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 (2006), Maryland (2006), Pennsylvania (2007), West Virginia (2007), Virginia (2008), Wisconsin (2008), Missouri (2008), Minnesota (2009), Kentucky (2009) New York (2009), Iowa (2010) and Tennessee (2010).

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 its 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 will hang 100 purple prism traps at locations across the state, with most being in camping areas and other outdoor recreational sites.  The traps will remain in place from May to September 2009.     

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.

Watch for these signs that encourage campers to buy and burn only local firewood.  They draw attention to the connection between firewood movement and the spread of emerald ash borer and other pests.

Other 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 Frequently Asked Questions About Emerald Ash Borer. 

To help raise awareness about emerald ash borer, Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week is May 23 to 28, 2010.

To learn more, visit these helpful websites:

Stop the Beetle
Don't Move Firwood
Emerald Ash Borer