://www.invasive.org/).
Resources
The NY Invasive Species Clearing House at Cornell University offers extensive pages on topics including: EAB biology; identification; hosts; signs and symptoms of EAB infestation; map of EAB spread; control options; resources specific to educators, homeowners, woodlot owners and municipal tree managers; local task force contacts; and how to report an EAB sighting.
emeraldashborer.info is another comprehensive website offered by The Cooperative Emerald Ash Borer Program, a collaboration of the USDA Forest Service, Michigan State University, Purdue University and Ohio State University to provide comprehensive, accurate and timely information on the emerald ash borer. The site includes: EAB University (a collection of free educational webinars about the Emerald Ash Borer and other invasive pests); information for homeowners; Frequently Asked Questions; EAB look-alikes; how to go about hiring an arborist or tree company; choosing replacement trees, and more.
National Ash Tree Seed Collection Initiative - an effort, sponsored by the USDA, to conserve ash seed for future generations
Publications
- How to Identify Ash Trees, Michigan State University Extension Bulletin E-2942
- Insecticide Options for Controlling EAB (16pp., 372kb PDF)
- "Emerald Ash Borer Invasion: How Can We Help Slow the Spread?" a feature article by Cornell University Cooperative Extension.
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