Emerald Ash Borer is a Threat to Kansas Ash Trees
The emerald ash borer is a pest of ash trees native to Asia. It was first discovered in North America in 2002 in the Detroit, Michigan, area. Since then, it has killed millions of ash trees and caused thousands more to be removed to slow its spread.
Since its initial discovery, the core area affected by the beetle has expanded. It has been detected in Ohio (2003), Indiana (2004), Illinois, Maryland (2006), Pennsylvania, West Virginia (2007), Virginia, Wisconsin, Missouri (2008), Minnesota, Kentucky, New York (2009), Iowa, Tennessee (2010), Connecticut, Kansas and Massachusetts (2012).
On July 20, 2012, emerald ash borer was found in Parkville, Missouri, 4 miles from the Wyandotte County line. Then on August 29, 2012 the first-ever presence of emerald ash borer in Kansas was confirmed in Wyandotte County at Wyandotte County Lake. The discovery was made by Kansas Department of Agriculture and USDA staff during a survey being conducted as a result of the July 2012 confirmation of emerald ash borer in Platte County, Missouri. The staff identified a tree during the visual survey that showed symptoms of the emerald as borer. They removed a portion of the tree and sent it to a USDA lab in Michigan for further analysis. Regulatory officials at USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Plant Protection Quarantine (USDA-APHIS-PPQ) division removed larva from the sample and confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer.
Immediately after confirmation by USDA, Kansas implemented an emergency intrastate quarantine for Wyandotte County to prevent further spread of emerald ash borer in Kansas. The quarantine applies to any corporation, company, society, association, partnership, governmental agency, and any individual or combination of individuals. It prohibits movement of regulated items from the quarantined area, except under specific conditions established in the Permanant EAB Quarantine
Regulated items under quarantine include the following:
- The emerald ash borer, (Agrilus planipennis [Coleoptera: Buprestidae]), in any living stage of development;
- Firewood of all hardwood (non-coniferous) species;
- Nursery stock of the genus Fraxinus (Ash);
- Green lumber of the genus Fraxinus (Ash);
- Other material living, dead, cut, or fallen, including logs, stumps, roots, branches, and composted and uncomposted chips of the genus Fraxinus (Ash);
- Any other article, product, or means of conveyance that an inspector determines presents a risk of spreading emerald ash borer and notifies the person in possession of the article, product, or means of conveyance that it is subject to the restrictions of the regulations.
The emergency temporary quarantine was effective as of August 29 and became permanent as of November 9 , 2012 and will be in effect until it is rescinded or modified by the order of the Kansas Secretary of Agriculture.
If you suspect emerald ash borer on your property please call 785-862-2180 or e-mail your name, address, and phone number and pictures of the suspect tree to ppwc@kda.ks.gov. For answers to common questions, check out our Kansas Emerald Ash Borer Frequently Asked Questions and Do I Have Emerald Ash Borer?
All ash trees native to Kansas are susceptible to infestation by the emerald ash borer. Trees become infested when adult beetles lay eggs on the bark. The eggs hatch into larvae that bore into the tree. They tunnel between the bark and wood and disrupt water and nutrient movement, eventually killing the tree. Emerald ash borer appears to prefer trees under stress, but is capable of killing perfectly healthy trees.
Emerald ash borer is responsible for killing or damaging 20 million ash trees in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Ontario, Canada. Financially, the United States risks an economic loss of $20 billion to $60 billion because of this pest. A complete devastation of ash trees could seriously affect our ecosystem.
Without government action and cooperation from the public, firewood dealers, arborists and the nursery industry, emerald ash borer will be introduced in Kansas. Preventing it
s introduction is far more cost-effective than trying to contain it as an established pest.
What We Are Doing to Protect Kansas Ash Trees
Kansas has an Emerald Ash Borer Readiness and Response Plan that involves many agencies and organizations. The plan outlines what each of us will do if emerald ash borer is found in Kansas. You can read the response plan at: Kansas Emerald Ash Borer Response Plan
The Kansas Department of Agriculture and USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service are helping with a national survey for emerald ash borer by putting out traps in Kansas. Each agency hang purple prism traps at locations across the state. The traps remain in place from May to September.
KDA is visually surveying a 5 mile radius around the Wyandotte County find. We are also responding to citizen inquiries if they suspect they might have emerald ash borer.
You Can Help
Since the emerald ash border's initial introduction into the United States, it has been spread to many areas of the country by campers and homeowners who unknowingly moved infested firewood to uninfested areas where the beetles emerged and infested new ash trees.
You can help prevent the emerald ash borer from being introduced into Kansas by not moving firewood. When buying wood for your home, buy only locally grown and harvested firewood. When camping, buy your firewood near your destination and burn all that you bring.
Emerald ash borer educational materials, including ID cards and brochures, are available through the Kansas Department of Agriculture's Plant Protection and Weed Control program. Call us at (785) 862-2180.
Calls us, too, if you think you have found an emerald ash borer infestation in Kansas. Or, call the national emerald ash borer hotline at (866) 322-4512.
For answers to common questions, check out our Kansas Emerald Ash Borer Frequently Asked Questions and Do I Have Emerald Ash Borer?
To help raise awareness about emerald ash borer, Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week is May 19 to 25, 2013.
To learn more, visit these helpful websites: 
Stop the Beetle 
Don't Move Firewood Emerald Ash Borer
For a list of certified arborists (search by location):
www.isa-arbor.com/faca/findArborist.aspx
Other Useful Information:
