The Emerald Ash Borer was detected in New York State on June 17, 2009.

New York has more than 900 million ash trees, representing about seven percent of all trees in the state, and all are at risk should this invasive, exotic pest become established. This is just the latest in a series of terrestrial and aquatic invasive species detections across New York State, including the Asian Longhorned Beetle, Sirex woodwasp, didymo, zebra mussels, and Eurasian water milfoil. This has prompted the state to strengthen regulations, increase educational outreach, and encourage ways of limiting the unintentional spread of these potentially devastating pests throughout the state.

Since its discovery in southeastern Michigan in 2002, the EAB is responsible for the destruction of over 70 million ash trees in the U.S. The beetle has been moving steadily outward from its first discovered infestation in Detroit, Michigan, and has now been found in 13 states and two neighboring Canadian provinces. The primary way this insect spreads is when firewood and wood products are moved from one place to another. Many of New York State’s forests and parklands, including Allegany State Park which is near the recent EAB finding, are high-risk areas due to firewood movement.

New York State has been actively surveying for EAB since 2003, inspecting declining ash trees and setting traps in Western and Eastern New York, Long Island and New York City. Up until this discovery no signs of EAB were ever detected in the state.

WHAT IS BEING DONE NOW:

A cooperative effort among USDA and New York State staff will conduct a thorough survey of trees and deploy a more intensive trapping effort in the surrounding area to assess the extent and age of the infestation.  Information from this survey will help determine the response strategy, which could range from tree removals associated with eradication and safety concerns, to ash product quarantines. DEC’s firewood regulations
prohibiting out-of-state transport of untreated firewood and intra-state movement of untreated firewood more than 50 miles remain in effect and are an extremely important tool to contain this damaging pest.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

The primary way this insect spreads is when firewood and wood products are moved from one place to another. Many of New York State’s forests and parklands, including Allegany State Park which is near the recent EAB finding, are high-risk areas due to firewood movement.

New Yorkers are urged to take the following steps to keep EAB from spreading to other areas of the State:

Leave all firewood at home – please do not bring it to campgrounds or parks.

Get your firewood at the campground or from a local vendor – ask for a receipt or label that has the firewood’s local source.

If you choose to transport firewood within New York State:

It must have a receipt or label that has the firewood’s source and it must remain within 50 miles of that source.

For firewood not purchased (i.e. cut from your own property) you must have a Self-Issued Certificate of Source, and it must be sourced within 50 miles of your destination.

Only firewood labeled as meeting New York’s heat treatment standards to kill pests (kiln-dried) may be transported into the state and further than 50 miles from the firewood’s source.

    Watch for signs of infestation in your ash trees:

    The EAB has metallic green wing covers and a coppery red or purple abdomen; it is small enough to fit easily on a penny. Damage is caused by the larvae, which feed in tunnels called galleries in the phloem just below the bark. The serpentine galleries disrupt water and nutrient transport, causing branches, and eventually the entire tree, to die. Adult beetles leave distinctive D-shaped exit holes in the outer bark of the branches and the trunk. Other signs of infection include tree canopy dieback, yellowing, extensive sprouting from the roots and trunk called “epicormic shoots” and browning of leaves. Infested trees may also exhibit woodpecker damage from larvae extraction.

    If you suspect your ash tree could be infested by EAB and if damage is consistent with the known symptoms of EAB infestation report suspected damage to the state by calling 1-866-640-0652 for appropriate action as time and resources allow.

    Troy Weldy, Director of Ecological Management for The Nature Conservancy, said: “The Emerald Ash Borer will have significant economic and environmental impacts, the likes of which western New York hasn’t seen since the Chestnut Blight or Dutch Elm Disease. This discovery emphasizes the need to establish a national early detection network around major ports of entry so we can intercept these pests before they become established.   It is also important for citizens to understand that these pests are easily transported in firewood. We ask everyone to do their part by only burning wood close to where they buy it”.